Gardens to visit in the England
see these pages for Scotland
or Wales
Here are some links to gardens to visit, either locally or whist on holiday in England. The sites we list include other sites recommending gardens as well as individual gardens.
The gardens listed include gardens which have limited access for people to visit, as well as other gardens open to the public all the year round - so check the opening times of particular gardens before going.
General information sites - click here for UK counties
National Gardens Scheme - The Charity behind the Yellow Book of gardens open to the public. Often small and usual gardens open just one or two days a year. The site includes the GardenFinder database for finding gardens to visit.
National Trust - Lists the gardens and property owned by the National Trust in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Gardening-UK Gardens List - Directory of gardens in England open to the public.
UK Database of Historic Parks and Gardens - Produced by the University of York - covers England, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Does not say much about the Parks/Garden listed but is fairly comprehsive and gives link to relevant website.
Garden History and Garden Tours - International guide to gardens to visit - includes large number of UK gardens.
The British Red Cross Open Gardens programme offers a rare opportunity to explore the secrets of some hidden and private gardens not usually open to the public.
English Heritage - Lists the English Heritage gardens and properties open to the public.
Garden Shows - Diary of gardening shows around the UK.
Bristol
| 28 Kensington Road, Bristol | 28 Kensington Road - An award winning garden 3 miles from Bristol city centre that is open for private visits every summer and for The National Gardens Scheme. |
Cambridgeshire
| Bateman Street, Cambridge | Cambridge University Botanic Garden - Site includes details of the garden, location and events. |
Cheshire
| Kettleshulme, Nr. Whaley Bridge, (Stockport) High Peak | Dunge Valley Hidden Gardens & Hardy Plant Nursery - A garden in the rolling Pennine hills, likened to a mini Bodnant. It includes a kaleidoscope of colour featuring Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Magnolias, Acers and the Blue Poppy. These and many other desirable plants, growing at 1,000ft plus. |
Cornwall
| Falmouth | Trebah
- a spectacular 26 acre Cornish ravine garden, rated among the 80 finest gardens in the world. This sub-tropical paradise
is home to a unique collection of rare and exotic plants, trees and shrubs winding down to a private and secluded beach on the
Helford River.
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| St Austell | Caerhays Castle and Gardens,
Gorran, St Austell, Cornwall - The 100 acre garden at Caerhays contains a combination of both spectacular spring displays of
enormous tree magnolias rhododendrons and camellias as well as a huge range of rare woodland trees and shrubs originating primarily
from China.
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| Pentewan, St Austell | Lost Gardens of Heligan
- The award winning Lost Gardens of Heligan extend to some eighty acres of superb pleasure grounds together with a magnificent
complex of walled gardens and a huge, productive vegetable garden, all fast returning to their former glory.
Lying at the heart of one of the most mysterious estates in England, Heligan, the former seat of the Tremayne family, is now the site of the largest garden restoration in Europe. Its extraordinary plant collection together with a range of exotic glasshouses, working buildings, romantic structures and designed landscapes reflect the past passions and interests of the family. The combination of these and the mild Cornish climate has resulted in a garden (or in truth a series of gardens within a garden) which is unique.
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| St Austell
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Eden Project - If
you believe there should be a place that celebrates life and puts champagne in the veins, that is all about education but doesn't
feel like school, where research isn't white coats in secret but shared exploration to help us all, that is a sanctuary for all
who think the future too precious to leave to the few - because it belongs to us all. Then you'll find it all at the Eden Project.
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| Saltash | Mary
Newmans Cottage, Culver Road - A peaceful garden that overlooks Brunel’s famous Albert Bridge, with spectacular views down
the Tamar estuary. Plans are in place to transform the garden in an authentic Elizabethan style by summer 2007, complete with traditional
varieties of herbs, fruit, vegetables and flowers. Mary Newman’s Cottage is a Grade 2 listed building, believed to date from around
1480.
Contact 01752 843388 or 07767 444816.
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| Treesmill
Near Par |
Hidden Valley Gardens - A Four acre colourful garden set in a ‘hidden’ valley with many themes, plant collections, fruit garden and a specialist plant nursery. Informal atmosphere, refreshments, car parking. |
Derbyshire
| Bakewell | Chatsworth
- Chatsworth is one of Britain's most celebrated historic houses and estates, offering something for everyone
to enjoy, from world famous works of art and spectacular fountains to elegant shops and more than a hundred
miles of free walks.
The home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire is set in the heart of England, in Derbyshire's Peak District National Park, surrounded by one of the most magnificent landscapes in the country.
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| Renishaw | Renishaw Hall Gardens - Renishaw Hall and its impressive gardens have been the home of the Sitwell family for over 350 years. The beautiful Italianate garden, park and lake were the creation of the eccentric Sir George Sitwell. |
Devon
| Chagford | Stone Lane
Gardens - Stone Lane Gardens is a 5 acre arboretum presenting "The Mythic Garden", an annual sculpture
exhibition, amid National Collections of Birch and Alder in a landscaped water & woodland setting.
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| Halwill Junction, Oakhampton | Winsford Walled Garden - A dedicated
summer flower garden within the protective embrace of its Victorian walls. Built around 1883 the garden was originally designed
as a flower garden, not the usual walled vegetable garden. Unfortunately, it succumbed to neglect and wilful damage for 63 years
until the arrival of the present owners in June 1999. Since then the garden has undergone a miraculous regeneration and transformation.
Gardens open daily through the summer months and by appointment at any other time. |
Dorset
| Ferndown | Lyn
and Malcolm's Garden - An end of terrace house just off the main road, with a front garden approximately
16x10 metres and the back 12x10.5 metres, it is definitely in the "compact" category. But there are in
excess of 500 different plants, including a collection of 84 different clematis.
Opens for the National Garden Scheme. |
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| Bullers Way, Abbotsbury | Abbotsbury
Sub-Tropical Gardens - A mixture of formal and informal, with charming walled garden walks and spectacular
woodland valley views. World famous for its Camellia Groves and Magnolias, noted for its Rhododendrons
and Hydrangea collections.
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| Poole | Compton
Acres - Compton Acres is 10 acres of privately owned gardens with a unique series of stunning tranquil
gardens offering spectacular views of Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island, and the Purbeck Hills beyond.
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Durham (County )
| University Campus, Durham University | Durham University Botanic Garden - Various areas include Annual Border, the Prince Bishops' Garden, Grass Collection, Cactus House, Tropical House, Conservatory and Tropical Bugs and Butterflies and much much more. |
Essex
| Theydon Bois, Essex | Rose
Cottage Garden - Open regularly as part of the charitable National
Gardens 'Yellow Book' scheme and featured in various magazines.
Specialists in a wide range of bulbs and hardy perennials. The plants are a mix of cottage garden favourites and a wide variety of more unusual types - all a pleasure to have in your garden. Currently there are over 400 different bulbs and plants in their catalogue. (rosecottageplants.co.uk) |
Gloucestershire
| Colesbourne Park, Nr. Cheltenham | Colesbourne
Park - This has various gardens displaying bulbs and an Arboretum.
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| Tetbury | Westonbirt Arboretum - Westonbirt National Arboretum is renowned worldwide both for its tree and shrub collection and its beautifully landscaped grounds. Today the collection contains around 18,000 numbered specimens covering some 600 acres of Grade 1 Listed Landscape. |
Hampshire
| Southhampton | Holly
Hill Garden - Private quarter acre garden overflowing with plants and water features. Open for charity
- check website for open days.
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| Upton Grey | A Gertrude Jekyll garden restored over the last 20 years - it was the garden that Gertrude Jekyll had designed in 1908 for Charles Holme, a leading figure in the Arts and Crafts movement. |
Herefordshire
| Hampton Court | Hampton Court Gardens - surrounds the castle on the meadows of the river Lugg, backed by a steep wooded escarpment and extend to some 1,000 acres. |
Isle of Wight
| Undercliff Drive Ventnor | Ventnor Botanic Gardens, Isle of Wight - Ventnor Botanic Garden is one of the youngest botanic gardens in Britain. Commenced in 1970 as the Steephill Pleasure Gardens the potential of the site was soon recognised by the Late Sir Harold Hillier, the internationally famous plantsman of Winchester. With great assistance from his nurseries the task of planning and developing was undertaken with a wealth of plant material being introduced to the 22 acre site. The limiting factors of the site, shallow alkaline soil and salt laden winds from the south and west were dealt with by a careful selection of plants. |
Kent
Gardens of the Southeast Details of open gardens in the Southeast.
Gardens to Go - Guide to gardens in Kent - with descriptions and many photographs.
| Westerham, Kent (near to Chartwell) | Charts
Edge Gardens are 10 acres of spectacular gardens interspersed with many unusual and diverse features
including magnificent displays of rhododendrons and azaleas, a Victorian folly and dell garden, water
gardens and cascades.
There is also have a rill garden with rainbow border, a sculpture trail, rock gardens and mixed/herbaceous borders along with an exotic garden. The majority of the plants are labelled and there are many rare and unusual plants. Other features include a tearoom and plant sales. The gardens are ideally suited for all ages, and provide partial access for disabled visitors. Dogs and group tours are also welcome. Open Wednesday and Friday 2-5pm from mid-April to mid-September and 3 times a year on behalf of the
National Garden Scheme.
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| Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells | Groombridge
Place Gardens - Traditional heritage formal gardens and an enchanted forest.
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| Hernhill, Faversham | Mount Ephraim Gardens - in the heart of an 800 acre estate incorporating the house, gardens, progressive fruit farm and grazing. The splendid late Victorian mansion and gardens have magnificent views over the parkland and the Swale and Thames estuary. |
Leicestershire
| Barnsdale, Rutland | Barnsdale Gardens, Rutland, Leicestershire - The gardens at Barnsdale in Rutland were built by Britain's television gardener Geoff Hamilton over several years for the BBC TV Gardeners' World programme and various other BBC specials. Since Geoff's death in 1996, his gardens have been open to the public and include a nursery of choice and unusual plants, mainly propagated from the gardens. |
Lincolnshire
| Grantham | Easton Walled Gardens - Easton Walled Gardens is home to nearly 12 acres of forgotten gardens. Until World War II the site had been gardened continuously for at least 400 years. Now its unique beauty is being rediscovered. |
London
| 66 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 | Chelsea Physic Garden - The Chelsea Physic Garden was founded by the Society of Apothecaries in 1673 in order to promote the study of botany in relation to medicine, then known as the "physic" or healing arts. As the second oldest botanic garden in England it still fulfils the traditional functions of scientific research and plant conservation and undertakes to educate and inform as well as to provide the amenity of a walled "secret" garden in the heart of London. |
Norfolk
| City Centre, Norwich | Plantation
Garden - A restored Victorian town garden just 600 yards from the
City centre. The Plantation Garden includes, a huge gothic fountain, flower beds, lawns, woodland walkways,
rustic bridge Italianate terrace, ‘Medieval’ terrace wall; and hundreds of architectural details fashionable
in the mid 19th century. . This idiosyncratic garden, was established 140 years ago in a 3 acre abandoned
chalk quarry and is a haven of peace and tranquillity, and a glimpse into a bygone age.
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| Various | Norfolk gardens - Details of all the gardens in Norfolk that open in aid of charity under the National Gardens Scheme. |
Surrey
Gardens to Go - Guide to gardens in Surrey - with descriptions and many photographs
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Richmond
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew -The eminence of Kew today is thanks to a succession of avid collectors, visionary scientists, inspired landscape architects and redoubtable gardeners who, over the centuries, have grown and developed the gardens, and the collections they contain. |
Sussex
Gardens to Go - Guide to gardens in Sussex - with descriptions and many photographs.
| Ardingly Nr Haywards Heath | Wakehurst
Place - Kew's country garden in West Sussex - 180 acres of country estate including an Elizabethan mansion house, ornamental
gardens and water features, and temperate woodlands housing national birch and southern beech collections. Special events include
- Bluebell weekends, autumn tints and Winter Garden, themed tours, seasonal walks, Carol concert and Christmas festivities.
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| Cowdray Park, Midhurst |
The Walled Garden at Cowdray - This stunning, Tudor-style walled garden is open to the public all year round with the added attraction of a stylish shop and cafe. The garden, shop and cafe are open Mon-Fri from 9am to 5pm and on weekends from 10.30am to 5pm, but it is occasionally closed for private functions so please call 01730 816881 before visiting. |
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| Haywards Heath | Borde Hill, Haywards Heath, West Sussex - Borde Hill is a garden of contrasts that captures the imagination and delights the senses. It is set in 200 acres of a traditional country estate in the area of outstanding natural beauty lying between the town of Haywards Heath and the village of Cuckfield in mid Sussex. The garden was established from 1900 with plants gathered by the great plant collectors who travelled to the Himalayas, China, Burma, Tasmania and the Andes. Today Borde Hill contains the best private collection of champion trees in Britain and one of the most comprehensive collections of trees and shrubs in the world. |
Warwickshire
| Warmington | The National Herb Centre - Group guided tours and special events Guided tours include: insight into how a commercial herb farm works, the research carried out in the laboratories including drying, freezing and distillation of herbs, visit to the glasshouse, view the display gardens and plant centre - tours can be arranged during the summer months (May to September) for daytime or evening. |
Wirral
| Ness Neston South Wirral | Ness Botanic Garden - (University of Liverpool ) Ness Botanic Gardens was born of one man's passionate interest in plants and his desire to share that interest with others. When the Liverpool cotton merchant Arthur Kilpin Bulley began to create a garden in 1898, part of which he opened to local residents, he laid the foundations of one of the major botanic gardens in the United Kingdom. Bulley was interested in introducing new plant species from abroad. In particular, he believed that Himalayan and Chinese mountain plants could be established in Britain. In order to test this theory, he sponsored expeditions to the Far East and in doing so launched the careers of the renowned British plant collectors George Forrest and Frank Kingdon Ward. |
Yorkshire
| Driffield East Yorks | Hunmanby
Grange - A working farm situated on top of the Yorkshire Wolds, 110m above sea level, 4 miles inland
from the southern end of Filey Bay. It occupies an exposed open site with prevailing winds from the West,
the soil is a grade 2/3 clay loam over chalk, at a depth of only 20 - 30cm.
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| Grewelthorpe, 6 miles North West of Ripon. | Hutts
Estate - Himalayan garden - spectacular 20 acre woodland garden with lots of rhododendrons, azaleas
and other Himalayan plants. Limited opening, please check the website.
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| Harewood | Harewood
House - Harewood is a great family day out. It includes an Adventure Playground for the children and
the Gardens and Bird Gardens for all.
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| Malton, Yorkshire | Castle
Howard - The Grounds at Castle Howard have always impressed visitors with their splendour and variety.
Visitors may enjoy extensive walks through woodlands, formal gardens, along terraces or beside water,
and view the buildings and sculptures in the landscape.
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| Nidderdale, North Yorkshire | Woodlands
Cottage Garden - The garden has several contrasting areas designed to fit in with the character of
the stone cottage and surrounding countryside. To one side is a woodland rock-garden with shrubs, perennials
and ferns.
Open to visitors on specific Open Days for Charity, but also, by prearrangement, can be opened for individuals and small groups. |
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| Ripon, North Yorkshire | Newby Hall - Influenced
by Lawrence Johnston's Hidcote Manor in Gloucestershire, Major Compton decided to create a main axis for the garden running from
the south front of the house right down to the River Ure. The axis consisted of double herbaceous borders flanked by double yew
hedges with a broad grass walk running down the middle. Off it he planned compartmented gardens of formal design like rooms off
the main passage of a house - each filled with plants to be at their best for different seasons - truly a 'Garden for all Seasons'.
The gardens he created over 50 years cover 40 acres and make a great contribution to 20th century gardening design. |
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| Ripon, North Yorkshire | Fountains
Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden - This Nation Trusdt property of 822 acres includes 18th century
water gardens and ornamental lakes, 10 historical buildings with temples, statues, follies and cascades
, Medieval wild deer park with more than 500 deer and the most complete Cistercian abbey remains in Britain.
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| Malton, North Yorkshire | Scampston
Hall - Contemporary four and a half acre Walled Garden opens for the first time in 2004. It is fully
planted but still ‘in the making’ so some imagination is necessary to envisage the final form that will
emerge as the seasons go by. There is a long border walk, under an avenue of 200 lime trees, around the
perimeter wall with mainly spring flowering shrubs and under planting. These include Paeonia rockii with
their large fragrant flowers; Edgeworthia chrysantha a lovely relative of the genus Daphne; Tetrapanax
papyrifer with its huge palmate tropical foliage and Comptonia peregrina from North America with its heavenly
scented foliage.
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| Stillingfleet, Near York | Stillingfleet
Lodge Nurseries and Garden, Stillingfleet, Near York - There is a National Collection of Pulmonaria (Lungwort) - a reference source of 13 species and around
150 cultivars in the garden. Trials are held each year to compare varieties.
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| York | Kew at Castle Howard - An arboretum comprising some 6,500 different taxa (identifiably different types of plant) planted from 1968, when the valuable historic collection formed at the Sunningdale Nursery in Surrey was transported to Ray Wood. This 40-acre area of woodland had been clear-felled and reforested with hardwoods in 1948, but was first surveyed in 1563 and much of the extant ground flora is characteristic of secondary ancient woodland. |
