TOURS OF PRIVATE GARDENS
On the 2-day tours, I take visitors to privately-owned gardens, some of which they may not have yet discovered! Each has, in my opinion, something extra special to offer – maybe the setting, the design, the planting, the history, or a combination of all of these. They include: a 3-acre garden in West Sussex surrounding a Georgian house with a fantastic 1/2 acre walled kitchen garden used to grow fruit, vegetable and flowers for the house (and where the Head Gardener happens to be an RHS award-winning photographer!); a 16th century house in East Sussex set in 6 acres of garden which is divided into smaller gardens reflecting different periods of English garden design including an old-fashioned rose garden, double herbaceous borders and fabulous views over rolling parkland beyond the ha-ha; a large, working country estate in Kent with a Queen Anne-style house and formal gardens at its centre; Great Dixter, well-known to keen gardeners the world over (and often teeming with visitors at this time of year) where this opportunity of a private tour when the garden is not open to the public, truly enables us to fully appreciate its own intimate atmosphere; and, on a smaller scale, a delightfully tranquil mature garden, lovingly tended by its artist owners whose eye for colour and form is reflected in their garden.
Please note that the owners’ houses are not open.
- The tours begin and end at Pelham House Hotel, Lewes, East Sussex. Cost is per person and includes:
- 2 nights accommodation in standard double/twin room at Pelham House, Lewes (some single rooms available, also some main-floor rooms).
- Full English breakfast
- Private Welcome Dinner on the first night (an opportunity to meet fellow guests and learn about the gardens we shall visit)
- Optional Lewes highlights walk on the second evening
- Spacious, air-conditioned transport, admission to the gardens, guided tours*
* We shall aim to visit 3 gardens on the first day and 2 on the second day.
May 20-23, 2012
£499 per person (based on two people sharing a double/twin room). Single supplement £100 i.e. total of £599)
July 1-3, 2012
£499 per person (based on two people sharing a double/twin room). Single supplement £100 i.e. total of £599)
Bookings must be confirmed by March 1st, 2012 by payment of deposit of £125. Full itineraries will be sent out at that point.
Please note that, by their very nature the tours involve a good deal of walking/standing. Pelham House Hotel is a historic, Listed Grade I building and, as such, does not have an elevator. There are 3 floors in total so stairs may well be involved.
Not included:
- Your own travel to and from Lewes (one option from central London is the train service from London Victoria Station to Lewes, approx 1hr)
- Transfer from Lewes station to the hotel (less than 1/4 mile distance yet uphill so you may wish to take a taxi, cost approx £3)
- Pub lunches on both days (light, sandwich-type lunch to give us more time in the gardens!)
- Dinner is not arranged for the second night. There will be the opportunity of a guided walk around Lewes and you are at liberty to choose between dining at Pelham House (maybe al fresco on the terrace, weather permitting!), or one of Lewes’ delightful restaurants, all located within an easy stroll of the hotel.
For booking details, or if you have any queries, please contact me – I shall be delighted to help.
Kathryn Van Howe
