Great English Gardens & The Chelsea Flower Show'26

May 18-29, 2026

12 days | England | alumni UBC Travel Club

We're putting finishing touches on this exciting tour. Please email Abbie to register your interest and to be the first to access a detailed itinerary.

Gary Lewis is back for an all-new tour to England and the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. This time, we’ve combined it with a road trip to Cornwall and the southwest before a return to Windsor on the outskirts of London.

Spend the first full day of the tour at the Chelsea Flower Show on members-only day, benefitting from Gary’s expertise and many personal connections with both people and flowers. From there, make for Devon and Cornwall, with en-route visits to Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the Royal Horticultural Society Garden Wisley and a one-night stay in Winchester. The two nights in Devon revolve around explorations of The Newt, Montacute House, and Coleton Fishacre Garden. Once in Cornwall and stationed at Falmouth, the main event is a helicopter ride to the Isles of Scilly and the famous Tresco Abbey Gardens. The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Trebah Garden, Glendurgan Garden, and St Ives round out your time in the deep southwest.

Among the multiple garden visits per day, we have also arranged for stays at historic hotels and visits to iconic historic sights like Stonehenge to round out this latest horticultural journey with Gary. Join him and fellow garden enthusiasts in May 2026!

Tour Cost (per person):

C$9995 including taxes and gratuities

Group Size:

20 - 24 participants

What’s included: Single group transfer from airport to hotel on tour start date; single group transfer from hotel to airport on tour end date; accommodations based on double occupancy in hotels listed or similar; ground transportation by private coach; helicopter rides on Day 9; all activities as described in the detailed itinerary; entrance fees to all sites visited with the group; meals as specified in the detailed itinerary; services of specialized site guides; porterage of one standard piece of baggage per person; gratuities for guides, driver, and included meals; all taxes; services of your Tour Leader Gary Lewis; fully escorted by our UK Tour Director

"Gary is extremely knowledgeable about the flora and he was always very helpful and informative." - alumni traveller on our Gardens of New Zealand tour

"Gary was great! He created a relaxed and fun environment for the tour. His plant knowledge was incredible! He was wonderful to spend time with." - alumni traveller on our Gardens of France tour

Itinerary at a Glance

Day	Activity
1	Arrive in London
2	RHS Chelsea Flower Show
3	Kew and RHS Garden Wisley / To Winchester
4	Stourhead / The Newt / Montacute House / To Exeter
5	Greenway / Coleton Fishacre Garden / To Plymouth
6	Eden Project / Lost Gardens of Heligan / To Falmouth
7	Trebah Garden / St Michael’s Mount
8	Glendurgan Garden / The Minack Theatre / St Ives / To Truro
9	The Isles of Scilly
10	Port Isaac / Boscastle / Knightshayes Court / To Bath
11	Bath / Stonehenge / Savill Garden / To Windsor
12	Depart London

Your Tour Leader

UBC alumnus Gary Lewis is the owner of Phoenix Perennials, a cutting edge retail nursery in Vancouver, and an expert on perennials and horticulture. He is one of Canada’s most knowledgeable plant experts with a deep and special interest in rare and unusual herbaceous perennials. He recently published The Complete Book of Ground Covers.

Tour Cost (per person):

C$9995 including taxes and gratuities

Group Size:

20 - 24 participants

What You'll See: