Blooms & Wines in The Garden of England £5pp NT / HH discount
Monday 26 September 2022 to Friday 30 September 2022
£650pp Single supplement £80
- Destination
- Itinerary
- Full inclusions
- Hotel
- Booking request
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For hundreds of years the county of Kent has been widely regarded as ‘The Garden of England’, future generations have taken it a step further and it’s increasingly being referred to as ‘The Beer Garden of England’! A combination of rolling green hills, southern sun and clay, chalk and greensand soils make perfect growing territory for both stunning floral displays and fine English beers and wines. Discover it all on this five day break.
*NEW FOR 2022 AT LEEDS CASTLE* Step in to the 1930s with a unique display that introduces you to one of the Castle’s most sophisticated, yet enigmatic female owners. Glide into an exotic 1930s house party hosted by Lady Baillie hearing stories from gossiping staff about the high society members that partied here! Don’t miss their exciting ‘Queens with Means’ medieval immersive experience that opened in July too - seven historic queens, including Katherine of Aragon, reveal their untold stories. The iconic Black Swans have also returned to the Castle's Moat after a devastating year of avian flu, it's wonderful to see these majestic birds back on the water.
Start planning your free time in Folkestone with our handy map, the hotel is situated on The Leas, with Mermaid Beach on the coastline below.
Tour code: A3371
Monday
Drive south to check in to your coastal hotel.
Tuesday
Spend the morning at leisure, the hotel is just 10 minutes’ walk from Folkestone town centre and a shorter stroll to the cliff top where you’ll find winding routes through the trees down to Folkestone’s sandy beach. This afternoon we’ll visit Leeds Castle. At 902 years old it has welcomed countless royal visitors, but it was King Henry VIII who transformed it from a fortified stronghold into a magnificent royal palace. Today it’s widely referred to as 'the loveliest castle in the world'.
Wednesday
Drive across the pretty Kentish countryside to Bodiam Castle, where ‘The Jewel of the Weald’ steam train will be waiting to take you on a 50-minute journey along this heritage line, following the unspoilt Rother Valley to the quaint wool town of Tenterden. Spend the afternoon enjoying the historic Tudor house and tranquil gardens at Great Dixter. There are over 18 beautiful outdoor areas to wander amongst, widely regarded as a place of pilgrimage for gardeners all over the world.
Thursday
Visit the National Trust’s world-renowned gardens at Sissinghurst Castle. The romantic gardens were divided into ten distinctly different ‘rooms’ by their poetic designers to create a colourful ‘refuge of beauty’. Nature and wine fans alike will love our afternoon visit to Balfour Winery for a guided tour of the Hush Heath Estate, where 400 acres of lush vineyards and orchards thrive to produce these fine English wines. Complete the visit with an exciting tasting of six Balfour wines.
Friday
Our homeward journey includes a sightseeing break in the historic town of Rochester, a place cherished by the Victorian novelist Charles Dickens, who lived in the area as a child and returned as a successful author. The stunning cathedral was founded in 604, making it the second oldest in England and the magnificent castle has breath-taking views from the top of one of the tallest keeps in the country.
- 4 nights' dinner, bed and breakfast
- Entry to Leeds Castle
- Entry to Great Dixter House & Gardens (HH)
- Entry to Sissinghurst Gardens (NT)
- Guided estate tour & tasting at Balfour Winery
- Rother Valley Steam Journey
- Free time in Folkestone and Rochester
- Tea/coffee after dinner each evening
- Door2Door travel (save £10pp by meeting the coach)
- Free BCH/ABTOT Financial Protection
- Free holiday insurance
- Pre allocated seat
- Just £40pp deposit (balance due 8 weeks prior to departure)
- £5pp discount for Historic Houses Members
- £5pp discount for National Trust Members
- Executive touring coach featuring a refreshment station, reclining seats, reading lights, curtains, foot and arm rests, toilet, safety belts, air suspension and individual air-flow controls
- An experienced, friendly, highly-rated and professional tour driver
Best Western Plus Burlington Hotel, Folkestone 
- Beautifully positioned on The Leas clifftop promenade, overlooking the English Channel
- Modern hotel with Victorian charm
- 10 minutes’ walk from Folkestone town centre and a shorter stroll to the cliff top where you’ll find winding routes through the trees down to Folkestone’s sandy beach
- Our customers rated this hotel 4.1/5 stars in 2022 based on its food & drink, customer service, bedroom comfort and public areas
- Ensuite rooms with TV, phone, hairdryer, free WiFi & hospitality tray
- Restaurant, bar and lounge
- Garden and terrace
- Lift to all floors
ACCESS: There are several steps to the main door but ramped access is available through an alternative entrance, ground floor rooms involve 3 steps but ramps are available
Please ask us about upgrade options which may be available at supplement
