Secret Garden Tea Tour 2020: England, Birthplace of Afternoon Tea

Whether you are new to afternoon tea or a long-time enthusiast, you are in good hands when Elizabeth Kleingartner of The Secret Garden Tea Room and Gift Shop in Sumner, Washington is your trip planner. An 18-year tearoom owner, avid collector of antique and vintage dishes (especially teacups), and former History major, Elizabeth caters her tea tours around scratch-made afternoon teas, beautiful gardens, antique shopping, historical traditions and sites, and of course, all things tea. Her Secret Garden Tea Tours are intentionally small, with no more than 12 participants, to allow the tour group to get into tiny tea rooms and antique shops. And for those of us who love taking tea, her next tour is very special, because she’s bringing participants to the place where afternoon tea was born 180 years ago.

Take Tea for Two Weeks in England, Founding Nation of Afternoon Tea

When: Sunday, May 24 to Sunday, June 7, 2020 (15 days)
Price: $4,995 per person for (double occupancy); airfare is additional
Included: Lodging, all group travel in England, all group tour entries, all group transportation, breakfast, afternoon tea and tips for tour-provided meals

Trip Highlights

• TWELVE AFTERNOON TEAS!!,
• Tour charming, romantic regions of England, including beautiful castles and gardens,
• Tour the Cotswolds on a private bus tour of this picturesque region known for its honey-colored stone buildings in storybook-like villages,
• See English bone china being made in two factories — including the famous Wedgwood/Royal Doulton pottery factory — and visit a historic pottery museum,
• Shop china outlets, antique shops and famous flea markets,
• Soak in the waters at a luxurious modern spa in Bath,
• Explore and shop during free time woven into the 15-day itinerary (i.e., Jane Austen Museum, Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, British Museum, National Gallery, St. Paul’s, Kew Gardens, Charles Dickens House, London Theatre district for a show, Twinings, Harrods, Selfridges).

Getting Around

Traveling together in a small group, tour members will have a uniquely casual, family-style experience. Included in the package are first-class train tickets and private bus transport for intercity transportation, as well as London Transport passes for the Tube and city busses. The group will travel via railway between most cities (Windsor to Newbury (Highclere), Windsor to Bath, and Stoke on Trent to London).

A private bus will shuttle you to pottery factory tours and outlets. Also, by utilizing hop-on busses with narration in Bath, Stratford-upon-Avon and London, the tour will explore each city on the itinerary as fully as possible.

Accommodations

The tour’s selected four-star hotels and inns, chosen for their charm, amenities, and location, will allow you to easily explore on your own in the evenings, without having to take a taxi.

All prices are based on double occupancy.  If you do not have a roommate accompanying you on the trip, you will be matched with another un-paired traveler of the same sex.  Some inns provide two twin beds in a room, while others have only a double bed.  Double bed rooms are assigned to guests traveling together first.  

All rooms have private bathrooms. There are also a limited number of single rooms available (on a first request basis) for an additional fee.  

Most Importantly…The Meals

Every day begins with included breakfast in the hotel. Most days, the classic “Full English Breakfast” will be served, (which typically includes orange juice, cereals, stewed or fresh fruits, eggs, bacon or sausages, grilled tomato, mushrooms, beans, tea, and toast), or you can select from a buffet.

The big meal each day will be included afternoon tea, usually at 3:00 pm. Tour guests will take tea at a variety of venues, from charming owner-operated tea rooms, to famous hotels and department stores, each offering their own special take on the classic English tea experience. Comparing and contrasting the very different styles and experiences is one of the delights of the trip!

You’re on your own for lunches and dinners, other than the welcome meal on the first night. Because afternoon tea will be filling, you might wish to snack lightly at midday or try a quaint spot you discovered that day for dinner. In London, there are hundreds of restaurants within a few blocks of the hotel.

Does This Tea Tour Have Your Name Written All Over It?

Visit Secret Garden Tea Tour’s 2020 England Tea Tour page to see the 15-day itinerary and register for one of the remaining available spots. You’ll also find a Frequently Asked Questions section and can email Elizabeth with any further questions. What a once-in-a-lifetime afternoon tea exploration this tea tour will be!

[Note: This is a sponsored blog post.]