England Gardening and Homesteading Tour - June 10-19, 2025

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MCMURRAY HATCHERY AND CHARLES DOWDING
Travel and Play | McMurray Hatchery England Gardening and Homesteading Tour Featuring Charles Dowding

A Gardener’s and Homesteader’s Delight — Tour English gardens, homesteads, and spend an afternoon learning from world-renowned gardener, Charles Dowding, at Homeacres in South Somerset.

Travel and Play is proud to partner with McMurray Hatchery in offering an International Gardening and Homesteading Tour to England.

Do you love gardening, homesteading, poultry and living off the land? Have you always wanted to visit England? Then join your fellow gardening and homesteading enthusiasts on an international tour to Southern England in June of 2025.

Join the McMurray Hatchery team, along with several gardening and homesteading greats, on a 10-day, 8-night tour of England. Interact with Tom Watkins and Bud Wood throughout the tour, spend a half day with world renowned English gardener Charles Dowding, visit some of England’s cultural and historical treasures and learn about gardening and homesteading (or ‘small holding’) the English way.

Glean new insights and ideas from our creative neighbors across the pond who are incorporating poultry, gardening, and sustainability into their backyards and homesteads.

The tour begins in London, a cosmopolitan city full of rich history and grandeur, before we head west to the amazing city of Bath. An elegant place full of traditional heritage and contemporary culture, this city was named after its Roman-built baths.

Travel and Play | Charles Dowding | England Gardening Tour

Gardening and Homesteading Tour Highlights Include:

  • A half-day educational session at Homeacres — the home of world-renowned English gardener, Charles Dowding. Let Charles teach you his ‘No Dig” gardening methodology in his home garden.
  • Visit the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain at RHS Wisley. Get expert gardening advice and see how-to demonstrations.
  • Visit an English poultry farm selling eggs and poultry to the local community.
  • Visit a new English small holding starting out and trying new ideas.
  • Visit Blackshed Flower Farm, where the farm’s owners will share how to incorporate cut flowers into your homesteading business.
  • Visit the Garden Museum of London.
  • Visit an urban small holding in the heart of London.
  • Enjoy many additional educational opportunities still to be added to the schedule.
  • Enjoy many additional tour stops still to be added.

    Cultural and Historical Tour Highlights include:

    • Guided walking tour of London and all the major sites including Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, and more.
    • Visit Hampton Court Palace – the ancestral home of Henry VIII.
    • Visit Windsor Castle, home of King Charles III.
    • Visit Stonehenge, the most famous prehistoric monument in the world.
    • Guided walking tour of Bath and visit the World Famous Roman Baths.
    • Visit a number of quintessential English pubs, eat a pub meal, sip a British Whisky, down an English ale and enjoy the traditional English pub atmosphere.
    • Plus additional tour stops still to be added.

    Tour Cost: $2,375.00

     *SPACE IS LIMITED

    The preliminary registration period ends October 15, 2024

    Tour Inclusions

    • 8-nights in 4-Star hotel accommodations (double occupancy)
    • Breakfast daily, plus 3-4 additional meals
    • Motor coach transportation as needed
    • All listed sightseeing and entrance fees (tour highlights)
    • Half-day educational session at Homeacres with Charles Dowding
    • UK Airport transfers (offered twice on arrival day and once on departure day)
    • Full-time Travel and Play staff support

    Not Included

    • Flights
    • Health or Cancellation Insurance

    Accommodation

    Tour price includes double occupancy accommodation. If you would like a single room, please select the single room supplement option when booking. The single room supplement is $640.00.

    Please note – There are a number of solo travelers registered for the tour who are looking for a roommate.  If you are interested in this option, please contact us after registering to determine if there is a good fit.

    Tour Planning

    Participants should plan to fly on June 10th at the latest, and arrive into London Heathrow Airport on the morning of Wednesday, June 11th. Morning (AM) airport transfers to the hotel will be provided at two set times.

    Alternatively, for those arriving earlier than June 11th/outside of the transfer times or into another UK airport, please make plans to meet the group at the hotel in the London area. More details to come.

    The tour concludes the morning of Thursday, June 19th. One morning (AM) transfer to the airport will be provided.

    For more information on this tour, contact us by completing the form below:

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