Celebrate Springtime in England’s Green and Pleasant Land | Travel Research Online

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Celebrate Springtime in England’s Green and Pleasant Land

This week, I am highlighting 4 world-leading events that take place ANNUALLY in May. They include the Chelsea Flower Show as you’ve never seen it before, the opportunity to virtually attend the Hay Literary Festival, a close encounter with the Badminton Horse Trials, and a look at the renowned Bath Festival.

I’ve added a day in the life of treasure-filled Waddesdon Manor, a closer look at the internationally renowned Leonardslee Gardens and, to further lift your spirits, you can take some owner/head gardener led tours of some stunning privately-owned gardens which open only when they’re at their very best. Keep an ear open for the birdsong.

The First RHS Virtual Chelsea Flower Show

Although it took place last week, this link will enable you to make frequent visits to the Royal Horticultural Society Virtual Chelsea Flower Show. Packed with inspirational content offering design tips, garden tours, ‘how to’ demonstrations; you can share it with your garden-loving clients and making as many visits as you want, use it to generate interest in a Chelsea Flower Show tour in late May of next year.

The Unexpected Gardener garden, at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2010. Designer: Jo Thompson.

Imagine the World at The Hay Festival

This annual Festival of Literature is where Nobel Prize-winners and novelists, scientists and politicians, historians and musicians talk with audiences in a dynamic exchange of ideas. As the festival has also gone digital, share it with contacts at a local reading circle and the local library Friends group. With a bookstore on board as a co-sponsor, start promoting a Hay Festival tour for May 2021.

Badminton, The World’s Premier Three-Day Event

Here’s another niche market where this particular UK event will be well known. Put together a list of clients who are into riding, check out the local horse-riding schools and ask me for the Badminton Horse Trials itinerary. Then, share these action-packed videos to build interest and bookings for a customised tour to London and the Cotswolds for next year’s event, now slated for 5th-9th May 2021.

Nicola Wilson (GBR) riding One Two Many at the Outlander Lower Lake

Chris Lacey © National Trust Waddesdon Manor

A Day in The Life of Waddesdon Manor

The magnificent French château-style Waddesdon Manor was built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild between 1874 — 1885 to display his outstanding collection of art treasures and to entertain the fashionable world of the time. Today, the 45 rooms on view combine the highest quality French furniture and 17th and 18th century decorative arts with priceless Savonnerie carpets and collections of Sèvres porcelain. It’s a must-visit addition to any UK-bound itinerary.

The Renowned Garden at Leonardslee

Set in a tranquil Sussex valley, and arguably England’s finest woodland garden, Leonardslee has a series of seven lakes reflect the spectacular colourful display of rhododendrons, azaleas, camelias and magnolias that surround them. In May, their Rock Garden blossoms with a kaleidoscope of colour. Keeping the grass mown, they use eco-friendly wallabies whose ancestors have been here since 1889. In addition, their Dolls House Museum provides a magical world in miniature.

Bath

The Original Well-Being Destination

In addition to flower shows, three-day horse-riding events and literary festivals, I’m adding one of the UK’s top music festivals which takes place in the beautiful city of Bath, a well-being destination since Roman times. For 10-days in May, it presents a stellar line-up of renowned musicians, acclaimed writers and some of the most influential leaders and thinkers of our age as they celebrate the best in music and books.

Gardens: A Language Understood Worldwide

The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique access to exceptional private gardens in England and Wales that open infrequently and only when they’re at their very best for colour and fragrance. It raises impressive amounts of money for nursing and health charities through admissions, teas, and delicious cakes. Since March, they’ve been showcasing beautiful gardens as they develop through the seasons. Be cheered by the birdsong and these privately led tours.

 


Paull Tickner, owner of U.K-based Custom GB, is known for his expertise in creating and operating imaginative, value-added tours of Great Britain and Ireland. Visit his website at www.customgb.co.uk or email him at ptickner@customgb.co.uk.

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