Stately Homes, Castles and Gardens

England's splendour is on display when you visit the mighty castles, great houses and glorious gardens of our British heritage. Choose TWO OR THREE for your tour (subject to location):

Stourhead's stunning 18th century landscaped gardens are based around a large lake, with many statues of past Kings, and a temple.

Blenheim Palace is an 18th century masterpiece, and was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.

Hidcote Manor Garden is a colourful cottage garden designed by American Lawrence Johnson.

Waddesdon Manor is Rothschild's 'French Chateau', with one of the finest private art collections.

Woburn, a spacious 18th century mansion, contains paintings by Rembrandt, Canaletto, Velazquez and many more. Plus Imperial Chinese deer!

Leeds Castle, a romantic castle built in the middle of a lake, was once home to the Governor of Virginia.

Sissinghurst Garden, created by Vita Sackville-West, with White, Rose and Wild gardens, is acknowledged as one of England's most beautiful gardens.

Chartwell, the charming country home of Churchill, has been kept as he left it as a memorial.

Hever Castle was the romantic meeting place of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII.

Nymans Gardens (National Trust) For three generations the home of the Messel family.The library, drawing room and forecourt garden of Lord Snowden's mother Lady Rosse can still be seen. Set in 30 acres with: sunken garden, old rose varieties, spectacular rhododendrons, azaleas, woodland walks and wild garden containing many rare and exotic species from around the world.

Sheffield Park (National Trust) contains 5 lakes of different levels that are linked by cascades. Set among trees and shrubs with a variety of maples. For the 'little boy' in you close by is the Bluebell Railway which runs vintage steam locomotives along its 5 miles of track.

Wakehurst Place (National Trust) is the 'country cousin' of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. The gardens are huge with lakes, lawns and a Himalayan Glade that is some 80years old plus a Nature Reserve, all filled with trees and plants from across the world. Home of the Millennium Seed Bank.

West Dean dates back to 1622 but the vast majority of its gardens are classic 19th century with a 21Ž2 acre walled kitchen garden with 16 (restored) Victorian greenhouses and frames where peaches, peppers, aubergines, orchids are grown. There is also a 49 acre arboretum and much, much more. In all there are over 300 acres linked by paths totalling 21Ž4 miles in length.

Borde Hill is 200acres of lakes and parkland containing an 'Italian' garden, azalea beds, herbaceous borders. The Camellia 'Donation' was first raised here.

Denmans Gardens are on the site of the original 'home' farm that was part of the estate owned by Lord Denman in the 19th century. Now transformed into a series of ornamental gardens which include a walled garden and a gravel 'stream' leading to a water garden and the wild garden. The well-known landscape designer John Brookes now lives at Denmans from where his School of Garden Design is operated.

Leonardslee Gardens 80acres set in a valley with a chain of lakes and waterfalls, which were 'hammer' ponds back in the 17th century iron smelting days. Azaleas and rhododendrons are the main attraction in springtime/early summer and in autumn the many maple trees are at their best. For the past 100years this has also been home to a herd of wallabies.

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Claremont Landscape Gardens (National Trust) is associated with four of English gardening's greatest names. Begun in the early part of the 1700's by Sir John Vanbrugh and Charles Bridgeman. After Vanbrugh's death in 1726 work was continued first by William Kent and then Capability Brown. Claremont is the earliest surviving English landscape garden, which has been restored by the N.T.

Wisley is the 'home' of the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society). In addition to displays of heathers, azaleas, rhododendrons, herbaceous borders, rock gardens, wild garden there are large old oaks and redwoods. Trials of plants in differing soil conditions and/or manures and fertilizers are carried out here.

Here in Surrey there are three examples of Gertrude Jekyll's work as a garden designer.

Munstead Wood was her own house designed for her by Edwin Lutyens. The garden is being restored and although 'small' by her standards it in fact covers 15acres. This garden has a very limited opening period.

Hatchlands belonged to architectural historian Goodheart-Rendel and designed in the 'Arts and Craft' style. The area designed by Jekyll has been replanted to plans she made in 1914. Another area uses a design by Humphrey Repton.

Vann is a Tudor house with an 'Arts and Craft' garden to a Jekyll design of 1911. This garden also has limited opening times.