Grand Houses and Gardens of Yorkshire & the Lake District
Thursday 1st – Friday 9th July 2027 (8 nights)
We are sorry but this tour is now fully booked. To register on the wait list, please click here
This delightful, high season tour features the finest country houses and gardens of Yorkshire and the Lake District. We explore York, one of England’s greatest historic cities and travel through the spectacular landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and Lake District National Parks visiting iconic stately homes and hidden, private gardens.
- Garden tours at Newby Hall, Littlethorpe Manor, Levens Hall, Holker Hall and Lowther Castle.
- Private house tours at Newby Hall and Castle Howard.
- Meet the owners and tour their gardens at three exquisite private gardens.
- 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.
- Stunning scenery of three National Parks – the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and the Lake District National Park.
- The Dan Pearson garden at Lowther Castle.
- Private tour of a Tom Stuart-Smith garden with fabulous views over the Vale of York.
Photo credits:©Littlethorpe Manor; ©Lowther Castle; Harlow Carr ©RHS; Windermere ©VisitBritain; ©Castle Howard; York ©VisitYork; all other images ©Sisley Garden Tours.
We meet at London Euston Train Station and take the morning train to Lancaster. There will be time for lunch (independent) on the train.
On arrival we meet the coach and make a visit to the inspiring private garden of Chelsea gold-medal winning garden designer, Lady Arabella Lennox-Boyd, at Gresgarth Hall. In the afternoon, we travel onwards to the Lake District – England’s largest National Park.
We check-in to the 4-star Low Wood Resort and Spa. Dinner at the hotel (included).
Friday 2nd July
This morning we begin with a visit to the Elizabethan Levens Hall with its unique and ancient collection of topiary figures. We have a tour of the garden with the head gardener and time to see the hall.
We then explore the impressive Holker Hall. We have lunch on arrival (included) followed by time to see the magnificent Jacobean stately home and gardens.
Our final visit of the day is to a fabulous private garden designed in the Arts & Craft era for a tour with the owners. Dinner at the hotel (included).
Saturday 3rd July
Today we begin by taking a private lake cruise on Windermere. We then enjoy a scenic drive through the northern Lakes to visit Lowther Castle. We have a tour of this intriguing contemporary garden designed by Dan Pearson and set within the dramatic ruins of the castle. There is time for lunch (independent).
We continue onto the pretty town of Grasmere to explore the shops and see the grave of poet, William Wordsworth, before heading back to our hotel for our dinner (included).
Sunday 4th July
After check-out, we travel through the picturesque Yorkshire Dales National Park making a stop at the charming village of Grassington for lunch (independent). Fans of the TV series ‘All Creatures Great & Small’ will recognise the village.
Afterwards we enjoy a tour of the Royal Horticultural Society’s northern home, Harlow Carr before checking-in to the 5-star Grand Hotel in the centre of historic York. Dinner in the hotel (included).
Monday 5th July
We begin our day with an exclusive visit to Newby Hall, a delightful Queen Anne-style house with award-winning gardens. We have a tour of the house with its stunning ‘Robert Adam’ interiors before enjoying a traditional English Afternoon Tea (included) and a tour of the gardens. We also enjoy a private floral demonstration by a local British flower grower.
We return to York for an evening at leisure (dinner independent).
Tuesday 6th July
This morning we take a walking tour of the delightful city of York. We will explore medieval streets such as the ‘Shambles’, see the city walls and make a visit to the mighty, medieval York Minster. We have lunch in the 14th century Bedern Hall (included). Your afternoon and evening will then be at leisure to further explore York and its excellent museums and shops (dinner independent).
Wednesday 7th July
Our first visit today is to a fascinating private garden hidden in a beautiful valley in the North York Moors with the perfect walled garden created on its south sloping valley side. We will meet the owner who will show us around.
We continue on to the pretty market town of Helmsley for some free time before visiting a stunning private garden that was designed by Tom Stuart-Smith. This masterpiece incorporates a vast, productive walled garden, stepped parterres and a deep gorge woodland garden. We have dinner in a local pub (included).
Thursday 8th July
This morning we visit a contemporary masterpiece, Scampston Walled Garden for an introductory talk to learn about Piet Oudolf’s design followed by time for lunch (independent).
In the afternoon we continue onto one of Britain’s finest stately homes, Castle Howard, made famous by its role in Brideshead Revisited and Bridgerton. There is time to explore the gardens before a private tour of the house. Dinner in the hotel (included).
Friday 9th July
After checking-out we visit one of Yorkshire’s finest private gardens, Littlethorpe Manor. The designer and head gardener will take us on a tour of the garden which recently enjoyed a major redesign.
We have lunch (included) in a small private garden before taking the train from York to London’ Kings Cross where we arrive around 6.30pm.
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, please click here.
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.
This luxury Lake District spa hotel is nestled on the Windermere shoreline in the heart of the Lake District National Park. We stay in the exclusive Winander Suite of rooms with views over the Langdale Pike Hills.
A/C – yes I Lift to all floors – yes I Spa & Pool – yes.
The Grand was once the HQ for the North Eastern Railway Company, one of the wealthiest businesses of the Edwardian era. Now a luxury 5-star hotel, but retaining its original splendour, The Grand features beautiful public spaces, spacious rooms, two restaurants and a bar.
A/C – yes I Lift to all floors – yes I Spa & Pool – yes.
NB: The outdoor thermal spa at Low Wood Bay and SubRosa Spa at The Grand, York are at additional cost and require pre-booking.
| Tour cost per person (sharing twin or double room) | Single supplement (for single occupancy of a double room) |
| £6,750 (GBP) | £950 (GBP) |
PRICES INCLUDE:
- 8 nights’ accommodation at 4 and 5-star hotels with en-suite facilities.
- Breakfast daily, 5 lunches and 6 dinners.
- Assistance with luggage at the hotels.
- All garden visits including tours with garden owners and head gardeners.
- Deluxe coach travel with professional driver.
- First class train travel from, and returning to, London 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 incidentals.
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 10% 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. 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 via secure online payment link.
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.
