Holidays for the garden enthusiast

Garden holidays in Oxfordshire

Private Gardens of Oxfordshire
3-6 September 2012

Oxfordshire is essentially an agricultural county of rolling hills and meandering river valleys and is the most rural county in the South East of England – a perfect area for exploring private gardens.

Just a short walk from Oxford city centre with a parkland and riverside setting, our 4* Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel is centrally based to visit a selection of private gardens in the county.

Chivel Farm is a beautifully designed 2-acre country garden, with colour schemed borders, many unusual trees and extensive views. Another small garden, Woolstone Mill House, lies in a pretty hidden village and has large mixed herbaceous and shrub borders, bog gardens, topiary and a splendid tree house with spectacular views to Uffington White Horse (pictured top left). After lunch in the village inn we journey to our last private garden, The Old Rectory, once the home of British poet John Betjeman. With the house sitting in the heart of the garden looking out over the Downs, this 4-acre site contains deep borders, rare plants and an arboretum with over 150 trees.

Surrounded by trees, shrubs and ornamental flower borders, Waterperry Gardens is a magical place. Within the 5-acre orchards, Waterperry apples are grown, harvested and juiced onsite using time-honoured methods, which will be explained to us during our private tour of the site. There will be plenty of time to see the beautiful gardens and take lunch before travelling on to visit a larger collection of trees at the Harcourt Arboretum. This impressive site holds a wide selection of trees, some of which will be pointed out by our guide, and is part of the plant collection of the Botanic Garden.

En route we will call into Pettifers, a 1 ½ acre private garden with a peaceful feel that comes with the extraordinary views over the landscape; a plantsman’s garden, with plenty of all-year-round interest particularly in the autumn border. In complete contrast, we travel on to the Broughton Grange Estate for a tour of this grand garden, set in mature parkland. Leading designer Tom Stuart-Smith was commissioned to transform a 6-acre south facing field into a walled garden and this impressive new garden features three themed terraces, designed to blend effortlessly with the surrounding rural landscape.

On our way home we will spend time in the 'City of Dreaming Spires'. Along with its University colleges and impressive buildings, Oxford has one of the oldest botanic gardens in Britain. Founded in 1621, the garden consists of three sections; a Walled Garden, glasshouses containing tender plants and a larger area with a Water Garden, Rock Garden and herbaceous borders.

Lunch can be taken in the many city cafés and there will be free time to wander until we head back home.

Cost per person: £480
Single room supplement: £45

Departure points: Saxilby, Lincoln, Newark, Leicester, Lutterworth
We may pick-up from a limited number of other points if they are en route and easy for coach access.

Your holiday includes:

Comfortable executive coach throughout the holiday
Quality 4* hotel with ensuite rooms, 3-course dinner and choice of cooked or continental breakfast
One lunch and refreshments at all private gardens
All garden admissions
Garden visits on both outward and homeward journeys
Services of Tour Director on every holiday

Holiday Terms and Conditions