Duo of Garden Delights

This is a truly money-can’t-buy opportunity, granting private access to two remarkable and rarely seen gardens.

Start your day at rarely open to the public Biddulph Old Hall in Staffordshire. After some arrival refreshments, owner Brian will give you a private tour of the 16th-century mansion with an extraordinary history. Brian will share stories behind the hall’s layered history and the remarkable restoration he undertook with his late partner Nigel. 

After winning Channel 4’s Grand Designs Award for Best Restoration in Shropshire in 2008 the couple purchased Biddulph to restore it for themselves. During the day you will experience the atmosphere of the enchanting grounds, including the secluded White Garden with climbing roses, a 15th-century-inspired knot garden and a stunning reflecting pool - all brought lovingly back to life. 

Once a safe house for secret Catholic worship in Elizabethan times and later a sanctuary for Buddhist monks in the 1960s, it was also home to Pre-Raphaelite artist Robert Bateman, whose reclusive lifestyle inspired the garden’s romantic spirit. The tour is followed by a light lunch. 

After lunch you will take a walk down into the Clough following James Bateman's historic path through the valley with the appropriate commentary on its creation and restoration.

Your day at Ichi-Coo Park in Surrey will begin with a tea or coffee in the garden. Owner, Robin will then take you on a private tour of the garden. Ichi-Coo is a truly unique venue blending expansive parkland, intimate gardens, waterscapes, and scenic views. Just ten minutes from London Gatwick Airport, with a picturesque view of the airfield, it even has its own helicopter landing sites.

You will go on a journey to explore the park's diverse botanic gardens and arboretum, created by rearranging the natural Wealden hillside and planting exotic species from around the globe. Discover Sakura, a collection of Japanese Cherry Trees atop the Three Sacred Mountains of Dewa, reflecting the pilgrimage in Japanese Shinto beliefs.

Stroll down the Royal Mile, an avenue of unusual English Oaks, explore the Great Barrier Reef or the Grand Canyon. Engage with Dingle Dell's Roman history, or find solace in Cheyenne, a space inspired by the sculpted totems of ceramic artist Katie Netley, illustrating the fascinating world of cells. Ichi-Coo invites you to create unforgettable moments amid nature's beauty.

An exclusive opportunity to explore two unique and inspirational gardens.

^{Terms and conditions: Tours to be booked and used before October 2026. Sturdy footwear to be worn. Tours by the owners are subject to their availability.}