Gardens of the North West & Salford Quays

Take time out to visit two of the foremost garden attractions in the North West of England on this great little weekend away. As RHS Garden Bridgewater matures, this once in a generation project has established itself as one of the most popular gardens in the region. Dunham Massey is a great plantman's garden for all seasons, full of native favourites and exotic treasures set around an elegant Georgian mansion. A Spring break or a cheeky Autumn getaway, this weekend stays in the unique waterfront destination of Salford Quay, one of Britain's hottest short-break destinations, packed with shopping, art, drama, history and truly world-class architectureCalling all garden lovers!
DAY 1 - From your chosen joining point our feeder vehicle will take you to your designated interchange point where your weekend begins. A comfort stop will be made en-route to your hotel in Salford Quays for the next 3 nights DBB\n\nDAY 2 - 3 - At leisure in Salford Quays with two included excursions\n\nINCLUDED EXCURSIONS\nDunham Massey & Salford Quays\nLocated just to the south of Manchester, discover glorious gardens and 300 acre parkland, home to a herd of 150 fallow deer, at Dunham Massey. There are 17 acres of gardens featuring both historical and modern planting. Historical features include an Elizabethan mount, an 18th century orangery and a unique bark house. Enter through the maturing winter garden, one of the largest in Britain. Here thousands of iris, daffodils, tulips and bluebells bloom through to May. Autumn sees the changing colours of the Acers, the smell of burnt toffee from the Katsura trees and the rose garden continuing to bloom until the first frost. (Access to the house not included). The vast majority of Dunham's parkland and garden paths are accessible.\n\nHead back to Salford Quays this afternoon with time at leisure to explore MediaCIty & The Quays, the iconic waterfront destination positioned on the banks of the historic Manchester Ship Canal. It's a place bursting with creativity and culture, boasting one of the UK's most visited arts attractions - The Lowry - with its visually striking exterior. It is home to the BBC as well as dock10, the UK's leading television facility where some of the nation's best loved programmes are made including The Voice and Countdown. The Quayside outlet shopping mall is open Saturday 10.00 - 19.00 // Sunday 11.00 - 17.00.\n\nDay at RHS Garden Bridgewater\nRHS Bridgewater is a stunning 156 acre RHS Garden, created in the heart of the North West, which brings back to life the lost historic grounds at Worsley New Hall. Once visited by Queen Victoria and King Edward VII, Worsley New Hall, a grand Gothic-style mansion, survived a fire and two World Wars before it was demolished in the 1940s. The £35 million development of the inspirational gardens embraces the site's heritage and is the biggest hands-on gardening project the charity has undertaken in its over 200-year history - a true labour of love. The iconic heritage landscape was transformed into the fifth RHS Garden by landscape architect, Tom Stuart-Smith, who created the masterplan together with award winning garden designers to bring 'gardens within a garden' to life by blending history with world-class horticulture. There is so much to see from the Welcome Building to the Weston Walled Garden (one of the largest walled gardens in Europe); from the Chinese Streamside Garden to Moon Bridge Water. A 60-minute garden tour in the company of one of the knowledgeable guides will give you a captivating insight into the history, plantings and seasonal delights of the garden\n\nDAY 4 - After breakfast, check out and head south with an interesting stop en-route before heading to interchange

Weekend Highlights
- Hotel for 3 nights with breakfast & dinner- Porterage on arrival- Entrance to RHS Garden Bridgewater with guided tour- Entrance to Dunham Massey Park & Gardens (no access to the house)- Visit to Salford QuaysCopthorne Hotel Manchester, Salford Quays
Overlooking Manchester's Salford Quays, this 4* hotel offers modern rooms and facilities. \n\nIt has easy access to the city centre by tram and is less than a mile from Old Trafford. \n\nSome bedrooms at Copthorne Manchester overlook the water and all are spacious, offering flat-screen satellite TV, coffee and tea making facilities and en-suite bathrooms. There is a 24-hour room service. \n\nThe stylish Quays Restaurant offers British and international cuisine, and the bar is ideal for drinks or a snack. Copthorne Hotel Manchester is a short walk from Exchange Quay and Salford Quays Metrolink tram stations. The Lowry Centre is just under a mile away.