England tours

Broadly gardens, the flower show season, archaeology and history. The garden tours follow the year from snowdrops through to autumn colour, the show tours are built around Chelsea, Malvern and Sandringham, and the history and archaeology tours run from Roman Britain to the Tudors.

Many are, but a tour reaches them differently. Visits are arranged and timed, several itineraries include gardens that open privately for our groups, and the specialist travelling with you fills in what the guidebook leaves out.

It depends on the subject. Snowdrops from February, spring gardens from March, the flower show season through May and July, and autumn colour from October. History and archaeology tours run through most of the year.

Gardens are walked rather than viewed, on grass, gravel and uneven paths, and historic houses mean standing and stairs. Show days involve several hours on your feet. Each itinerary carries an activity level of easy, moderate or active so you know what to expect before you book.

Yes. The Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight both have tours in their own right, and Tresco Abbey Garden features on the Cornwall itineraries.

Yes. Every tour is fully escorted from the point you join it by a Tour Manager who travels with the group throughout and brings their own specialism, whether that's horticulture, archaeology or history.

Yes, and many guests do. Shared interest does most of the work, and conversation tends to start with whatever you have just seen.