janisj

Wilsey will take more than a morning - and could easily take an entire day.

I am moderately into gardens, been to Chelsea maybe 5 or 6 times over 20 years, but am not a read every sign/plant info board sort of garden visitor. Mainly to look and take pretty photos. I did Sissinghurst in 3 hours including lunch to give you an idea. Definitely don't spend as much time as many others.

That is just to preface . . . RHS Wisley is absolutely HUGE and while I spent the best part of 4 hours there it could just as easily been 6+ hours and I wouldn't have seen it all. The only reason I cut it short was because I was w/ a friend who had never been to Windsor and we had (just) enough time to get there before last tickets (flew out of LHR the next morning)

I would not try to squeeze in anything else on a Wisley day. And I also would not try to do Wisley on the day I arrived at LHR after an over night flight.

annhig

Okay--but the only thing about that is Chartwell operates on a timed ticket and by the time we get there late afternoon I am afraid they might not have tickets available for the tour of the house?>>

what time of year are we talking about? [sorry if you've already said this]. they really only use the timed tickets in the summer but I can understand you wouldn't want to take the risk.

I tend to agree about not doing Wisley on the day you arrive but at the same time, you obviously assume that you'll be bright eyed and bushy tailed enough to drive and do some sightseeing.

yes of course you can go to T/Wells via Hever or via Igtham moat. but i agree with jj that you may be underestimating the time all of this is going to take.

BTW, judging by all the things you've said you want to see, 3-4 days [so 4-5 nights] in T/wells would not be too much, and probably not enough. we could easily find you things for a week or more, if you like.

europeannovice

Yes-we are talking about next summer July/August so the timed tickets will probably be in effect at Chartwell.

I read that Wisley was huge and was planning on spending a few hours there to help get over jet lag. Of course if it is raining like it tends to do when we visit we may be restricted to the greenhouse. I didn't realize it was that HUGE to warrant a full day.

If we only did Wisley on day 1 then we would probably need to cut out something else from my very long list.

We definitely found things for more than a week already

Help me to scale it back now!

janisj

>>Help me to scale it back now!<<

Can't do that -- every time we mention something it gets added in

>>I didn't realize it was that HUGE to warrant a full day.<<

Nearly 250 acres . . .

europeannovice

Wow--that is pretty large.

Maybe then not to pair it with Hever that arrival day--too much to do especially on the first day.

We were interested in Down House too--maybe that is a good pairing with Wisley and also seems to be on the way.

Then Chartwell, Hever, Penshurst on another day.

Ightham, Sissinghurst, maybe Scotney if time allows

Rye, Bodiam, (Great Dixter or Scotney if not seen earlier)


Which has the better garden--Great Dixter or Scotney? If good weather, Great Dixter because more outdoors and if not so good weather Scotney because there is some indoor stuff to see?

annhig

Which has the better garden--Great Dixter or Scotney?>>

well, it's a long time since I went to Great Dixter, and even longer since I went to Scotney, but when we lived in the SE, I'd go to Great Dixter at least once a year, whereas we went to Scotney once. though of course the weather may influence your decision.

does that help?

BTW, I think that spending a whole day at Wisley is possibly overstating it - depending on the time of year, certain areas are not going to be very exciting, and others may simply not interest you. but certainly 4 hours would not be an unusual amount of time to spend there, especially for a first visit.

and another place to add to your list is Wakehurst Place, which though NT, is linked with Kew. wonderful trees and landscapes.

MmePerdu

I think using the word "better" is always problematic. But to say the garden at Great Dixter is unique might be a better way to look at the issue.

Having a look in my big book 'The Garden of Britain & Ireland', It describes Great Dixter in it's heading as "Christopher Lloyd's iconic garden..." and Scotney's "...picturesque valley garden with excellent plants". I'd say, my own preference aside, that "iconic" beats "excellent plants" anytime.

janisj

Great Dixter a more 'important' and pretty garden, Scotney a more 'scenic' garden. Plus the house at Scotney is interesting.

You really can't choose based on which is 'better', both are lovely. You are going to miss several no matter what you choose - so forget about which are 'better' (one person's better is another person's not better)

Just about very single garden/stately home/castle in Kent, Sussex, Surrey is 'worth' visiting. So pick mainly based on proximity/convenience. You'd need three weeks to see most of them so just pick.

Re the full day at Wisley. In my 4 hours I saw most sections but did have to rush through a few. 4+ hours would be a good average I'd think. Some parts some might find less interesting like the test fields - I figured those areas could be skipped. But when I got out there I was very glad I didn't skip them. Part of the reason Wisley takes so long is simply because it is so far from some bits to others. just walking the whole place w/o really exploring in any depth would take a couple of hours. Plus then you'll probably want lunch. So 4 to 5 hours would be reasonable.