Telling the Stories Brochure

RHS Royal Chelsea and
Hampton Court Palace
The most English of flower shows and the Arcadian Thames
in association with the Royal Horticultural Society
RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Photo: ©Royal Horticultural Society
Highlights
• Discover the horticultural
heritage and legacy of London districts
Chelsea and Hampton from Henry VIII
to the modern day RHS Flower Shows.
• Enjoy an exclusive, insider guide to the
gardens, plantsmen, designers and
landscapes who have shaped London
in collaboration with our RHS experts
and Tour Director.
• Enjoy expert guidance on how the flower
shows are judged, what to look out for
and how to ensure you get the most out
of your visit to the show.
• Gain unique access to the RHS library in
their headquarters. RHS Head of Libraries
is home to their collection of rare books,
catalogues and botanical art.
TOUR
36
Tour Type: Immersion
Entry and Departure Point:
London Heathrow Airport
The Royal Horticultural Society (The RHS)
was established in 1804 and is the world’s
leading horticultural charity. Their vision is
to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and
make the UK a greener and more beautiful
place. The RHS has a worldwide reputation
for providing horticultural excellence and
inspiration through their shows and gardens.
This tour runs in May to coincide with the
RHS Chelsea Flower Show and July for the
RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
The RHS library collection will form a key
part of the tour experience, currently not
available to the general public or any other
tour company. Furthermore, RHS experts
will enhance the tour both prior to visiting
the flower show and during the visit.
Apart from one or other show, gardens to
be visited include Hampton Court Palace
accessed by boat along the River Thames,
Chelsea Physic Garden, the Royal Chelsea
Hospital and the Garden Museum.
Tour Director: Caroline Holmes
Caroline is a garden historian, international lecturer, author of
11 books who designs landscape themes including the planting in
The Poison Garden at The Alnwick Garden. Recipient of the Herb Society
of America’s The Elizabeth Crisp Rea and The Gertrude B. Foster Awards
for Excellence in Herbal Literature, Caroline is Course Director for the
University of Cambridge’s International Summer Programmeme creating
and leading modules studying English houses and gardens.
Outline Itinerary
Visit the RHS Library Head of
Libraries, for an introductory talk.
A selection of extremely rare books,
catalogues and botanical art will be
available to view. Visit the Chelsea
Physic Garden to explore its
collections and iconic history.
Enjoy an early morning tour of
RHS Chelsea Flower Show with
ample time to explore individually.
Visit Hampton Court Palace
to see both the gardens and
interiors. Return to London by boat
along the Thames.
Take a guided tour of the Royal
Hospital Chelsea garden and
interiors. Conceived by Charles II
to house his former soldiers and
designed by Christopher Wren in
‘Wrenaissance’ style.
Visit Lambeth Palace, London,
home of the Archbishop of
Canterbury, with extensive gardens
including Cardinal Pole’s White
Marseilles fig planted in 1556
and the nearby nearby
Garden Museum.
& To book, Call toll free: 1 844 221 3366 or visit www.ukcountrysidetours.com Houses and Gardens / 25