Pickles, Petals & Preserves

Ancient history, outstanding gardens and traditional craft foods loved by the nation are ready to discover on this fabulous tour.

Monday 28th September – Friday 2nd October 2026

Tour Price £688.00
Single supplement: £120.00

o Four nights dinner, bed and breakfast

o Full English breakfast

o Three course dinner menu

o Entrance to Beth Chatto’s
Gardens

o Entrance to RHS Hyde Hall

o Guided tour of Suffolk
‘Constable Country’

o Entrance to Lavenham
Guildhall

o Cream tea at Tiptree

o All coach travel

MON We head off this morning for a four night stay at the lovely Delta by Marriott Hotel Colchester in Marks Tey, with stops on the way for coffee and lunch. We arrive with time to settle in before this evening’s dinner.

TUE After a leisurely breakfast this morning, we make the short journey to enjoy a visit to the world renowned Beth Chatto’s Gardens. Created in the 1960s out of a wasteland, it has been transformed into an informal garden harmonising with the surrounding East Anglian countryside and is now an award-winning showcase of this labour of love. An extensive nursery and gift shop may tempt you with purchases, and the tearoom offers some very tasty cakes. This afternoon we visit Colchester, the former capital of Roman Britain with over 2,000 years of history. Perhaps visit the Castle Museum and Park, or for a more modern take visit the award winning art gallery Firstsite, or just browse the many modern shops and cafés on offer.

WED We head into Suffolk this morning to explore iconic ‘Constable Country’ and historic Suffolk villages including East Bergholt, Flatford (which you will recognise better as The Haywain) and Dedham with our knowledgeable local guide. We continue on to picture perfect Lavenham, known as Britain’s best preserved medieval village, where we include a visit to its historic Guildhall, which now contains exhibitions of local history.

THU We visit the beautiful RHS Hyde Hall Gardens this morning, featuring the iconic Dry Garden with its fantastic range of drought-resistant plants and the Hilltop Garden with its roses and herbaceous borders. Enjoy the stunning panoramic views in this haven of tranquillity set amidst 365 acres of countryside in rural Essex. This afternoon we visit the Tiptree Museum, Tea Room and Jam Shop set in the charming village of Tiptree itself. Here we enjoy a cream tea, with the opportunity to explore the museum where the world
famous jam and preserves made by the Wilkin family have been in production since 1885.

FRI We head for home today, calling at Windsor en route where you will have time to have lunch and browse this historic destination before we continue our journey homewards, arriving back in the local area in the late afternoon.