Chelsea flower show
Gardens vacation package and luxury cruise
MAGNA CARTA GARDENS CRUISE
Incorporating the Chelsea Flower show
Departing 17 May, 2009
available for individual passenegers and charters
Sunday - London to Cookham
Meet the Captain at the Stafford Hotel in London at 3pm for afternoon
tea before transferring to our mooring at Cookham, once described as
‘Heaven on Earth’ by artist Stanley Spencer, one of England’s greatest
and most eccentric painters. Champagne welcome on arrival with time to
take a stroll before Dinner on board.
Monday - Cookham to Cliveden
A morning cruise, which brings us to one of the most beautiful reaches
on the river and our mooring at Cliveden Estate and Gardens. This
magnificent estate, former home of Lord and Lady Astor, boasts amazing
views and incredible gardens. First laid out in the 18th century they
include a formal parterre, a wonderful water garden with a restored
Pagoda made for the Paris Exhibition of 1867, a long garden with
topiary and 18th century Venetian statues. Truly stunning. Dinner on
board.
Tuesday - Cliveden to Windsor
A morning cruise past fabulous waterside homes through the spectacular
open English countryside. After lunch we make a visit to Eton College,
founded in 1440 and currently school to Prince Harry. Here a beautiful
new footbridge not only allows splendid views of the collect and river
but takes you to Luxmore’s Garden, an island garden created by an Eton
Housemaster in 1880. There is also time to view the Provost’s and
Fellow’s Gardens. Return to Magna Carta for dinner on board.
Wednesday - Windsor to Runnymede
Today commences with a cruise to Runnymede followed by a visit and
morning coffee at stunning Saville Gardens. Saville Gardens comprises
of over 1,500 hectares of Windsor Great Park and is maintained by the
Crown Estate and contains a diverse range of land uses. Over 60% of the
Great Park is open to the public and it is estimated that more than 3
million visits are made each year. The Gardens Department is
responsible for 600 hectares of the Great Park including the Savill
Garden. There is also an optional visit to the nearby Wisley Gardens
which is 200 acres of botanic gardens, famous for their trials of new
varieties. Dinner on board.
Thursday - Runnymede to Hampton Court
Early morning cruise to Hampton Court. An early morning start takes us
to the Chelsea Flower Show, the most famous flower show in the world.
Here nurseries, societies and charities create colour filled stands and
amazing arrangements in a huge marquee outside the grounds of the Royal
Hospital in Chelsea. In addition to this there are wonderful and
innovative display gardens, both traditional and contemporary, created
by the brightest and best of Britain?s garden designers. Months of work
goes into these beautifully staged displays which only last a week.
After this heady and colourful assault on your senses we return to
Magna Carta for dinner on board.
Friday - Hampton Court to Teddington
This morning we visit the famous Kew Gardens. With the new Bonsai
collection, Palm House where all the plants have their first flush of
new growth and tropical water lilies are opening their exotic blooms in
the nearby Waterlily House. Plants of a smaller stature or scale can be
seen in the Rock Garden and here plants from the world’s mountain
ranges are grown alongside Mediterranean species, both enjoying the
open, sunny position and free-draining soil. Return to Magna Carta and
continue our cruise to our final mooring at St Katharines Dock in
London. Farewell Captains Dinner on board.
Saturday
10.00am: disembark and transfer back to the Stafford Hotel or Heathrow Airport.
Note: This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.
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