Chelsea 2015 - ICanGarden.com

May 23rd Your Day of Leisure

After a great breakfast in our hotel you are off and running…I know you will as there is just so much to see and do here. Tonight is also a good night to book the theatre, or St. Martin in the Fields music concerts as on other nights we cannot guarantee that you will be back in time. The day is yours. Enjoy…

May 24th Transfer to Stratford Upon Avon with visits en route
Savill Garden - Britain's Finest Ornamental Garden

The Savill Garden is awash with colour and are world renowned for their rhododendron, azalea and spring woodland displays. Spring Wood is a perennial favourite offering a fine show of rhododendrons and azaleas, with several of the rhododendron species forming part of the NCCPG National Collection. They have also begun a gradual replanting program introducing certain selected rhododendron hybrids, originally bred towards the start of the twentieth century and now rarely seen in gardens. The Queen Elizabeth Temperate House is well worth a visit. And be sure not to miss the delights of the Hidden Gardens in May. There are many drifts of primula, iris and astilbes through the Bog Garden and the Peat Beds are packed with lots of little treasures. The Savill Garden was created by Sir Eric Savill, grand master of the woodland garden, in the 1930s with the support of King George V and Queen Mary. Eight National Collections are represented in the Garden including Magnolia, Rhododendron Species and Mahonia. A Champion Tree is the nationally recognized accreditation for the tallest tree or example with the largest girth within each type of tree in the UK and there are more than twenty Champion Trees in The Savill Garden. Just wait until you see the Savill Building shaped like a leaf! Café and shop. http://www.theroyallandscape.co.uk/gardens-and-landscape/the-savill-garden/

We continue on to the Cotswold Perfumery where if you like, you can enjoy a wander around the shop. A unique family business in the heart of the Cotswolds. Many fine fragrances in the niche market owe at least some of their success to John, and his perfumes are worn by enthusiasts all over the world - even The Queen. The Cotswold Perfumery home is this beautiful Grade II Listed, 300 year old property in Bourton on the Water. This is where perfumes are created by John Stephen - the chief perfumer. It was clear that fine fragrances was where a small business could compete with the world’s largest. Work had already been done with a London perfume house (Czech & Speake) and in 1992 the Cotswold Perfumery was proud to announce that Buckingham Palace had selected “Pallas” over all the competition - a beautiful Jasmine perfume. In 1998 wins were achieved with a French perfume house (Fragonard) against competition from French perfume manufacturers. And in 1999 John was commissioned by The Queen to produce two perfumes for Her Majesty as well as other fragrances for the Royal family. The Cotswold Perfumery is unusual - it is one of only three manufacturers and retailers of perfume in Europe. Clients include Her Majesty the Queen, Prince Charles, Elton John, Ozzy Osbourne and many thousands of enthusiastic followers. Everything is done by hand by a small but dedicated team. http://www.cotswold-perfumery.co.uk/

From here we will enjoy some free time in Bourton On The Water until we leave to head to our hotel. Here is a map for your planning.
http://www.bourtoninfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Bourton-map02.pdf
List of food and drink places http://www.bourtoninfo.com/food-drink/
List of shops http://www.bourtoninfo.com/shops-services/

Then we arrive at our hotel for the next three nights, Alveston Manor, Stratford upon Avon

Relax and unwind in your delightful Classic bedroom, light, airy and extremely comfortable to ensure you have a great night's sleep. Located in the modern wing, these rooms offer ample space. Free, unlimited WiFi internet access powered by The Cloud enables you to keep in touch.
http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/alveston/