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| » Stately Homes & Gardens of Kent - 3 Days £385 |
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Majestic mansions, imposing castles and an enviable list of England's most magnificent gardens make this opulent Kent tour an unforgettable experience for anyone with a fondness for fine design. This tour is the ultimate opportunity to indulge your passion for architecture or landscaping compiling some of the world's most elegant abodes into a single showcase. Take time to stop and smell the roses.
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Tour Inclusions
• 2 nights in unique, traditional accommodation
• Driver/Guide companion
• All mini-coach transportation
• Full English cooked breakfast daily
• Three-course evening meal x 1
Entrance fees as listed:
- Royal Society Gardens at Wisley
- Hever Castle, Kent
- 1066 Battle of Hastings Abbey & Battlefield
- Bodiam Castle, Kent
- Sissinghurst Castle, Kent
- Scotney Castle, Kent
- Knole, Kent
- Chartwell, Kent
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This is a lovely tour
and has always received great plaudits and praise
from past participants. You'll be sure to add yours.
» DEPARTURE
DATES FOR 2010 - EVERY FRIDAY FROM APRIL
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» TENTATIVE ITINERARY |
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DAY ONE - Kent |
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Departing London we discover the magnificent Royal Society Gardens at Wisley. Here you can enjoy a garden that will inspire every aspiring botanist and a well-stocked bookshop, meaning you have no excuse for not taking home a few ideas for remodelling your own backyard! Hever Castle is the jewel of our day. Hever is many people's idea of what a 'real' castle should look like, from its gateway and courtyard to its surrounding moat. Though dating back to 1270, and being the family home of one of Henry VIII's ill-fated wives (Anne Boleyn), it also has a relatively contemporary feel provided by the Astors who took over and restored the castle in the early part of last century. With a 30-acre garden including a unique Italian garden filled with roses and statues, there's plenty to admire here.
(D)
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DAY
TWO - Kent |
This morning we discover the story of the fateful 1066 Battle of Hastings at
this 100-acre battlefield. Stand on the very spot where King Harold was slain
and explore the ruins of the atmospheric abbey, built by William the Conquer to
commemorate the thousands who died at this site. We enjoy a slight change of
pace and period for today's next visit, the magnificently preserved 14th century
Bodiam Castle, one of Britain's most evocative castle's. With its wide moat,
round towers and majestic gatehouse, Bodiam looks like something out of a
fairytale. Built by an ambitious knight called Sir Edward Dallingridge, its
purpose was as both a defence and a comfortable home. Enough of the interior
survives today to offer a good experience of castle life. The final destination
today, and arguably the highlight, is the fabulous Sissinghurst Castle. Vita
Sackville-West's world famous garden requires no introduction to garden
enthusiasts. We have plenty of time to explore this intimate and intricate
garden and to visit those parts of her home open to the
public.
(B)
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DAY
THREE - Kent |
We enjoy a relaxing morning start, where it will be possible to explore the local area before a fascinating day ahead. We make our way to Scotney Castle, which has been termed ‘England's most romantic garden.' Its Victorian terraces covered in a riot of coloured shrubs overlook the 14th century moated castle and its 311 hectares of beautiful estate parkland which feature a superb display of rhododendrons and azaleas. We then travel to Knole, one of England's great 'treasure houses'. Home of the Lords Sackville since 1603, the property has much to offer including Royal Stuart furnishings and an impressive art collection. Knole was the birthplace of Vita Sackville-West (whose own garden creation we saw yesterday) and was used by Virginia Woolfe as the setting for her novel Orlando. A visit here is like stepping back in time. Winston Churchill's home of Chartwell does not require an introduction! What makes it such a memorable visit is not only the view from the garden (that inspired his painting) but the fact that the interior is almost as he left it. You can almost smell the cigars! We return to London, fulfilled, after a wonderful exploration through these magnificent homes and gardens.
Price: £385.00 GBP based on two people sharing a twin / double room
Single: £455.00 GBP
Whats
Included ? Click here for full details
Advantages
and price justification - click here.
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NOTE: Includes:
three days touring, two night's accommodation
with full breakfasts and three course-dinners,
all entrance fees and services of driver/guide
and companion.
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“John
Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress, wrote most of his famous
book while in jail. He was imprisoned for twelve years for preaching
without a license. |
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I
would recommend Astral Travels to anyone planning to visit London.
The professionalism with which you operate your tours is obvious.
The clean spacious minibus was a very comfortable method of
travel, the route was well planned and designed to give us the
most time possible to explore the sights without feeling rushed,
and the cost of the day's tour was very very reasonable. From
the minute David collected us in the morning to the moment we
stepped off the minibus in the evening, we could relax and enjoy
ourselves to the fullest extent possible. And enjoy we did --
all of us hated to see the day end -- it was great!!! |
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