GW holiday: Explore the gardens of Kent and Sussex

Join our tailor-made tour of beautiful gardens in Kent and Sussex, full of early summer colour, and enjoy three nights at the four-star East Sussex National Hotel.

Your holiday includes

• Three nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast at the four-star East Sussex National Hotel, based on a shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• Welcome drink and two glasses of wine with the first night’s dinner
• Light lunch at Borde Hill
• Light refreshments at Hole Park Gardens
• Coach transfers throughout the tour
• Tour led by gardening expert David Hurrion

Your itinerary

• SUNDAY 2 JUNE Arrive independently at the East Sussex National Hotel from 3pm. Evening welcome drink and talk by David Hurrion, followed by three-course dinner with two glasses of wine each.
• MONDAY 3 JUNE Our exploration begins with a guided tour of Borde Hill, followed by a light lunch (included). This garden is famed for its magnificent trees and offers a series of garden rooms, including an Italian Garden with formal lily pool, the colourful Paradise Walk and subtropical Round Dell. After lunch we head to Wakehurst, the Sussex outpost of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, with over 500 acres to explore, including the Millennium Seed Bank. Dinner in the hotel restaurant (included).
• TUESDAY 4 JUNE A packed day starts with a visit to world-renowned Sissinghurst Castle Garden, created by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson. Highlights include the famous White Garden and new Greek-inspired Delos garden. After lunch (not included), we move on to Great Dixter House and Gardens, the family home of pioneering gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd OBE. The inspirational gardens feature his innovative colour combinations, as well as topiary peacocks, wildflower meadows and much more. Next we visit Hole Park Gardens – a mix of formal and naturalistic styles, with borders designed by Christopher Lloyd. A guided tour is followed by light refreshments. Dinner is at the hotel (included).
• WEDNESDAY 5 JUNE The last day of our fascinating itinerary takes us first to Pashley Manor Gardens for a guided tour. This classic English country garden includes a rose walk, walled garden, kitchen garden and herbaceous borders, with a Grade I listed house as the stunning backdrop. After lunch (not included), our final visit is to historic Hever Castle and Gardens, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, mother of Elizabeth I. The double-moated 14th-century castle is set in magnificent award-winning gardens that include a large lake, Italian garden with grottoes, a rose garden and two mazes. There will be time to explore the castle and gardens before we return to the hotel.

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