Exploring beautiful gardens in Sussex & Kent

Itinerary

Day 1, Travel from Shrewsbury to our hotel in Eastbourne visiting Parham House & Gardens

Traveling from Shropshire we will make our way to the hotel in Eastbourne, breaking our journey to visit beautiful Parham House & Garden in West Sussex. Lunch will be provided.

Paraham House was the home of Thomas Bishopp and his descendants for eleven generations until 1922, when it was sold to the Hon. Clive and Alicia Pearson. The Pearson’s restored the house and over the next 40 years filled it with a sensitively chosen collection of furniture, paintings, books, textiles and clocks.

The Gardens at Parham consist of seven acres of Pleasure Grounds, laid out in the 18th century, with a lake, spring bulbs, a brick and turf maze and many specimen trees.

Described as a series of ‘interlocking pictures’ exemplifying the best of the English romantic tradition, the old four-acre Walled Garden contains romantic wide herbaceous borders, a rose garden, a cut flower garden, a vegetable garden, an orchard and a 1920s Wendy House. A splendid Greenhouse, also dating from the 1920s, has a fine display of pelargoniums and other tender plants.

After checking into the hotel there should be time to relax before we meet up for pre-dinner drinks.

Day 2, Borde Hill Garden

Set within 383 acres of heritage listed Parkland we’ve arranged a full day, with coffee on arrival, a garden tour and lunch in the marquee, at this wonderful location.

This paradise for plants captivates and delights visitors with a series of intimate living ‘Garden rooms’. Originally planted by Col. Robert Stephenson Clark, a horticultural pioneer, who sponsored plant hunting trips around the world, resulting in one of the rarest collections of privately owned champion trees in the UK and plants from all four corners of the globe.

Over time the garden rooms have been renewed by subsequent generations of the family. The Rose Garden now has over 750 fragrant David Austin English roses! The Italian garden, with its formal lily pool offers panoramic views across the South Park and lakes. Beyond the formal garden, explore the historic Woodland, the South Park with tranquil lakes, and outstanding views across the Sussex High Weald.

Dinner will be served at 19.00 for the remainder of the tour allowing time for an after dinner stroll.

Day 3, Great Dixter House and Garden & Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Morning visit to Great Dixter House & Garden

Of course we had to include a pilgrimage to Great Dixter, the home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd (1921-2006). Lloyd developed Great Dixter into a hub of ideas and connections that spread out across the world. A garden link no other Lloyd wrote, ‘I have the freedom to do what I like. This isn’t a garden like anywhere else, it has the character of its owner’.

Arriving before the garden opens to the public we have a precious hour to explore and soak up the tranquillity of the garden.

This is a garden you can immerse yourself in, that is vibrant, daring and exciting. Now led by Fergus Garrett, Great Dixter is gardened remaining true to the personality of Christo. It is a highly managed garden that is bold, experimental, and has a long season. It is exuberant yet rich in biodiversity.

The house is made up of three houses, one built here in the mid-15th century with slightly later additions and the medieval part of the house (Great Hall, Parlor, and Solar) is open to visitors. Entrance into the house is included and is free flow. A guide is on hand in each room to explain the house’s history and answer questions.

Departing around lunch time we will make our way to nearby Sissinghurst Castle Garden, once home to Vita Sackville-West.

Afternoon visit to Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Described as ‘Historic, poetic, iconic: a refuge dedicated to beauty’ this world-renowned garden is the only one that could follow Great Dixter.

Famous as the epitome of the English garden, explore its series of garden rooms, each filled with different planting schemes and unique designs. Vita Sackville-West, the poet and writer, began transforming Sissinghurst Castle in the 1930s with her diplomat and author husband, Harold Nicolson. Harold’s architectural planning of the garden rooms, and the colourful, abundant planting in the gardens by Vita, reflect the romance and intimacy of her poems and writings. Heralded for its beauty and diversity, the garden is a result of the creative tension between Nicolson’s formal design and the exuberant planting of Sackville-West.

We expect to arrive back at the hotel around 18.30 and dinner will be at 19.00.

Day 4, A day in the Arundel, Arundel Castle & Garden, West Sussex

A charming drive over the South Downs will take us to the ancient town market town of Arundel. Our visit will start with a tour of the fascinating castle. The stunning combination of a 1000 years of history and splendid gardens – including the beautiful Collector Earl’s Garden and Oberon’s Palace – are not to be missed.

There will be ample time for a leisurely visit to Arundel’s museum and cathedral, contemporary art galleries, chic independent shops, restaurants and cafes where you can while away an hour enjoying a coffee on the banks of the lovely River Arun.

Whatever you choose in Arundel, the rich history and beauty on offer will not fail to delight.

Day 5, Sarah Raven’s Perch Hill Garden, travel back to Shropshire

Our final visit of the tour is to Perch Hill, to the private home and garden of Sarah Raven, gardener, writer and TV personality. There is free flow entry into the garden on arrival followed by a light lunch.

Don’t be fooled by the size of this small garden, there is so much to see and enjoy. The borders in the four ornamental gardens are artfully filled with color and texture combinations to delight. The Oast Garden has an extravagant mix of colour and structure. The Farmhouse Garden is filled with a range of roses backed up with annuals, perennials and shrubs chosen to provide pollen and nectar for a wide range of pollinators.

Two additional gardens include the rose and herb garden. The herbs are the best culinary varieties and are picked for the school kitchen nearby. The Dutch Yard is filled with pots and classic Dutch yard plants such as hydrangeas and a mulberry tree. Nearby are two wildflower meadows with one including a willow bed that provides a good supply of plant supports for the garden.

Departing early afternoon we will make our way back to Shropshire with a comfort stop en route, aiming to arrive in Shrewsbury around 18.30.

Booking your place

We have a limited number of various rooms types available for this tour.

Cost per person for sole occupancy rooms

6 true single rooms, no sole occupancy supplement – £1,440

4 true single rooms with a sea view, no sole occupancy supplement – £1,550

10 double rooms for sole occupancy – £1,555

Cost per person for two people sharing a twin or double room

4 twins rooms with a sea view – £1,550

1 twin room – £1,440

4 double rooms with sea view – £1,550

1 x double room – £1,440

£150 non-refundable deposit is payable on booking. Full payment is due 10 weeks before departure.

Travel arrangements

Departing Shrewsbury 08.00 on Sunday 12 July and arriving back in Shrewsbury around 18.30 on Thursday 16 July. All timings are provisional, are dependent upon traffic on the day and will be confirmed 7-days before travel.

The itinerary

On occasion we may need to make changes to the planned itinerary due to circumstances beyond our control. If this does happen we will get in touch to let you know the alternative arrangements.

And finally…

You are strongly advised to take out your own travel insurance to cover you for any emergency or cancellation or loss of luggage etc.

We have an ‘All Weather Policy’ which means the tour will go ahead come rain or shine unless the Met Office announces it is unsafe to travel. You are advised to check the weather forecast and bring appropriate clothing and footwear.

Please look at the Hotel Information and Mobility & Accessibility sections further down this for information on venues.

Hydro Hotel, Eastbourne: 4 nights dinner B&B staying at the Hydro Hotel, Mount Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 7HZ England. T: 01323 720643.

The 4-star Hydro Hotel, Eastbourne is located in an ideal elevated setting within private grounds with fine sea views.

For those who enjoy a swim the hotel has an outdoor pool, heated to a pleasant 22 to 24 degrees and is open from dawn until dusk. It has its own changing room and toilets for convenience. Pool towels are also provided.

The hotel is perfectly located to explore these gorgeous gardens of Sussex and Kent.

Accessibility & Mobility Information

Parham House & Gardens

Statement from Parham House & Gardens – ‘Everyone is warmly welcomed to Parham, but visitors with mobility issues should be aware that they may not be able to access all areas.’ Please follow the link for further information regarding access in the house and garden.

Use of National Trust Garden images: Thank you to the National Trust for providing the images for Sissinghurst Castle Garden.

Exploring beautiful gardens in Sussex & Kent

Tour Information

We adore a dedicated garden holiday and there are so many wonderful gardens to choose from in the south east. Our itinerary includes those ‘must see’ destinations as well as one garden that is new to Wisteria Tours.

Included in the Tour

A garden lover's holiday

Itinerary

Day 1, Travel from Shrewsbury to our hotel in Eastbourne visiting Parham House & Gardens

Day 2, Borde Hill Garden

Day 3, Great Dixter House and Garden & Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Day 4, A day in the Arundel, Arundel Castle & Garden, West Sussex

Day 5, Sarah Raven’s Perch Hill Garden, travel back to Shropshire

Booking your place

Parham House & Gardens

Borde Hill Garden

Great Dixter House & Garden

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Arundel Castle

Sarah Raven’s Perch Hill Garden