Exclusive Gardens & Glorious Roses of the West Country
Sunday 8th – Saturday 14th June 2025 (6 nights)
This tour is now fully booked. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please click here.
Join us on our new, exclusive tour to England’s West Country and explore fascinating hidden gardens. We stay in two lovely hotels – the first in the centre of Georgian Bath and the second, a luxurious rural retreat in the heart of Dorset’s picturesque countryside. The focus here is extraordinary private gardens alongside the iconic Stourhead Estate, fine displays of roses and herbaceous perennials..
- Rare access to no less than eight private gardens – some of the finest in England.
- Tour of the great landscape garden at Stourhead.
- Walking tour of the Georgian city of Bath.
- Private tour of Harold Peto’s masterpiece at Iford Manor.
- Visit to a British Rose grower
- Beautiful scenery of Somerset and Dorset.
- The mighty, medieval Salisbury Cathedral.
- Exclusive tour of Mapperton House with the Viscountess Sandwich.
Photo credits: Bath ©VisitBritain; Hanham Court ©M Bolton; Stourhead ©Matt Prosser; Iford Manor ©William Cartwright-Hignett; ©Mapperton House; private garden ©S Hansford; all other images ©Sisley Garden Tours.
After our morning pick up at the Sheraton Heathrow Hotel, Heathrow Airport, we head west to the historic spa city of Bath and the 4-star Francis Hotel.
En-route we stop at West Green Garden, one of England’s finest manor house gardens created by acclaimed garden designer and Chelsea Flower Show award winner, Marylyn Abbott. We enjoy lunch in the gorgeous garden conservatory (included) and have time in the gardens.
This evening join your tour director and the rest of the group for dinner in the hotel (included).
Monday 9th June
This morning we begin with a short walking tour of the delightful city of Bath with its handsome Georgian architecture.
In the late morning we visit a privately owned house, with award-winning gardens which were designed and developed by Julian and Isabel Bannerman over twenty years. The gardens are truly romantic and a rare treat. We will enjoy a light lunch (included).
In the afternoon, we meet the owner for a tour of Cadenham Manor garden – a magnificent, formal garden laid out around a 17th century Wiltshire manor house and moats, surrounded by ancient grassland where cattle graze. We return to the hotel where your evening is at leisure in Bath (dinner independent).
Tuesday 10th June
This morning we are treated to an exclusive visit to a stunning, private walled garden with design input from the Bannermans with 4 quadrants evoking important parts of the owners’ lives – England, China, Africa and Italy.
We then continue onto Iford Manor, a Grade I Italianate garden designed by the architect and landscape gardener, Harold Peto. The manor house is also famed for its tranquil beauty and romantic setting. We will have lunch (included) on arrival, followed by a tour of the gardens with the owner – made all the more special as the gardens will be closed to the public today.
We return to Bath where your evening is at leisure (dinner independent).
Wednesday 11th June
This morning we check out of our hotel and head south, making our first stop of the day at Stourhead – England’s finest landscape garden. We will enjoy a guided tour of the garden before having free time for lunch (independent). At its centrepiece is a magnificent lake reflecting classical temples, mystical grottoes, and rare and exotic trees.
In the afternoon, we visit Gasper Cottage where owner, Bella Hoare, will take us on a tour of her garden which sits on the Stourhead estate – Bella’s ancestors lived here before the family seat was given to the National Trust.
In the late afternoon, we check into the 5-star Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, situated in the heart of the delightful Dorset village of Evershot. Dinner in the hotel (included).
Thursday 12th June
Today we head towards the south coast to see two fabulous private gardens. The first is located on a breezy headland, overlooking the sea. The 4-acre garden that surrounds the farmhouse, has been developed by the skilled owners since they restored the property in 1983. The gardens close to the house are formal but become increasingly naturalistic. After a tour with the owner, we enjoy lunch in the gardens (included).
In the afternoon we visit an historic house and estate which nestles within a stunning valley in the Purbeck Hills. The gardens have been extensively redeveloped during the past 12 years with a modern, sympathetic design by Tom Stuart-Smith. We meet the head gardener who will take us on a guided tour of the gardens.
We return to Evershot for dinner in The Acorn Inn (included).
Friday 13th June
The day starts with an exclusive pre-opening tour of Mapperton House and Gardens. Mapperton is known for its romantic gardens, tucked into a steep sided combe which descend from formal topiary gardens and an orangery in the north to an arboretum in the south.
We make a stop in the provincial town of Dorchester – the birthplace of author and poet Thomas Hardy – and have time for lunch (independent).
We then travel to The Old Rectory, home to ‘Rosa Cheney’, a two-acre walled garden growing beautiful, old fashioned, sustainable roses. We enjoy a tour of the main garden, which was redesigned by Arne Maynard, and see the roses.
We return to the hotel for our final night dinner (included).
Saturday 14h June
After we check out of the hotel, we head to Salisbury. We will see the incredible early Gothic medieval Cathedral and have time for lunch (independent).
Afterwards, we visit a charming private garden, Little Court where the owner will show us around her mature garden full of exuberant mid-summer planting.
In the late afternoon, we drop off at the Sheraton Heathrow Hotel and Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 for inter-terminal transport links and the Heathrow Express and Elizabeth Line trains into London.
Note: Some garden visits await final confirmation at the time of publication.
Please read our Tour Joining and Departure Arrangements information sheet here. To download a printable version of this itinerary, click here.
Our Hotels
Our hotels are 4 and 5-star and are selected for their high standards of comfort and service. All rooms are ensuite and offer free wifi access.
The Francis Hotel, Bath (3 nights)
The Francis Hotel Bath is located overlooking Queen Square in the heart of the historic city of Bath – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is housed in a wonderful series of seven inter-connecting Regency-style townhouses which are Grade I listed and feature individually designed bedrooms, many with views over the city. There is a large restaurant with botanical-themed decor, comfortable lounge and buzzing bar.
Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Evershot (3 nights)
This intimate 5-star country house hotel is surrounded by beautiful countryside in the heart of Dorset. Set within 4 acres of beautiful gardens in a converted Georgian manor house, Summer Lodge features luxurious rooms with sumptuous fabrics, well appointed bathrooms and an award-winning restaurant. There is an indoor swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, fitness centre, tennis courts, croquet lawn and treatment rooms. The Acorn Inn, under the same ownership, is a fine example of an English country pub.
| Tour cost per person (sharing twin or double room) | Single Supplement (for single occupancy of a double room) |
| £5,250 (GBP) | £750 (GBP) |
PRICES INCLUDE:
- 6 nights’ accommodation at 4 and 5-star hotels with ensuite facilities.
- Breakfast daily, 4 lunches and 4 dinners.
- Assistance with luggage at the hotels.
- All garden visits including tours with garden owners and head gardeners.
- Deluxe coach travel with professional driver.
- Transfers to and from the hotel and Heathrow Airport at the start and end of the tour.
- An information pack with detailed booklet about the gardens we will be visiting.
- Services of your Sisley tour director throughout.
- All tour gratuities (driver, tour director and hotels).
PRICES EXCLUDE:
- Airfares.
- Passport and/or visa fees if applicable.
- Meals not included in the tour, drinks, laundry, and telephone calls.
TOUR PAYMENT: A 10% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place(s) on the tour. Your balance payment is due 120 days prior to the tour departure.
EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION: You can get an idea of the cost of the tour in your local currency by using a currency converter. Conversion rates are based on institutional or inter-bank daily rates. Retail conversion rates include fees and will generally differ from these rates.
To book your place(s) please complete our online booking form at www.sisley.co.uk/booking-form/ or click the BOOK NOW button below. As soon as we receive your booking form, we will confirm availability on the tour of your choice and arrange collection of your deposit which secures your booking.
BOOK NOWHOW TO PAY
There are three ways to pay for your tour and you will be asked on the booking form which you prefer:
With our travel partner in North America: You can book your tour in USD$ or CAD$ by credit card or check with our partners at DHTour – a London and UK specialist travel agent who can assist with all aspects of your trip. Find out more about DHTour here.
With Sisley Garden Tours: All clients are welcome to book a tour directly with us. We can accept payment in GBP£ by bank transfer or by credit/debit card.
With your own travel agent: We are happy to work with your preferred travel agent. Just provide us with their contact details on the booking form and we will take care of the rest.
TRAVEL INSURANCE AND BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS
It is mandatory for all overseas visitors to the UK to have travel insurance before joining our tours. Full details of our booking terms & conditions can be found at www.sisley.co.uk/terms-and-conditions.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions section on our website for further information www.sisley.co.uk/frequently-asked-questions/
We very much look forward to welcoming you, but please email tours@sisley.co.uk if you have any queries.
