April 9—22, 2026
Program cost (flights not included): $3,953 *
Country Houses & Gardens
For a tentative day-by-day itinerary, click here.
Beyond the beauty lies a story of empire, class, and history. Through guided visits to iconic estates and gardens, discover how landscape and architecture were used to project power — and what they reveal about English society.
The Country Houses & Gardens Experience is based at Wroxton Abbey, itself an example of how architecture can project power, as it was the home of Frederick, Lord North, the British prime minister during the American Revolution.
This experience goes beyond aesthetics to explore the deeper narratives through a thoughtfully curated itinerary. Participants examine how landscape and architecture continue to reflect major themes in English society.
Tour Highlights
- Guided Visits to Estates and Gardens: Explore historic English country properties—including Kew Gardens, Upton House and Gardens, Broughton Castle, Stowe Gardens, and Blenheim Palace.
- Expert Lectures: The program includes lectures and seminars that focus on the role of country houses in managing perceptions of class, and influencing landscape aesthetics within Britain and beyond.
- Stories of Power, Privilege and Politics: Discover the real stories behind these grand estates—how their owners used design not just for beauty, but as a tool for self-representation.
- Immersive Cultural Experience: Participants enjoy guided walks across formal and wild gardens, and convivial exchanges in the college’s Buttery pub.
Wroxton Abbey, the home of Wroxton College, serves as a living classroom for this experience. It embodies centuries of changing taste in architecture and landscape, hosting literary, royal, and political visitors whose stories are key to understanding England’s sociopolitical evolution.
The 56-acre estate includes lakes, cascades, obelisks, and gardens created by prominent designers and gardeners, providing the perfect environment to study English landscape design in context. The estate also features several architectural “follies,” such as the Doric Temple and the Dovecote.
From this Wroxton Experience you will gain a nuanced understanding of how English country estates—through their landscapes and architecture—shaped and reflected the exercise of power and the realities of English society. From your direct engagement with historically significant gardens, supported by expert guidance and reflective discussion with fellow participants, you will learn to recognize the visual and symbolic language of gardens and estates.
This tour merges stunning scenery with historical analysis, inviting you to see beyond the beauty and into the narratives etched into the English landscape.
* Course delivery is contingent upon minimum enrollment, and programming is subject to change based on availability.