We are four retired women looking for a tour of gardens in Sussex//Kent that will also include literary references and history. We have found a tour by the National Trust that includes many of the places we want to visit- Sissinghurst, Hever Castle, Igtham Mote, Chartwell, Rudyard Kipling's home, etc, but we can find few reviews. Does anyone have experience with these tours, sponsored by Albion, or suggestions of other tours. Many thanks.

I have not taken any tours in the area but have visited all of those sites and many more -- Stayed at the B&B at Sissinghurst and it was so lovely.

Are you dead set against renting a car and doing this on your own?? Everything from Dover castle to Igtham Mote, Knole to Penshurst Place to Hever to Sissinghurst to Scotney Castle and just so many more are all easily accessible by car.

But if you definitely want a tour I would think one arranged by the National Trust would be exceptional.

I think the tour you are referring to is organised by National Trust Tours, which is an American organisation and not connected to the National Trust in the UK, but is connected to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the US.

If you do a search for a tour of gardens in Kent and Sussex you will find plenty of offerings.

Visit Kent website has links to some operators as well.
https://www.visitkent.co.uk/see-and-.../garden-tours/

Oh- if it’s the US nat’l trust it might not be as focused as a domestic tour, and probably on the expensive side.

IME most garden-centric tours are gardens gardens gardens and little else. And ‘historic’ itineraries don’t do many gardens unless attached to a major historic house/castle

I did an historic house and garden tour last year with Martin Randall, a British company. All their tours are reasonably small group numbers, it was well organised and, for my tour, we stayed in one hotel in York for the whole time. That was great, I hate moving on all the time. Their tours seemed very well regarded in the UK and are typically about a week.

If you search their website, there are a few that focus on houses and gardens, in York, Scotland, south west of England etc. Great Gardens of Southern England may be good for you.

Another tour company is European Experiences, based in USA. They have a Cotswolds Gardens tour next year. It wouldn't visit the places on your list but maybe an option for another time. I did a different tour with them in the Cotswolds - our group was about ten people. It was well organised and they have quite a few repeat customers which is always a good sign.

About the car....Ii would not mind driving. We want guides at some of the places and also to keep our friendships! Thank for your suggestions.

Thank you for your suggestions. I will definitely check them out.

Most sites have onsite docents and guides. Some properties are self-guided and some guide visitors through in groups. I really can't think of any properties that would require a commercial guide. And driving yourselves you can hit exactly the places you want and stay for as long as you want. Also - if budget is at all a consideration, self-drive and touring independently would be cheaper that paying for a tour X 4