This is not Hampton Court Palace in London, but Hampton Court Castle Gardens in Herefordshire. The castle itself is a separate venue and only open for exclusive venues not part of our visit! However it serves as a stunning backdrop for the spectacular gardens. The gardens have changed over six centuries and consist of extensive vegetable gardens with raised beds, glasshouses, orchard under planted with bulbs turning into wild flowers meadows. Water is drawn from the river Lugg and flows through series of compartmentalised garden rooms including a 26 metre Dutch canal garden, bubbling fountains, floating island pavilions, rose gardens, long pleached avenues, a 160 year old wisteria arch and herbaceous borders. For the explorers – walk behind the waterfall, get lost in the yew maze, visit the sunken garden and find the secret underground tunnels! There is a café/tearoom seems to have mixed reviews in the past, but has undergone a makeover for 2026 serving light lunches, cakes etc in the fabulous orangery built in 1845. Obviously no reviews yet! If you prefer the South Lawn has benches which can used for picnics. The aim is to stop at Ledbury to enjoy a stroll through the historic town – with some cobbled lanes, tiny alleys, museums, independent shops and cafes. PRICE: £26.00 to include coach, drivers tip and entrance to the gardens DEPART LECHLADE: 9.30am outside the New Jubilee Antiques Hall near the New Memorial Hall Car Park ARRIVE: Ledbury at 11.00 am. DEPART: Ledbury 1.00 pm ARRIVE: Hampton Gardens 1.30 pm. Depart: 4.30 pm Back in Lechlade around 6.15 pm.