▪ Did you know that there is a rooftop garden on an office building in the heart of London with panoramic views of the city?
▪ Did you know that there is a botanical garden on the River Thames with a plant collection that focuses exclusively on medicinal plants, herbs, and beneficial plants?
▪ Have you ever visited a food market that has been around for over 1,000 years?
▪ Have you wandered around a lush garden landscape where you encounter sculptures by renowned artists that transform the forests and enrich the view?
▪ Did you know that the owners of a vineyard in West Sussex have based their award-winning winemaking on guidance from nature to grow the best grape varieties in their ecosystem?

• Day 1: Welcome lunch & visit to Chelsea’s famous botanical garden
• Day 2: The Garden at 120 – rooftop garden with City of London view & Borough’s traditional food market
• Day 3: Day trip to Blenheim Palace and the University of Oxford. Lunch at Blenheim and university walk at Oxford + visit to Christ Church
• Day 4: Leonardslee Gardens and Lakes’ outstanding landscaped gardens. A stroll & afternoon tea
• Day 5: Bolney Wine Estate - on the trail of English sparkling wines & lunch

From Gatwick Airport, we take the Southern Western Railway directly to Victoria Station. From there, it is just a two-minute walk to the hotel where we will be staying for the first two nights.

Double Three Victoria Hotel by Hilton is a modern and comfortable four-star hotel situated opposite Victoria Station. The hotel provides guests with a pleasant atmosphere in the very heart of the city.

Renowned for its excellent service, welcoming lobby and delicious breakfast, the hotel is ideally suited for both relaxation and socialising after the day’s excursions.

Stanhill Court is a magnificent manor house surrounded by greenery and ancient woodland, with idyllic views of the Surrey Hills. The four-star hotel is just under a quarter of an hour's drive west of Gatwick Airport.

Here, we will stay for the final two nights, resting between outings, enjoying the tranquil surroundings, gathering together, and dining in the evenings.

Chelsea Physic Garden was established in 1693. The garden covers an area of four acres, and has a collection of more than 4,500 plant species. Today, the garden contributes to the city's biodiversity and provides a place for people to connect with nature. The garden was opened to the public in 1987.

In the late 1400s, people began to travel in search of profitable and useful plants. Plant hunters transported them over continents. Today you can find plants from all corners of the world in the botanical garden.

The Plant Collection is the only botanical garden collection that focuses exclusively on medicinal, herbal, and useful plants. Each area of the garden is planted with a specific focus such as edible plants, medicinal plants, and poisonous plants.

As an example, the medicinal plant exhibitions explore the history of plant medicine. The relationship between humans, plants and medicinal plants can be found in this area of the garden.

In many cultures around the world, health was defined by the balance between body and mind. Therefore, it was important to be able to identify plants, what properties they have and how these can be best used.

Before the tour, we will have lunch in the garden's restaurant.

You've probably visited London's vibrant quarters before without knowing that there's a green lung 15 floors above street level in the heart of the City of London.

Here you are met by lush plant beds, water pools, rest benches and walls of climbing plants that cover the steel pergola canopies unfolding across the entire roof garden at high level.

All plants grow in a continuous layer of a pure-mineral substrate that extends under the hard pavement surface of the garden.

Daily watering and regular supply of nutrients and compost provide good growing conditions.

You can move around the outer perimeter of the garden, observe the diversity of flowers, trees and greenery. At the same time you are able to view the London Skyline in all directions.

The garden is a successful example of how green lungs can soften modern, dense urban spaces.

We leave The Garden at 120 , crossing London Bridge over the River Thames until we reach the Borough Market on the west flank of the bridge's foundation.

Here they don't just sell good food and drink, they celebrate it. They like just not how it tastes but the way it makes us feel.

If you care about what you eat and where your food comes from, the people who sell here can also feed your curiosity. They are concerned with the food's ability to connect us to the people who have produced it and the places where it is made.

The Borough Market story began 1,000 years ago, when a market took shape at the foot of London Bridge. Since 1756, the market has been in its current location, run by a charitable trust on behalf of the community.

Today, the mission is to show that food can be made and sold in ways that are better for people, for the planet and for the sheer pleasure of eating.

Oxford University, one of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions, stands tall with its long history, ancient buildings and vibrant student life.

Here, you wander along cobbled paths, shaded by Gothic spires and leafy trees, listening to tales of tradition, academic freedom and the distinctive atmosphere that defines Oxford.

The city’s intellectual heritage is visible at every turn – from the iconic gates of the Bodleian Library to the little cafés where students debate everything from philosophy to physics.

Christ Church, one of Oxford’s most renowned and majestic colleges, is a true gem, celebrated for its magnificent history and architecture.

You are greeted by its splendid dining hall, famous from the Harry Potter films as well as the university’s own ceremonies; a space where past and present meet in a setting of grand tradition.

Christ Church is more than just a college – it is a living cultural treasure, a place where learning, tradition and beauty walk hand in hand, leaving an indelible mark on all who visit.

Blenheim Palace is a magnificent stately home and one of Britain’s most impressive country estates, renowned for its grand Baroque architecture and beautiful parkland. The palace is situated in Woodstock, just outside Oxford, and is the birthplace of Winston Churchill.

Surrounded by extensive gardens, lakes, and woodland, the palace offers both historical exhibitions and picturesque surroundings, providing visitors with insight into English aristocratic history and landscape art.

Leonardslee Gardens in West Sussex is described as one of the most beautiful garden landscapes in England. It was opened in 1801. The 240-acre property offers an outstanding collection of flowers, bushes, trees, lakes and paths.

Leonardslee boasts impressive biodiversity in all the colours of the rainbow. You walk on old forest paths and along seven small lakes with an atmosphere filled with a sense of tranquility. Along the way, stop and treat yourself to a light lunch in picturesque surroundings.

The garden landscape is also a treasure of art and nature. Here you can explore beautiful sculptures by local talents from Surrey and Sussex, as well as Anton Smit's acclaimed works from South Africa.

The sculptures transform the forests, enriching the view of the valley and the seven lakes. Simply a wonderful place to spend your day.

We visit Bolney Wine Estate, which is one of the oldest vineyards in Sussex. Since 1976, the proprietors have produced top-quality red, white and sparkling English wines, winning many national and international awards.

The West Sussex winery was established in 1972, by Janet and Rodney Pratt. They were pioneers, and guided by nature – the mild climate and sandstone soil – they discovered the best grape varieties to grow in their ecosystem.

The winery now produces award-winning red, white and sparkling wines from their famous Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris to their classic sparkling Bolney Bubbly and Blanc de Blancs.

We are invited to a guided tour, to taste exquisite sparkling wines and enjoy a wonderful lunch.

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