A Trip to the Chelsea Flower Show 2016
/I am looking for expressions of interest, with a view to arranging a four-day coach trip to the wonderful Chelsea Flower Show in May next year (2016).
I have found a firm offering a four-day tour with three nights in a hotel, including an evening meal and a cooked breakfast. The trip also includes a visit to Hampton Court Gardens on the way down, a full day at Chelsea, a further day when we visit RHS Gardens Wisley and Royal Windsor, and--on the last day--there is the option of an excursion to Kew Gardens.
The current cost of this trip is £299 per person (£45 single-person supplement), but this is dependent on the numbers attending.
This seems a lot of money, and it is, but I have been looking at various tours and our proposed trip looks like good value and you get a full day at Chelsea. You also have the benefit of having 12 months to save up for it. The full itinerary is shown below.
Currently, the pick-up points are Chester, Ellesmere Port and Wrexham. However, if we make a 'block booking' of about 35 seats, we would be allocated our own personal coach. This would mean we would not have to zigzag across the country picking up passengers, and we could have a bespoke package with a pick-up in Rossett.
I am not asking for money at this stage; I am just looking at the feasibility of setting this up.
If you are interested, get saving, and contact me on 01244 571338, email brhs@rossett.net or drop me a line at 77 Harwoods Lane, Rossett, LL12 0EU.
This is your change to arrange the trip that you want.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Bob Bates
General Secretary
Day 1: Hampton Court
Your holiday begins when you board our private coach in the early morning and travel to Hampton Court. Set in glorious grounds beside the River Thames, Hampton Court Palace boasts 60 acres of beautiful gardens. You have free time to explore these gardens, including the Privy Garden which has been restored to its 1702 glory, the Maze (not included) and the Great Vine.
You may wish to visit the Palace Gardens exhibition on the East Front. Take a horse and tram ride around the gardens (available in the summer months - not included). Light snacks and delicious cream teas are also available in the 'Tiltyard Cafe'. After our visit we continue to our hotel for your included evening meal.
Day 2: RHS Chelsea Flower Show
After your included breakfast we travel to the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London for our included entrance to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. You have the opportunity to appreciate the fabulous combination of modern and classic design as you wander amongst the marquees and admire the gardens and floral exhibits. The Great Pavilion is the heart of the show, which covers nearly 12,000 square metres alone. This is where world-class nurseries, growers and plant specialists dazzle visitors with colour and fragrance from some of the World’s finest plant collections, along with many new introductions from renowned exhibitors.
There’s also a wide range of food and drink available to purchase around the showground. Whatever your reasons for visiting The RHS Chelsea Flower Show you will leave knowing that you have taken part in a great British tradition where you have picked up useful advice, gained exciting inspiration and enjoyed yourself on a day you’ll never forget. After our visit we return to our hotel for your included evening meal.
Day 3: RHS Garden Wisley, Windsor
After your included breakfast we travel to the Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden at Wisley for our included entrance. This unique and enchanting garden can be appreciated by keen gardeners and garden lovers of all ages and experience. You will be amazed as you walk through the 172 acres containing model gardens with plans you can achieve, mixed borders, wild gardens, fruit and vegetable gardens, the rock garden, the spectacular glasshouse and famous rhododendrons and irises.
After our visit we travel to Royal Windsor where you will have free time to spend at your leisure. Here you will have the chance to explore the wealth of shops or visit the castle (entrance not included). From here we return to our hotel for your included evening meal.
Day 4: London (or optional excursion to Kew Gardens)
After your included breakfast we check out of our hotel and travel to London for free time or you can join our optional excursion to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. (Please indicate on the booking form if you wish to pre-book). Covering an area of just over 300 acres the gardens contain a stunning array of plant life, glasshouses and galleries.
You will have the chance to wander through the Temperate House which houses subtropical and temperate plants from around the globe, marvel at the Princess of Wales Conservatory which has 10 different climatic zones with plants ranging from tiny orchids to the giant water lily, as well as cacti, carnivorous plants and fish; and admire the Palm House and its collection of rainforest species and the Pagoda which towers a magnificent 50 metres in height.
The amazing Rhizotron and Xstrata treetop Walkway offer the opportunity to journey both underground amongst the tree roots in the Rhizotron before climbing 118 steps up to the Xstrata tree top Walkway to discover the birds, insects, lichens and fungi that rely upon the tree canopy of sweet chestnuts, limes and deciduous oaks. From here we commence the return journey, home arriving back in your local area in the mid to late evening.
