Beyond the Gates: Expert-led garden holidays with Martin Randall Travel

As spring finally blossoms and the Chelsea Flower Show season approaches, take inspiration and explore some of the world’s finest gardens with the experts at Martin Randall Travel (0203 966 4610, martinrandall.com)

From Tuscany’s classic Medici villas and the Jardins Remarquables of France, to the exquisite temple gardens of Japan and southern England’s finest cultivated achievements, gardens provide a wonderful lens through which to explore the wider culture and history of a destination. Led by botanical experts and garden historians, Martin Randall Travel’s portfolio of expert-led horticultural holidays have all been meticulously planned to celebrate the most glorious and enticing gardens of a region, city or country. Privileged access is a feature throughout the tours, with contributions from garden designers, homeowners and head gardeners, who add unique insight and knowledge to the experience. 

Tuscan Gardens - The pick of Tuscan gardens and villas

Tuscany has a rich culture of gardens dating back to the influential creations of the ruling Medici dynasty in the 16th century, through to 20th century variations of the Italian style.

Some of the world’s earliest surviving gardens are located in the region and this tour gives a superb overview of Tuscan gardens through history. Several date to the 15th century, including Giovanni de Medici’s villa at Fiesole, built in the 1450s. There is also a selection of immensely influential gardens of the 16th century including the Villa Medicea at Castello – one of the least altered of the time. Additionally, the tour includes a number of gardens created by the influential ex-pat community in and around Florence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their patronage, and the genius of English garden designer Cecil Pincent, gave rise to the Anglo-American Renaissance Revival which incorporated traditional forms and ingredients into innovative and enchanting designs. Examples visited include Villa Le Balze; Villa Gamberaia near Settignano, one of the loveliest gardens in Italy and Iris Origo’s magnificent La Foce.

The tour is led by writer, garden historian and lecturer Dr Katie Campbell. Her most recent book, Cultivating the Renaissance, charts the evolution of Renaissance ideas on philosophy, politics and aesthetics as reflected in the Medici's Tuscan villas.

6 days from £3,130 per person, including 3 nights at Hotel Villa Fiesole and 2 nights at Relaix Il Chistro in Pienza on a bed and breakfast basis, 3 lunches, 4 dinners with wine, all admissions, tips, taxes and the services of the lecturer and tour manager. 11th-16th May 2026.

Gardens of Normandy - Historic, contemporary and undiscovered gardens

This 8-day tour includes a selection of the finest gardens in Normandy – dating from the Renaissance to the present day, including some lesser-known gems that are visited by special arrangement. Many come under the prestigious label of Jardins Remarquables, a recognition of public and private gardens with cultural, aesthetic, botanical or historical significance.

Normandy has long been the inspiration of artists and creatives, drawn to its picturesque villages, dramatic coastline and the ever-changing light. Thanks largely to wealth accrued from camembert, calvados and cider, the region saw an increase in prosperity in the 16th and 17th centuries, along with the development of elegant estates, châteaux and gardens.

Château de Brécy is one of the few remaining examples of a garden created in the early half of the 17th century, beautifully restored by the current owners. More recently, from the early 20th century, the landscape architect Achille Duchêne has created new gardens including those at the Château de Boutemont. Influenced by 17th-century formal French style, the garden features huge topiaries, graceful avenues and elegant water displays.  

Other highlights include Alexander Thomas’s watery paths and planting beds at the Jardin Plume, as well as the beautiful Jardins d’Étretat, where, in a setting much painted by Monet and the Impressionists, an extraordinary neo-futuristic garden has been created integrating plant forms with modern sculpture. Elsewhere, the Château de Vascoeuil hosts a collection of sculptures by some of the greatest artists of the second half of the twentieth century, including works by Georges Braque. 

8 days from £3,950 per person, including 4 nights b&b hotel accommodation in Rouen, and 3 nights at the five-star Chateau d’Audrieu; 3 lunches, 5 dinners with wine, all admissions, the services of the lecturer and tour manager. Dates: 2nd - 9th September 2026, 8th -15th September 2027

Great Gardens of Southern England

The gardens of southern England are among the finest in the world, with a combination of climate, topography, botanical knowledge, design capability and wealth combining to create a rich horticultural experience.

This new 8-day tour, led by horticulturalist and garden designer Louisa Allen, visits 14 of the region’s gardens – each selected for excellence of planting and design, variety and range, character and atmosphere. A blend of grand estates and smaller private gems are featured. Highlights include the expansive Exbury Gardens in the New Forest; the privately owned Parham House; Borde Hill; Great Dixter; Nymans; the walled gardens at Penshurst Place and beautiful Sissinghurst. 

Travelling at a leisurely pace – with no more than two gardens a day – there is plenty of time built in for independent wandering. The head gardeners offers insights at many of the gardens in addition to the expert lecturer who accompanies the tour throughout. 

8 days from £3,940 per person including hotel accommodation at Lainston House Hotel near Winchester and Hotel du Vin, Tonbridge Wells; travel by private coach; all breakfasts and five dinners; all admission charges; all tips, all taxes; the services of the lecturer and tour manager; tours with the site gardener at some places. 3rd -10th June 2026.

Japanese Gardens - Tokyo, Kyoto, Hikone, Nara & Kanazawa

The artistry, symbolism and influence of Japanese gardens throughout the centuries is well documented and they provide a fascinating insight into the country’s culture and way of life.  Surely one of the ultimate tours for garden-lovers, this 12-day itinerary presents a variety of superb gardens covering all periods of Japanese history, from the aristocratic ‘paradise’-style temple gardens and the enigmatic Zen Buddhist rock gardens of Kyoto to the borrowed castle scenery at Hikone and the tea gardens of Kanazawa. 

Starting in Tokyo, visit the 17th-century landscape garden Koishikawa Korakuen, as well as Kiyosumi, a superb late 19th-century garden built for the Mitsubishi founder. Five nights are then spent in Kyoto, with opportunities to see Ginkaku-ji and Kinkaku-ji (Temples of the Silver and Gold Pavilions) and Chishaku-in – where the garden resembles an unfolding scroll painting. There is a full day excursion to Nara – the first capital of Japan, modelled on Xi’an in China, where the 12th century Joruri-ji has a rare example of a ‘pure land’ temple garden with a pagoda and nine golden Buddhas. Two nights are then spent in Kanazawa, with visits to Genkyu-en – a famous feudal landscaped garden and Kenroku-en – one of Japan’s finest strolling landscape gardens. Finally, return to Tokyo by bullet train for a visit to the National Museum and a boat trip to Hama-rikyu, originally a tidal garden and hunting lodge, but now a peaceful retreat. 

The tour is led by writer and cultural historian Yoko Kawaguchi, who is a lecturer on Japanese garden history.

12 days from £8,540 per person, including 12 nights b&b accommodation, high speed rail travel (first class) from Tokyo-Kyoto and from Kanazawa to Tokyo; private coach; 7 lunches, 7 dinners with wine, all admissions, tips, taxes and the services of the lecturer and tour manager. Dates 5th-16th November 2026, 4th-15th November 2027.

To book any of these expert-led tours, visit martinrandall.com or call 0208 742 3355

About Martin Randall Travel:

Martin Randall Travel is a leading specialist tour operator, offering high-end, expert-led, cultural tours to around 40 countries worldwide, with the average number of participants being between 10 and 22.  Established in 1988 and well respected in the industry, the company’s mission is to ‘provide the best planned, the best led and altogether the most fulfilling and enjoyable cultural tours available’. 

Tours focus on various themes, including art, architecture, music, history, gardens, archaeology and gastronomy.

All the tours are accompanied by an expert speaker and a tour manager, so participants feel really well taken care of.  Speakers range from academics and curators to writers, broadcasters and researchers and original itineraries are meticulously planned and researched. Special arrangements, out of hours access and private concerts and events are a feature of the tours, including admission to places not usually open to travellers.