Chelsea Flower Show & Hidden London

Chelsea Flower Show & Hidden London

Themes

  • Gardening

Associations

  • NTHP
  • The Royal Oak Foundation

Chelsea Flower Show & Hidden London

Prices From $4,100p/p

The Chelsea Flower Show is the Royal Horticultural Society’s most prestigious and sought-after event. We combine this iconic show with an exploration of many hidden and little known gems nestled amidst the streets of London, uncovering the history of the capital of England through this eclectic mix of properties. We also spend time in Greenwich with its royal heritage, rich culture and beautiful riverside setting.

Special extras included in your itinerary
• Entrance to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
• Private guided tour of Southside House
• Thames riverboat journey to Greenwich
• Guided tour and lunch at the Old Royal Naval College
• Afternoon Tea at a historic London hotel

Day 1
Arrival

On arrival at Heathrow airport, a private transfer will take you to the Pullman London St Pancras Hotel, our hotel for the duration of our stay. In the evening you are invited to join the group for a welcome drink, followed by dinner.

Day 2
RHS Chelsea Flower Show

We visit the Royal Horticultural Society’s most sought-after event, the Chelsea Flower Show, held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Here we can enjoy the finest in garden design and superb expert advice, and soak up the unique atmosphere of this world-famous show. The Great Pavilion is the centrepiece of the show, containing a wide-ranging mix of floral displays, while the Show Gardens showcase the exceptional talent of a handful of carefully selected garden designers, delivering a broad range of design styles and themes.

Day 3
Ham House and Southside House

We take a scenic drive to Ham House this morning, one of Europe’s greatest 17th-century houses nestling on the banks of the River Thames. This atmospheric mansion has remained virtually unchanged for 400 years. Contained within the house are treasures of the 17th century and the house is a rare example of 17th century luxury and taste.

 

Our next visit is to Southside House. Wonderfully eccentric in taste, the house reflects the lives and loves of generations of the Pennington Mellor Munthe families. With a super collection of art and historical objects, Southside offers a wealth of fascinating family stories, which we enjoy on our private guided tour.

Day 4
Royal Observatory, Old Royal Naval College and Queen’s House, Greenwich

We travel down the River Thames by boat to Greenwich, the ‘Home of Time’, where our first visit is to the Royal Observatory. Commissioned by King Charles II in 1675, it played a major role in the history of astronomy and navigation. It is also the location of the historic Prime Meridian, which divides the earth’s eastern and western hemispheres, as well as London’s only planetarium.

 

Next, we head to the Old Royal Naval College. Built on the site of the old Tudor palace where Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were born, this architectural masterpiece has a fascinating history that stretches back over hundreds of years, which we discover on our guided tour. The college is also home to the magnificent Painted Hall, recognised as the greatest piece of decorative painting in England and described as ‘the Sistine Chapel of the UK’. We enjoy lunch here after our tour.

 

Our final visit of the day is to Queen’s House which re-opened in 2016 after renovation. This splendid 17th-century royal villa was the first Classical building in England and houses an extraordinary art collection including works by Great Masters such as Gainsborough, Hogarth and the Van de Veldes.

Day 5
Fenton House, Traditional Afternoon Tea and the George Inn

We start the day at Fenton House, a handsome 17th-century merchant’s house set in a beautiful walled garden and one of London’s hidden gems. The house is filled with highly decorative collections of porcelain, Georgian furniture, early musical instruments and 17th-century needlework. The balcony of the house offers panoramic views of the city on fine days.

 

Later, we enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea served at a historic London hotel. This British institution was started by the Duchess of Bedford in 1830 and includes classic tea, sandwiches, scones with cream and jam and dainty cakes.

 

Finally, we make a short stop at the National Trust owned George Inn. Built in 1677, it is the only remaining galleried inn in London and over the years is believed to have been frequented by Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare.

Day 6
Departure

A private transfer will take you back to Heathrow airport for your return flight home.

 

Please note: This tour is on a bed and breakfast basis (except on day one when dinner is included). This allows you to make your own evening meal arrangements and explore London.

 

The date of the visit to the Chelsea Flower Show may change in line with ticket availability.

What’s Included

• Airport transfers from London Heathrow*
• 5 nights at the Pullman London St Pancras Hotel
• Welcome drink and canapés
• Full English buffet breakfast each day
• 1 dinner
• 1 lunch
• Services of a tour director throughout your stay
• Travel to and from all excursions
• All entrance costs
• Porterage

*supplement applies for transfers from all other airports

Special extras included in your itinerary

• Entrance to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
• Private guided tour of Southside House
• Thames riverboat journey to Greenwich
• Guided tour and lunch at the Old Royal Naval College
• Afternoon Tea at a historic London hotel

Pullman London St Pancras Hotel
Ideally situated in central London, adjacent to the British Library, the Pullman London St Pancras Hotel has recently undergone a multi-million pound transformation. The modern rooms feature rain showers, tea and coffee-making facilities and minibar. Other hotel facilities include a bar and restaurant plus a fitness lounge and sauna.