Grand Houses and Gardens of Yorkshire & the Lake District
This tour is now FULLY BOOKED. If you would like to join the wait list, please register here.
Sunday 23rd – Sunday 30th June 2024 (7 nights)
This delightful, high season tour takes in some of the very finest country houses and gardens of Yorkshire and the Lake District. We will explore York, one of England’s greatest historic cities and travel through the spectacular landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks visiting iconic stately homes and hidden, private gardens.
- Private garden tours at Littlethorpe Manor and Levens Hall.
- Private interior tours of Castle Howard (Bridgerton and Brideshead Revisited filming location) and Newby Hall.
- Walking tour of York, medieval capital of the North and a visit to the mighty York Minster.
- RHS Gardens at Harlow Carr.
- Exclusive visit to multi-award-winning, landscape designer, Arabella Lennox-Boyd’s own garden.
- Private Lake Cruise on Windermere.
- Visit to Beatrix Potter’s home.
- Stunning scenery of two National Parks – the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District National Parks.
- The Dan Pearson garden at Lowther Castle and Piet Oudolf’s masterpiece at Scampston Walled Garden.
Photo credits: Images courtesy of Littlethorpe Manor, Lowther Castle and D Liss; Harlow Carr copyright RHS.
Our tour starts in the early afternoon at the 5-star Grand Hotel in the heart of historic York. You can have lunch independently before meeting the group. From here we will take a walking tour of this delightful city. We will explore medieval streets such as the ‘Shambles’, see the city walls and make a visit to the mighty, medieval York Minster. Dinner is in the hotel (included).
Monday 24th June
We begin our day with an exclusive visit to Newby Hall, a delightful Queen Anne-style house with award-winning gardens. We have a private guided tour of the gardens and house before enjoying a traditional English Afternoon Tea (included).
In the afternoon, we make a stop at the Royal Horticultural Society’s northern home, Harlow Carr. There is time to explore these fabulous and extensive gardens and the excellent shop. We return to York where your evening is at leisure for dinner (independent).
Tuesday 25th June
Our first visit today is to a stunning private garden that was designed by Tom Stuart-Smith and incorporates a vast, productive walled garden, stepped parterres with wonderful views and a deep gorge woodland garden. We enjoy lunch in a local country pub (included).
In the afternoon, we visit one of Yorkshire’s finest private gardens, Littlethorpe Manor. The Head Gardener will take us on a tour of the garden, which recently enjoyed a major extension and now boasts a stunning apothecaries garden. We stop at a private garden for drinks en-route back to York where your evening is at leisure for dinner (independent).
Wednesday 26th June
Today we begin at one of the most recognised and loved of Britain’s stately homes, Castle Howard. It is home to the Howard family and made famous by its central role in the filming of Brideshead Revisited and more recently, Bridgerton. We will be treated to a pre-opening tour of the house, followed by free time to explore the gardens.
After lunch (independent) we discover one of Yorkshire’s newest and most interesting gardens, Scampston Walled Garden. It is a contemporary masterpiece of the renowned Dutch designer, Piet Oudolf, a leading figure of the New Perennial Movement. We return to York and enjoy dinner (included) in the hotel.
Thursday 27th June
After checking out of our hotel, we head west and travel through the scenic Yorkshire Dales National Park. We visit Parcevall Hall,, tucked into a sheltered valley. It is a delightfully peaceful Arts & Crafts style garden with a unique bedrock limestone rock garden.
We then make a stop for lunch (included) at a traditional Yorkshire Dales pub. In the afternoon, we travel onwards to the Lake District – England’s largest National Park and inspiration to some of our most celebrated poets and authors.
We visit Hill Top, the home of Beatrix Potter; author, illustrator, scientist and conservationist, best known for her Tales of Peter Rabbit. In the late afternoon, we check in to the 4-star Lakeside Hotel on the shores of Lake Windermere. Dinner at the hotel (included).
Friday 28th June
We begin the day with a visit to the inspiring private garden of Chelsea gold-medal winning garden designer Lady Arabella Lennox-Boyd at Gresgarth Hall.
Next is the Elizabethan Levens Hall with its unique and ancient collection of topiary figures. The gardens were laid out in the 1690s and have changed little since. We have time to visit the hall and have lunch (independent) before taking a tour of the gardens with the Head Gardener. We return to the hotel for dinner (included).
Saturday 29th June
This morning, we take a private lake cruise from our hotel’s jetty to Bowness-on-Windermere.
We continue through the Lake District National Park and make a stop at Lowther Castle, an intriguing contemporary garden, designed by Dan Pearson and set within the dramatic ruins of the castle. We have lunch (included) in the Sculpture Gallery followed by a tour of the gardens.
In the afternoon, we take a scenic drive back to our hotel stopping en-route in the lakeland town of Grasmere, home of William Wordsworth. Dinner (included) in the hotel.
Sunday 30th June
Our final day takes us back to York. Before leaving the Lake District we explore the impressive Holker Hall on the Lakeland Peninsulas. We enjoy a garden tour and have time to see the magnificent Jacobean stately home. We then have lunch (included) before returning to York, arriving late afternoon for independent onward travel.
NOTE: Our tour starts and ends in the city of York. We can assist with travel planning. This tour can easily be combined with our Garden Lover’s Tour of Chester, Chatsworth House & the Peak District.
Please read our Tour Joining and Departure Arrangements information sheet here. To download a printable version of this itinerary, please click here.
Our Hotels
Our hotels are 4-star and 5-star and are selected for their high standards of comfort and service. All rooms are ensuite and offer free wifi access.
The Grand was once the HQ for the North Eastern Railway Company, one of the wealthiest businesses of the Edwardian era. Now reborn as a luxury 5-star hotel, but retaining its original splendour, The Grand, features beautiful public spaces, spacious rooms, two restaurants, bars and indoor swimming pool and a delightful spa.
This comfortable 4-star hideaway is located on the shores of Windermere in the Lake District National Park. With restful bedrooms, delicious fine dining inspired by fresh local produce, beautiful gardens, an indoor pool and indulgent spa, The Lakeside is the perfect place to relax and soak up the atmosphere.
| Tour cost per person (sharing twin or double room) | Single supplement (for single occupancy of a double room) |
| £4,600 (GBP) | £450 (GBP) |
PRICES INCLUDE:
- 7 nights’ accommodation at 4 and 5-star hotels with en-suite facilities.
- Breakfast daily, 5 lunches and 5 dinners.
- Assistance with luggage at the hotels.
- All garden visits including tours with garden owners and head gardeners.
- Deluxe coach travel with professional driver.
- 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.
BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS
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.
