London Calling: A Memorable Finish to “In the English Landscape” Study Abroad

Group of students standing indoors at the Barbican, with large windows overlooking water and surrounding buildings.

Look out London here we come! The finals days of our trip were spent in London. We started with a stop at Wisley Royal Horticultural Society Botanical Gardens which were in the writer’s opinion really amazing. It was very rainy but we all wandered about anyway.  We did a couple days of walking around London – meeting with prominent landscape architects and their firms – one planned and one on a lucky happenstance- as the hotel was right next to the London office. We learned about the Barbican and urban design rebuilding after the destruction of WWII. We all had a full free day where everyone went off to do their favorite things. Some even ventured on the train to The White Cliffs of Dover! Lots of museums and historical sites and tourist places were seen. The last garden before heading home was Sissinghurst- which was a fantastic ending to the trip. A great bookend to where we started at Stourhead as the first site. The rose gardens were particularly spectacular and so fragrant! It was an amazing trip and we all learned so much, especially from our fearless leader and historical guru, Sean!

RHS Wisley Garden

Circular fountain surrounded by flowering beds and a vine-covered pergola at RHS Wisley Garden.

Tall blue and pink delphiniums supported by stakes in a formal planting bed at RHS Wisley Garden.

Chatsworth Estate

Grand stone archway at Chatsworth Estate with visitors walking beneath it on a gravel path.

Wide view of Chatsworth House across a grassy field with grazing sheep and trees in the foreground.

Historic stone bridge at Chatsworth Estate crossing a river, with flowering plants and greenery along the edges.

Hampton Court

Reflecting pond and fountain at Hampton Court with sculpted topiary trees and palace facade in the background.

Barbican

Brutalist apartment complex at London’s Barbican with tiered balconies overlooking a landscaped courtyard garden.

Sissinghurst

Close-up of bright pink roses in bloom at Sissinghurst garden with a softly blurred garden background.

Colorful cottage garden at Sissinghurst featuring roses, foxgloves, and a wooden gate set in a brick wall.

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