Compare Independent London: Roman Walls and Historic Royal Palaces by Road Scholar vs The Gardens of England & Wales with Chelsea Flower Show - 2022 by Insight Vacations
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| Trip |
4.5 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 9 days | 15 days |
| Price From | $ 1,999 | $ 5,559 |
| Price Per Day | $ 222 | $ 371 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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N/A |
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| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Airfare included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
6 Breakfasts and 3 Dinners |
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| Description |
The City of London began when the Romans founded a settlement on the River Thames in A.D. 43 and named it Londinium. In the two millennia since, rulers and dynasties have come and gone, leaving their mark on the architecture, art and the way of life of Londoners themselves. Join us for a fascinating close-up look at the complex history of one of the world’s most storied cities. We’ll find ancient remains, royal intrigue, iconic landmarks and still leave plenty of time for you to make your own discoveries along the way. |
Take a once in a lifetime trip across Britain, hobnobbing with London’s high society at the Chelsea Flower Show and promenading through the Trentham Gardens of Llandudno Bay, in Celtic Wales. This grand three-week journey showcases the vast Victorian Greenhouses of the Royal Botanical Society at Kew, the magnificent riverside gardens of King Henry VIII at Hampton Court Palace and the long-lost grounds of Heligan, on the Cornish Coast. View Wales from up high, as you ascend the country’s tallest peak on the Snowdon Mountain Railway. From the shores of England’s Lake District to Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest stomping grounds in Nottingham, these horticultural highlights are a joy to behold. |
Day 1: In Transit to Program
In Flight
Day 2: Arrival in London & Welcome Dinner, London, England
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Millennium Gloucester Hotel
Lunch: Excluded.
Afternoon: Hotel check in is at 3:00pm and the concierge will store any luggage. Check in to the hotel, unpack and relax. At 5:30pm, enjoy a welcome meeting for introductions, a review of the programme itinerary and site orientation. PLEASE NOTE - On arrival at the 1st site you will be given an Oyster Card which allows travel on the London Underground and Bus services and covers Zones 1 and 2. Your Group Leader will advise you on how best to use this.
Dinner: Enjoy a welcome dinner.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 3: Panoramic London Highlights & The Museum of London, London, England
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Millennium Gloucester Hotel
Breakfast: In the hotel.
Morning: This morning enjoy a lecture focusing on Londinium (Roman London), founded in about AD50 and the centre of administration for the province of Britannia. Following the lecture the coach departs the hotel for a panoramic overview of London's monuments and most famous sights. Your London expert continues a discussion of the city's history, as well as its architecture throughout the ages.
Lunch: Lunch is on your own to enjoy what you like. Your Group Leader will give you advice on the best places to find food in this bustling city of restaurants and cafes.
Afternoon: Learn about daily life in Roman London, festivals and feast days in honour of the gods as we visit the Museum of London. Following this, you have to option of joining your Study Leader to continue this exploration walk of Roman London: the walls, locations of gates and a selection of sites of Roman buildings. The walk terminates near Underground station to return to the hotel by Underground.
Dinner: Explore area restaurants on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 4: Discover Anglo Saxon London, London, England
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Millennium Gloucester Hotel
Activity note: Use of public transport and a round trip walk of up to 1 mile and standing up to 2 hours. Optional afternoon walk involves approx. 3 miles. This is a long day involving and evening experience.
Breakfast: Full English and continental breakfast in the hotel.
Morning: This morning's lecture focuses on After Rome: Saxon London. Following this we will travel to the world famous British Museum to view Roman and Saxon artifacts, notably the Mildenhall Treasure, the Sutton Hoo Treasure, and Frank's Casket, named after Sir Augustus Frank.
Lunch: Explore restaurants near the British Museum on your own.
Afternoon: Take an optional walk with your Group Leader to explore the City of London and Greenwich, the beginnings of the city you see today.
Dinner: In a Thameside pub.
Evening: Take a River Boat to Greenwich to see the lights and sites of London by night on the river Thames
Day 5: St. Paul's Cathedral, London, England
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Millennium Gloucester Hotel
Breakfast: Full English and continental breakfast in the hotel.
Morning: This morning we visit an unmissable feature of the London skyline, St. Paul’s Cathedral, often considered to be Christopher Wren’s masterpiece. The post-fire rebuilding of the Cathedral was officially completed on Christmas Day 1711 at a cost of £1m. The tranquil interior is majestic in its Baroque splendour. Enjoy a lecture from your Study Leader as you make your way through its awe-inspiring galleries.
Lunch: Explore area restaurants on your own.
Afternoon: Take an optional walk with your Study Leader to explore the Southwark area of London, including the famed Millennium Bridge. Free time for independent exploration of the Guildhall area of London near to St Paul's Cathedral.
Dinner: Explore area restaurants on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 6: The Tower of London, London, England
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Millennium Gloucester Hotel
Activity note: This trip involves use of public transport and round trip walk of up to 1 mile and standing of up to 2 hours. The optional afternoon walk involves approx. 1 mile.
Breakfast: Full English and continental breakfast in the hotel.
Morning: We take the underground to the Tower of London for an on site lecture and field trip. Visit the Crown Jewels and the White Tower, which was completed in 1100, and now houses an exhibition of armour and a range of fascinating artifacts connected with the history of the Tower and the Monarchy.
Lunch: Explore area restaurants on your own.
Afternoon: For those who wish to remain with the Study Leader, continue with walk round the walls and the medieval palace as the study leader gives insights into the history of this iconic fortress. Take a Yeoman Warder tour.
Dinner: Explore area restaurants on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 7: Discover Hampton Court Palace, London, England
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Millennium Gloucester Hotel
Activity note: This trip involves use of public transport and round trip walk of up to 1 mile and standing of up to 2 hours. The optional afternoon walk involves approx. 1 mile.
Breakfast: Full English and continental breakfast in the hotel.
Morning: On-site lecture on the Tudors and Stuarts. Led by your local expert, take public transport to discover the History of Hampton Court Palace and explore the wonders of this majestic building, and the stories behind them. Enjoy Henry VIII's Apartments and the display in the Council Chamber. Take a walk through the Tudor Kitchens, visit William III's Apartments and discover the Georgian Private Apartments.
Lunch: Excluded. Food may be purchased in the Hampton Court Cafe or Privy Kitchen.
Afternoon: Continue to the Chapel Royal and view the "Truimph of Cezar" by Mantegna. Take public transport back to central London and take some more time to explore this fascinating city.
Dinner: Explore area restaurants on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 8: Westminster Abbey, London, England
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Millennium Gloucester Hotel
Activity note: This trip involves use of public transport and round trip walk of up to 1 mile and standing of up to 2 hours. The optional afternoon walk involves approx. 1 mile.
Breakfast: Full English and continental breakfast in the hotel.
Morning: Enjoy a lecture on Georgian to Present Day London, before hopping aboard the underground and visiting Westminster Abbey. Discover over a thousand years of history where Benedictine Monks first came in the middle of the tenth century establishing a tradition of daily worship, where, some of the most significant people in the nation’s history have been buried and where numerous royal occasions took place including sixteen royal weddings and every Coronation since 1066.
Lunch: Explore area restaurants on your own.
Afternoon: Continue with your Study Leader with a walk through Westminster, or use your weekly public transport pass to explore more of London.
Dinner: Farewell dinner.
Evening: At leisure.
Day 9: Program Concludes, London, England
Meals: Breakfast
Breakfast: Full English and continental breakfast in the hotel.
Morning: Independent departures for return flights to North America. Some early transfers may leave before breakfast which ends at 10:00am. Your Group Leader will give you helpful information about getting to the airport and will be able to assist you with arrangements if needed.
Day 1: Arrive London
On arrival you are transferred from London Heathrow Airport to your hotel, Rubens at the Palace. Your base for the next four nights, this five-star hotel celebrates the very best of British culture, from the red tail-coated doormen to themed bedrooms. Ideally located by Buckingham Palace you have free time to explore, maybe visit the nearby Royal Mews? This evening join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a welcome drink and trip briefing at your hotel.
Day 2: Chelsea Flower Show
A transfer in the morning takes you to the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show. Bringing together the very best show gardens, flowers, and gardening from around the world, lose yourself amongst the magnificent floral displays and model gardens. Enjoy elaborate displays featuring courtyard, city and roof gardens, and hear from the experts. This evening dine on a spectacular Thames River Dinner Cruise, the perfect way to toast your travel companions and complete your memorable journey! (Dress code for the dinner cruise: Smart attire – dinner jacket recommended)
Day 3: London Sightseeing
With a Local Expert, explore the iconic sights and streets of London. See famous landmarks including Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral and Trafalgar Square. Admire the Royal residence of Buckingham Palace and savor a taste of British pageantry as you watch the Changing of the Guard (if operating) before lunch in a typical English pub. Later, sip a glass of champagne with a bird’s-eye view of London from the London Eye.
Day 4: Kew Gardens & Hampton Court Palace
This morning visit the famous Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. Explore inside the vast Victorian glasshouses and see the indoor galleries. Later, discover the wonders of majestic Hampton Court Palace, home to the Kings and Queens of Britain since the time of Henry VIII. Discover the magnificent State Apartments and explore the riverside gardens.
Day 5: Wisley Gardens to Cornwall
Today travel to the gardens of Wisley, renowned as the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society. The gardens are proud to showcase inspirational gardening throughout their 240 acres. Most famous is the Bowes-Lyon Rose Garden and the naturalistic Rock Garden, one of Wisley’s oldest and most magnificent features. Then continue to the idyllic county of Cornwall.
Day 6: Lost Garden of Heligan & The Cornish Coast
We visit Heligan, one of the most mysterious estates in England. Unveiled in 1992 from under decades of overgrowth, the Lost Gardens were restored on a shoestring budget and hailed by The Times as “the garden restoration of the century”. Today the mysterious gardens and estate offer over 200 acres for exploration! This afternoon is then free for you to relax at our hotel.
Day 7: Cornwall to Cheltenham
Our journey takes us through the English countryside to Bath. Visit the 18th Century Pump Room and the ancient Baths, then enjoy some free time to browse the quaint streets. Then it’s on to the town of Cheltenham where we stay for the next two nights.
Day 8: Cotswolds Excursion
A full day of sightseeing of the Cotswolds begins with a visit to Hidcote Manor Gardens, once of the greatest arts and crafts gardens in England. Our drive through the Cotswolds brings us to Bibury described as the ‘prettiest village in Britain’.Enjoy a delicious included lunch, before returning to our hotel.
Day 9: Cheltenham to Powis Castle & onto North Wales
Explore the magnificent Trentham Gardens. Enjoy glorious ancient woodland, and discover the Italian Gardens, the Rivers of Grass, and the Floral Labyrinth. At its heart is the spectacular, mile long Trentham Lake, a wildlife haven studded with small islands.
Day 10: Bodnant Garden Excursion
The day starts with a visit to the beautiful Bodnant Gardens, world famous for its botanical collections. Later move onto the village of Llanberis which sits at the foot of Mount Snowdon, Yr Wyddfa, which, at 3,560 feet, is the highest peak in Wales. Enjoy a fabulous trip onboard the Snowdon Mountain Railway, for stunning views of the mountain and surrounding vistas.
Day 11: North Wales to English Lake District
We bid farewell to Wales and continue north to the picturesque English Lake District where you see some of the most beautiful countryside in the world. We visit the village of Hawkshead, famous for its whitewashed cottages and cobbled lanes. Continue to our hotel close to Lake Windermere.
Day 12: English Lake District Experience
Today is devoted to this scenic Lake District wonderland, beginning with a visit to Hill Top, the home of author Beatrix Potter, famed for her beloved animal tales. Here she spent much of her life and wrote 13 of her 23 books. Next admire the finest, oldest and most extensive Topiary Gardens in the world at Levens Hall. Later, perhaps take a cruise on Lake Windermere?
Day 13: Lake District to Chatsworth & onto Nottingham
Heading through the rolling Derbyshire countryside we arrive at the Chatsworth Estate, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. Visiting the house, we see the elegant interiors and admire the art collection of 16 generations of the Cavendish family. Our guided walking tour of the gardens provides an insight into the principle historic features of the garden before an included lunch. Later continue to the historic city of Nottingham.
Day 14: Blenheim Palace to Bampton Village, then onto London
This morning explore the magnificent house and gardens of Blenheim Palace, home of the Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Continue to the village of Bampton to see the street where many scenes from the “Downton Abbey” TV series* were filmed. Later, return to London to enjoy a delicious dinner at a local restaurant. *Disclaimer: This sightseeing is an unlicensed and unauthorized tour of sites featured in the television series "Downton Abbey" produced by Carnival Film and Television and NBC Universal International Limited. Insight Vacations Limited and this trip do not have association with, connection to, sponsorship by or endorsement of the television series "Downton Abbey", Carnival Film and Television or NBC Universal International Limited.
Day 15: Farewell London
After breakfast bid your Travel Director and fellow travel companions farewell, and transfer to London Heathrow Airport to meet your ongoing flight.
