Aspects of England, with Somerset, Cornwall and Chelsea Flower Show

Depart The May Fair Hotel London at 8.30 am for the trip west to Bowood House and Gardens. The property features a Grade I-listed Georgian country house with interiors by Robert Adam and a garden designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. Lunch is enjoyed here before we spend some free time exploring Bath this afternoon. A Welcome Dinner awaits this evening.

This morning we travel to the Newt in Somerset for lunch, before continuing to Stourhead.  Enjoy the breathtaking 18th-century landscape garden with its lakeside walks, grottoes and classical temples. Stourhead is renowned as being one of England’s most scenic gardens.

Travel to Cornwall, the countryside location of the TV series Poldark. Explore the charming town of Tavistock, the home to cream tea, before spending time at the unique Eden Project. This top garden and eco-attraction, renowned for its innovative environmental programs, is also home to the world’s largest greenhouse.

This morning, visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan, the seat of the Tremayne family for more than 400 years. Heligan is one of England’s most mysterious estates with a fascinating history. Today, it’s home to the gloriously restored, award-winning and internationally acclaimed botanical gardens. Continue to Padstow, home to the famous English chef and television personality Rick Stein. Enjoy a gourmet lunch at Rick’s flagship seafood restaurant before exploring the quaint fishing village of Port Isaac, where the popular television series Doc Martin was filmed.

Visit the subtropical paradise of Trebah Garden, which is set against an amazing coastal backdrop. Records of the garden date back to the Domesday survey of 1085. Continue to St. Ives, which exhibits a captivating blend of artistic heritage and coastal beauty. Enjoy free time here before visiting Barbara Hepworth’s sculpture garden. Barbara was a pivotal figure in 20th-century sculpture and one of Britain's most important artists of her time. She is known for her abstract forms and her exploration of the relationship between sculpture and the natural world, which can be seen demonstrated in her own garden.

Today, visit the RHS Garden Rosemoor, which we find nestled in one of Devon’s valleys. The garden blends formal and informal plantings to magical effect. At Somerset’s Hestercombe House & Gardens, discover 300 years of garden design on one inspiring estate. Wander along the lakeside paths of the Georgian Landscape Garden, admire the views from the Victorian Terrace and see the stunning Edwardian Formal Garden, one of the finest examples of Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens’ famous partnership.

Today, visit the world famous Kew Gardens. As London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage Site it also houses the world’s most diverse collection of living plants. Continue to London and check in to your hotel. This evening, enjoy a special dinner and lecture on the ‘Chelsea Flower Show Gardens’, which will give you great insight into the exhibits you will see at the remarkable Chelsea Flower Show.

Enjoy a full day to experience the famous Chelsea Flower Show. For over 140 years, the show has been delighting visitors from all over the world with its amazing show gardens and floral exhibits. See the latest garden designs, learn of recent plant and floral releases and take the opportunity to talk to some of the exhibitors. This is the ‘mecca’ of all garden shows, and one that every gardening enthusiast should attend at least once in their life. You will then be transferred back to the hotel at 2.30pm.