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England

Chelsea Flower Show and Gardens: A British Tradition

Program No. 22576RJ
Inspiration blooms when you join us for the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show and explore some of England’s best-loved gardens with experts!
Participant Reviews
4.88
Based on 27 Reviews
SHOWING
David – Class of 2007 | San Diego, CA
This was an excellent program—one of the best Road Scholar excursions that I have done.
— Review left August 27, 2025
Wendy – Class of 2019 | Carmel, IN
The Chelsea Flower Show is awesome to experience! But even better is the opportunity to see and experience so many English gardens, some of them iconic and some lesser known, but all very beautiful and interesting.
— Review left June 4, 2025
Irene – Class of 2024 | Shawnee, KS
This tour was beyond anything I imagined. The gardens were wonderful, of course, but it was the expertise of our group leader that really made the trip for me. His depth of knowledge was remarkable and his guided tours through the gardens were very educational and enjoyable.
— Review left June 2, 2025
Laurette – Class of 2025 | Charleston, SC
Great to participate in an area that I was not active in. I think I'm going to bump up my gardenibg game.
— Review left June 2, 2025
Nancy – Class of 2025 | McMinnville, TN
Road Scholar does all the work, so you can have all the fun! A great value for your money.
— Review left May 25, 2025
Linda – Class of 2016 | Eugene, OR
The must-do experience for anyone who loves English gardens.
— Review left May 25, 2025
Duane – Class of 2016 | Phoenix, AZ
If you're interested in getting a good sampling of English gardens, from big gardens to huge gardens, private to public, historic to relatively new, this is the tour for you! In addition to the gardens, you will see some fine churches and historic homes. Though the pace is listed as "active", it only means you will spend a good deal of time leisurely strolling through some fine gardens,
— Review left May 24, 2025
William – Class of 2001 | Delmar, NY
If you or your travel companion is an active gardener, this is a great tour.
— Review left May 24, 2025
Virginia – Class of 2017 | Hardeeville, SC
Jump on this trip as soon as you see it appear on the RS calendar. It's as ephemeral as a Virginia bluebell. Wonderful from start (Chelsea Flower Show) to finish (Rousham Gardens) with so many delights in between.
— Review left June 12, 2024
Lynn – Class of 2015 | Saint Cloud, FL
I hope the program Chelsea Flower Show and Gardens continues to be offered by Road Scholar. One of the best programs I have attended. The visits to the notable gardens after the Chelsea Flower show only enhanced the program.
— Review left June 7, 2024
John – Class of 2004 | Colorado Springs, CO
Great program, really enjoyed it. Leaders were great.
— Review left June 3, 2024
Alberta – Class of 2010 | Alexandria, VA
If you are a gardener or just love gardens this is the trip for you.
— Review left June 21, 2023
Diane | North Andover, MA
A wonderful experience for gardeners at all levels! Thanks to you all and especially to Adam and Kevin for making this unforgettable. They are truly amazing!! I really loved Wisley, Sissinghurst, and Lullingstone but all the sites were memorable. I would have liked to see Kew, to spend more time at Wisley, and to have toured Chelsea by myself so I could see everything without the massive crowds! I've had a grand time telling my master gardener friends about the wonderful things I saw.
— Review left June 20, 2023
Meg – Class of 2021 | Banyoles, Spain
Whether you are a gardener, a horticulture academic, or simply a garden enthusiast, this program includes a garden for every taste and interest. It's so much more than the name would suggest. As with all RS trips, our expert guide (and fellow travelers) made it educational, entertaining and inspiring.
— Review left May 30, 2023
This participant did not give a star rating.
Page – Class of 2004 | Manchester, MA
What a marvelous trip! The Chelsea Flower Show exceeded my high expectations and the other gardens we visited were beautiful, varied, and interesting. Chelsea, in particular was inspirational: I love that they emphasized rewilding, pollinators, and native species as well as a positive impact in urban areas as well as gardens. The designs were fabulous! As I have a fairly small garden, there was little I could bring home and use, but that's not why I went. Visiting beautifully designed English gardens has been on my bucket list for some 30 years and I was delighted and inspired by all. The participants were just as interesting nor can I say enough for our leaders and bus driver. Their combined expertise, charm, and overall helpfulness cannot be overstated. I have three negative comments, however: 1) The group was far too large which could be felt both socially and during guided tours (despite the Whisperers). The trip would have benefitted from being a small group (12-18), which would also have allowed smaller and more charming accommodations. 2) Almost no one wore or was asked to wear a mask despite widespread COVID (it may not have been required by the government but could and should have been a serious health consideration by Road Scholar). Two people contracted COVID during the tour and RS only told participants after one of the patients wrote twice to a leader and to several other participants. Even then, RS downplayed it and said there was only one. Why would PR supersede good health? 3) Smaller boutique hotels would have been more in keeping with creating an English experience. The Radisson hotels were not well-run or clean, the staff were often unhelpful, the meals were so-so, and the rooms relatively small.
— Review left July 4, 2022
Robert – Class of 2022 | Minneapolis, MN
Other participants and we were not able to use your "start a discussion " link before the trip. We sent a question about program changes, got an acknowledging email saying that it would be looked into and you would get back to us - but that didn't happen.
— Review left June 11, 2022
Randy – Class of 2015 | Calabasas, CA
Even if you're not into gardens or plants, just viewing their English style esthetics is truly spectacular. This tour was interspersed with free time in Canterbury, various Cotswold villages, Oxford, and Cheltenham to add to the local flavor and variety of the program. And our two Kevins and Tom Hart Dyke were so fascinating that I just had to get their autographs!
— Review left June 8, 2022
Margaret – Class of 2022 | Ware Neck, VA
Fabulous gardens and London during the Chelsea Flower Show, what more could you ask for?
— Review left May 30, 2022
Kathleen – Class of 2022 | Rochester, NH
I would encourage others to enjoy a Road Scholar tour. Traveling in a tour group provides excellent value, especially for seniors.
— Review left May 29, 2022
Diane – Class of 2006 | Burlingame, CA
If you have any interesting in gardening or just like lovely gardens go on this one!
— Review left May 28, 2022
Marsha – Class of 2014 | Carlyle, Canada
If you love flowers and looking at gardens this is a dream trip for you.
— Review left June 23, 2019
This participant did not give a star rating.
Joanne – Class of 2010 | White Plains, NY
This was a wonderful trip. Great gardens, good food and hotels. The weather was warm and sunny - perfect for seeing the Flower show and the other gardens not your typical rainy English weather. The "2 Kevins" were perfect hosts and would like to travel with them again.
— Review left June 9, 2019
Jean – Class of 2019 | Wayland, MI
This was my first Road Scholar trip and it was delightful. I've been on other tours but nothing that I have done before has compared to this. The group leader Kevin H was delightful. He made everything run smoothly and he was always available when needed. The instructor Kevin T was great, I learned so much from him, he was the perfect person for this tour. Friendly and delightful as well. The use of the listening device really helped the program, we never missed any info. It was a great program for gardeners, it was the Best.
— Review left June 8, 2019
Pamela – Class of 2019 | Brockport, NY
The trip to the Chelsea Flower Show, Kent and Cotswold gardens was beyond my greatest imagination! Every second was beautiful, fun, great learning and adventure. This was a very renewing experience and I am so grateful that I was able to participate. I would like to make this an annual tradition, have a new adventure each year!
— Review left June 5, 2019
Lucille – Class of 2019 | Arcola, Canada
This program is wonderfully suited for individuals or couples who would like to experience a learning adventure without the work of planning that trip. Road Scholar does it for you!
— Review left June 4, 2019
Susan – Class of 2019 | Yakima, WA
The Chelsea Flower Show and gardens of eastern England tour is a delightful way to enjoy the fabulous English gardens and learn so many gardening tips.
— Review left June 3, 2019
Susie – Class of 2019 | Hopkins, MI
The program was wonderful, the gardens delightful and both Road Scholar (Kevin's) were the best.
— Review left May 26, 2019