English Garden Tours and Chelsea Garden Show??

Well, not sure if this is helpful or not but I’d signed up for a Gardens tour + the Chelsea show for last May through Road Scholar. I realized in about January that it had 40 people signed up and I’d thought it was one of their small group tours which run with 24-26 people. 40 people on a bus for most of 2 weeks with Covid still around was a deal breaker so I cancelled. Well, truthfully 40 people on a bus tour without Covid is also a dealbreaker, lol. Too much time loading, unloading, feeding and getting through a comfort stop, haha.

It looks like both departures for next Spring are sold out but you can get on a wait list if this looks like it will work for you.

https://www.roadscholar.org/find-an-adventure/22576/chelsea-flower-show-and-gardens-a-british-tradition

£700 per day is a rip-off. Expect to pay around £12 to £20 to enter each garden although some public parks are of course free.

You will find gardens owned by the National Trust.

It could mostly be organised yourselves for a third of the price or less. Gardens such as Sissinghurst have guided walks with one of the gardeners several times a day that are free once you have paid the entry fee. I am off there this afternoon as I live nearby.

Just as a sort of reality check, here's some information on Sissinghurst independently, without a rental car. Current inflation aside, it is not a slam dunk (or cheap) to do these garden visits (or stately homes) on your own. Some commercial products could be a fair charge.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/sissinghurst-castle-garden

The radial character of train networks makes it impossible to do (random) multiple gardens in one day.

Hi Lydia, I just wanted to say hi as I believe we were both on the April Paris city tour with Rolinka guiding. If you look under my profile, there is a link to my France photobook and you are in it!

If you want to visit gardens, you need a car. Sissinghurst currently costs £11 to get in, but National Trust membership means you can enter for free after you have paid the £65 cost of the tourist pass, valid for a week.

Travelling by train and taxis needs planning and is going to cost money, but not £700 a day.

Dear Tammy,

How lovely to hear from you! Hope you are doing well. I have a great photo of you with our group looking at a massive side of beef being nonchalantly hauled into a butcher shop in Paris. Gotta love those froggies.

Take care,
Lydia

You need to buy tickets for the Chelsea flower show early cut because you want to go to one of the first days if possible

I am not a gardener and have gone twice both times. I was there about eight hours. If you garden, you will love it I thought it was amazing.

Be in line to get in before they open

Wow. Thanks so much for the feedback. I am an avid gardener - even here in the Southwest desert.

We hope to get into a tour; if not, will try for tickets very soon!