Floralia Spring Flower Show & Keukenhof Gardens

Leave London St Pancras by Eurostar to Brussels. Here you
connect with a local train to Antwerp, where you check into your
hotel for the next four nights.

Travel by coach to the Floralia Spring Flower Exhibition, hosted
at Groot-Bijgaarden Castle, a fairytale 12th-century castle
surrounded by a wide moat with an arched bridge. Over a period of
four springtime weeks, the grounds of this marvellous stately home
are transformed with a magnificent display of more than 400 floral
varieties, bringing an array of colour. Indoor gardens here also
hold a superb variety of flowers from around the world and are a
delight to see and smell.

Afterwards, you journey to back to Antwerp, where you visit the
peaceful area of Berchem. This semi-independent district within the
city of Antwerp is notable for its Art Nouveau townhouses, which
were mostly built towards the end of the 19th century. You have
some free time to explore here. Perhaps take a relaxed walk around
the Brilschanspark, a leafy park which forms part of the 'green
lung of Berchem' together with Wolvenberg Nature Reserve. Or, you
could enjoy a spot of lunch in one of the city's many cafés,
sampling some authentic local food. Belgium cuisine is often
compared with that of the French, due to the proximity of the two
countries. Authentic specialities here include sweet waffles,
Mosselen-Friet or Moules-frites - mussels served with fries, and
Stoofvlees, a hearty Flemish beef stew.

This morning you discover more of lively Antwerp, as you enjoy a
walking tour of the city with a local guide. The tour includes the
Grote Markt, the city's main square, which is lined with
wonderfully ornate, gabled buildings. The square is home to the
large town hall, the Stadhuis, an impressive Renaissance structure
which was completed in 1564 and holds UNESCO World Heritage status.
You'll also see the famous Brabo Fountain here, a magnificent
structure that depicts a Roman army captain named Brabo throwing a
giant's hand. The imagery comes from a popular Dutch legend where
Brabo defeated a giant in a duel and severed his hand; according to
folklore, the name Antwerp comes from this very legend, loosely
translating to 'hand throwing'.

You are free to continue exploring Antwerp - with time to visit
the beautiful Gothic cathedral or perhaps Rubens House. You could
also explore the Diamond District, where 70% of the world's
diamonds are traded. Belgium is also renowned for its beer, so
pausing in a welcoming beer hall for a glass or two comes highly
recommended.

You travel by coach over the border into the Netherlands today,
for a spectacular visit to the famous Keukenhof Gardens. Also known
as the 'Garden of Europe', Keukenhof boasts the title of the
world's largest flower garden. The gardens only open in the spring,
displaying a powerful burst of colour and providing an incredible
seasonal display of tulips, crocuses, daffodils, and other
flowering plants. The fantastic floral exhibitions are truly
something to remember. Enjoy some time to wander through the
gardens, where amongst the floral displays you'll discover tranquil
ponds, sculpture gardens, greenhouses, and striking traditional
windmills. There are also plenty of places to stop off for some
refreshment amid the beautiful walks and footpaths.

Transfer to Antwerp station today for the train to Brussels.
Here, you join your onward connection on the Eurostar to London St
Pancras, where your holiday comes to an end.

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature
the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown
above.