best gardens to visit gloucestershire

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12 best gardens to visit in Gloucestershire

From perfectly landscaped parkland to secret gardens tucked away in the Cotswolds, discover horticultural heaven with a trip to one of Gloucestershire's most gorgeous gardens.

Cowley Manor is an upmarket hotel and spa in the Cotswolds, with 31 bedrooms, its own cocktail club and a restaurant that champions local produce. Surrounded by 55 acres of beautiful grounds, it offers an escape to the countryside without compromising on contemporary luxury.

Gloucestershire is abundant with green spaces 

Get outdoors and explore Gloucestershire's best gardens, from historic estates boasting spectacular plantings to English country gardens surrounded by Cotswold countryside.

Cowley Manor gardens

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Discover Italianate gardens at the heart of 55 acres of Cotswold countryside at Cowley Manor — the perfect setting for a stroll after indulging in the hotel's afternoon tea, walking off your Sunday roast dinner or enjoying tranquility beyond its award-winning C-Side Spa.

Surrounded by meadows and pastures where you can spot llamas grazing, the 19th-century gardens are free to visit and full of unique features. Go searching for the Grade II-listed water staircase, which is comprised of fountains, pools and stone statues and supplied by a delicate stream of water from the seven natural springs that flow through the grounds, before ordering coffee to the terrace and listening to the birds sing.

Sudeley Castle and Gardens

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Steeped in history and boasting royal connections, Sudeley Castle and Gardens in Winchcombe has 10 impressive gardens to explore, from Civil War ruins transformed by floral plantings to the historic Physic Garden, peppered with plants that would've been used to make medicines in Tudor times.

The central Queen's Garden — named after the English queens that have walked there: Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, Queen Elizabeth I and Katherine Parr, who is buried at Sudeley — is a stand-out highlight. Look for the pattern of its formal Tudor parterre and 70 different varieties of roses, all planted there.

Painswick Rococo Garden

Offering follies, statues, water features and creative planting, Painswick Rococo Garden is the perfect place to see seasonal flowers, with daffodils and fruit blossoms in spring and tulips and heritage roses in summer, while September and October are perfect for soaking up the splendour of the autumn colours.

Berkeley Castle

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Dubbed ‘a calm oasis in a busy world’, Berkeley Castle ’s gardens boast a natural wonderland, with rare plants, shrubs and trees, as well as a tranquil lily pond and walled garden. There are also signs from times gone by, including the sloping bowling green, where Queen Elizabeth I is thought to have played while staying at the castle.

Badminton House

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Home to the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, the Badminton Estate has magical private gardens, where you’ll discover something new at every turn. With glorious displays of roses and borders of soft summer colours, there’s so much to see, including a variety of plants and formal beds designed by landscape architect, Russell Page.

Highgrove Gardens

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Within the private residence of the Prince of Wales, the Royal Gardens at Highgrove offer a stunning setting for guests to pick up gardening inspiration, with pre-booked tours taking visitors through an abundance of Britain’s most beautiful flora and fauna.

Westbury Court Gardens

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Said to be the only restored Dutch-style water garden in the country, visitors can expect to find a place of elegance and calm, with straight canals, clipped hedges, working 17th-century vegetable plots and old-fashioned orchards at Westbury Court Gardens in Westbury-on-Severn.

Owlpen Manor

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Offering a charming hillside garden, Owlpen Manor encompasses magnificent yew topiary, old roses and box parterres, with the chance for guests to take a circular walk around the early Georgian mill pond and lake, fed by seven springs.

Sezincote Estate

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Bringing a taste of India to the Cotswolds, the Sezincote gardens were restored in 1968 after being neglected during the Second World War and now boast a curving conservatory home to climbing plants, as well as an Indian-style pavillion and water garden where many rare plants can be seen.

Hidcote Manor Garden

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Hidcote Manor Garden is an internationally-renowned garden, comprised of several small and surprising gardens, with a host of unusual varieties of plants, miles of hedges and spectacular colours from Japanese acers.

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10 Botanical Gardens to Explore in Gloucestershire

Checkout places to visit in gloucestershire.

Gloucestershire

The cathedral city of Gloucester nestled between the Cotswolds and the Forest of Dean, is Britain’s most inland port, rich with history dating back to Roman times. Gloucester’s many museums and attractions tell the stories of those that have made a great impact on England and the world.

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Botanical gardens to explore in gloucestershire.

Batsford Arboretum and Garden Centre

The 56-acre arboretum at Batsford is situated just a mile west of the historic market town of Moreton in Marsh in the heart of the Cotswolds. It is home to a huge range of ornamental and fruit trees, conifers, acres, roses, shrubs, herbaceous, and bedding plants. It is owned and run by the Batsford Foundation, a registered charity, and is open to the public daily throughout most of the year.

Bourton House Garden

An eighteenth-century Costwold house with a fine garden. The garden's structure is like that of a renaissance garden but the planting design is Arts and Crafts. It has lawns, fountains, a topiary, sculptures, an orchard, a knot garden, a kitchen garden, a raised walk and herbaceous borders. The garden has been open to the public since 1987.

Cerney House Gardens

Cerney House Gardens is a romantic English garden for all seasons. There is a beautiful secluded Victorian walled garden that features herbaceous borders overflowing with colour. There is a well-labelled herb garden and working kitchen garden. The 3.5-acre red brick walled garden has many colourful borders and seating areas. In Spring wander through the Bluebell woods down to the front garden which has more colourful borders.

Highgrove House

Highgrove is the private residence of TRHs The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire. The house is noted for its extensive gardens, which receive more than 30,000 visitors a year.

Kiftsgate Court Gardens

Kiftsgate is a glorious garden to visit throughout the seasons with spectacular views. The gardens, famed for its roses, are the creation of three generations of women gardeners. Started by Heather Muir in the 1920s, continued by Diany Binny from 1950 and now looked after by Anne Chambers and her husband. Kiftsgate Court is now the home of the Chambers family.

National Trust - Hidcote

Hidcote is an Arts and Crafts garden in the north Cotswolds, a stone’s throw from Stratford-upon-Avon. Created by the talented American horticulturist, Major Lawrence Johnston its colourful and intricately designed outdoor ‘rooms’ are always full of surprises. It’s a must-see if you’re on holiday in the Cotswolds. It is one of the best-known and most influential Arts and Crafts gardens in Britain and it is owned by the National Trust and is open to the public.

National Trust - Westbury Court Garden

Westbury Court Garden is a Dutch water garden in Westbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire, England, 9 miles southwest of Gloucester. The garden was designed 1695-1705. The house has gone but the garden survives and has the reputation of being one of the best examples of the 'Dutch Style in England' and of a 'Dutch canal garden'.

National Trust Snowshill Manor and Garden

The National Trust's Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire, is a Cotswold manor house packed with extraordinary treasures. It is a sixteenth-century country house, best known for its twentieth-century owner, Charles Paget Wade, an eccentric who amassed an enormous collection of objects that interested him. He gave the property to the National Trust in 1951, and his collection is still housed there.

Painswick Rococo Garden

Designed in the 1740s as a fanciful pleasure garden for the owner of Painswick House and his guests, today it’s a place to roam free, to get up close and personal with nature, or to feel the warmth of the sun on your face as you take in the spectacular views of the Cotswold countryside and magical follies.

Sudeley Castle

A majestic Grade I listed Castle located in the Cotswolds. It was the only private castle in England to have a queen buried within the grounds - Queen Katherine Parr, the last and surviving wife of King Henry VIII – who lived and died in the castle. . The castle has 10 notable gardens covering some 15 acres within a 1,200-acre estate nestled within the Cotswold hills.

Map of Botanical Gardens to explore in Gloucestershire

A visit to Rockcliffe Garden, one of the best gardens in the Cotswolds

By Clive Nichols

Rockcliffe is one of the best gardens in the Cotswolds . Created over the last 30 years by garden designer and owner Emma Keswick, it now extends to eight acres and oozes English country garden chic at every turn. This was not the case when the Keswicks arrived in 1981 – there was no real garden at all – and it was not until nine years later that the garden as we see it today began to take shape.

The mellow Cotswold stone house sits handsomely at the centre of the design. From the upstairs windows at the front of the house the view looks down onto a generous stone terrace overflowing in summer with giant regale lilies, Alchemilla mollis and poppies. Beyond, a large lawn mown into perfect stripes ends with a ha-ha and a dramatic bronze sculpture – ‘Southern Shade’– by Nigel Hall. On either side of the lawn are two rows of enormous clipped beech obelisks which taper inwards slightly as they move away from the house, creating a false perspective that elongates the view. Directly beside the house is a dark rectangular canal pool with a stone statue of Nandi the bull, the mythological attendant of the Hindu god Shiva, at its centre. Hanging over and almost into the water are six immaculate specimens of Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’ – an unusual but very effective design touch inspired by a visit to Helen Dillon’s garden in Dublin.

To the north of the house the garden drops away to the potager and then rises again up the hillside opposite. An ornamental wooden gate frames a wonderful view of yew topiary doves, grass steps and a stone, domed dovecote, built in 2001 and topped by a gilded weathervane. By midsummer, the whole hillside is awash with brilliant white oxe-eye daisies and in the nearby arboretum, mounds of Rosa ‘Cerise Bouquet’, their arching branches filled with clusters of magenta rose flowers, appear to float above the daisies like a pink cloud.

Brilliant English Gardens by Clive Nichols is published by Clearview Books, £60.

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Six great parks, gardens and arboretums to visit in Gloucestershire

If you’re looking for picturesque beauty spots to enjoy on a day out, Gloucestershire is full of choices. With its wide variety of parks, gardens and arboretums, there’s plenty for you to discover.

The towns of Gloucestershire have good reason to celebrate their parks. In late 2023, as reported by Gloucestershire Live, Cheltenham’s Sandford Park was ranked among the best in the country, and awarded the Green Flag, joining six other parks in the area. If you’re looking for park homes for sale in Gloucestershire, the county boasts several residential park home communities, such as Woodlands Park and Greenacres Park from Gloucestershire Park Homes, or Orchard Park from Park Home Life, described here: http://www.parkhomelife.com/our-parks/orchard-park-homes-gloucester-gloucestershire .

If it’s days out you’re looking for here are six great places to enjoy.

Birdland Park and Gardens

Caring for 500 exotic birds, from penguins and birds of prey to cranes, Birdland Park and Gardens promises an educational experience, including the Jurassic Journey themed walk for kids.

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Westonbirt Arboretum

Managed by the Forestry Commission, Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, is considered one of the finest collections in the world. Open all year round, families can enjoy guided walks, activities and seasonal events in the summer and at Christmas.

Painswick Rococo Garden

Designed in the 1740s, this is the country’s only surviving complete Rococo garden. Charming and including a maze, it provides a tranquil day out.

Batsford Arboretum

One of the largest private tree collections in the country, Batsford Arboretum is a colourful collection of trees and shrubs in 56 acres of wild gardens. With events throughout the year, the only day it’s shut is Christmas Day.

Woodchester Park

Nestling in a secluded wooded valley, Woodchester Park has lakes, a boat house, and hides a disused quarry. Look out for wildlife such as herons and carp amongst the beautiful scenery.

Cotswold Country Park and Beach

For lovers of fun on the water, Cotswold Country Park and Beach offers stand-up paddle boards, kayaks and boats on its lake, as well as an enormous inflatable aqua adventure park for all the family.

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guide2 Gloucestershire

We’ve picked a bunch of the loveliest gardens who open their gates each year to visitors.

Looking for the best gardens in Gloucestershire ? These are the gorgeous outdoor spots you shouldn’t miss. There is something so nice about escaping to one of Gloucestershire’s green spaces – particularly on those days when the sun is on full blast.

Luckily for you, Gloucestershire has a wealth of gardens , large and small for you to discover. These are the best gardens in Gloucestershire  – perfect for picnics, basking in the sun and escaping from the hustle and bustle.

Badminton Park

Walk around the beautiful private gardens from the formal beds on the east side of the House which are planted with white tulips for the Spring. To the south garden with symmetry water squares, hedges, beds and borders all reminiscent of one of the great Loire Valley gardens.

Lydney Park

Flowering cherries, magnolias, scented spring flowering shrubs and drifts of spring bulbs provide a stunning entrance to Lydney Park Gardens . Delve deeper into the grounds and you will find the 8-acre woodland garden a place of tranquil natural beauty. The park is open to the public in the Spring and is also open on selected days as part of the National Garden Scheme.

Batsford Arboretum

The collections of trees and plants cover a wide range from around the world but have an emphasis on the Far East. There are over 2,850 labelled specimens including about 1,300 different trees, shrubs and bamboo. Batsford has held the National Collection of Japanese Flowering Cherries since 2002 - which means they have at least 70% of known cultivars.

Berkeley Castle Garden

The gardens specialise in scent and the roses in particular are a delight in June. Rare plants, shrubs and trees are to be enjoyed at these gardens in Gloucestershire . The grounds also include a Butterfly House with hundreds of butterflies flying freely in a tranquil indoor garden .

Cerney House Gardens

Romantic, secret place in the Cotswolds, one of the best gardens in Gloucestershire . They are part of the home of the Angus family. Set around a Victorian walled garden , they are described by Country Living as "what most people aspire to in their gardens – and few achieve".

Bourton House Garden

Featuring luxuriant terraces and wide herbaceous borders with stunning plant, texture and colour combinations. Imaginative topiary includes a knot garden , parterre and topiary walk and there are several spring-fed water features including a raised basket pond from the Great Exhibition of 1851. Visitors to these gardens in Gloucestershire are also invited to enjoy the seven acre walk with groups of specimen trees planted in 1994/95.

Rodmarton Manor Garden

8 acre Cotswold gardens in Gloucestershire is interesting any month of the year but really beautiful throughout the summer months. Each part of this Gloucestershire garden has a different character ranging from the alpines in troughs, bigger plants in the rockery, lawns, a large kitchen garden , white borders, to the magnificent herbaceous borders which are constantly being replanted and improved.

Kiftsgate Court Gardens

A woodland garden steps down the hillside to a half-moon swimming pool, herbaceous borders, a four square garden , a white garden , a yellow border, a rockery, lawns and a bluebell wood. There is a water garden in an enclosed space, a restrained design in black, white and green provides a striking contrast. Gilded bronze leaves float over the water providing slight movement in the wind.

Barnsley House Garden

Discover magical country gardens in Gloucestershire that feel like a fairytale. The famous Laburnum Walk has become iconic and there are surprises at every turn. Explore the kitchen garden where you will discover how fresh their produce really is. And you’ll no doubt come across talented gardeners who lovingly nurture the flowers, plants and produce to keep everything looking lovely all year-round.

Painswick Rococo Garden

This is a place to forget the stresses of everyday life. A place for fun, adventure and exploration. A place to relax, to restore, and to rediscover. Whether you’re visiting as a family, a group of friends or a couple, or simply in need of some time alone in nature, you’ll discover a haven of peace and tranquillity, sprinkled with quirky features to surprise and delight you.

Sudeley Castle Garden

Set against the stunning backdrop of the majestic castle, and surrounded by striking views of the Cotswold Hills, there are 10 magnificent, award-winning gardens which sweep around the castle and grounds. Not only that, but they also offer a fantastic adventure playground and fun fort for our younger visitors.

Sezincote Gardens

See canals and Irish yews in the South Garden , Moghul paradise gardens , a curving conservatory, a little pavilion and all the exceptionally fine planting of the water garden. Streams and pools are lined with great clumps of bog-loving plants and the stream is crossed by an Indian bridge adorned with Brahmin bulls. Ornaments include a temple to Surya the sun god, and a snake coiled around a column in the Snake Pond.

Cirencester Park

Over the years Cirencester Park has been a deer park, a military base, a hospital and the venue for a Glenn Miller concert. It was originally laid out in the 1700s as a deer park by the first Earl Bathurst. It remained that way until the First World War when it became a military camp, once home to the Warwickshire Yeomanry. During this time the fences surrounding the deer park fell into disrepair and fallow deer escaped, a herd of which roam the Park to this day. You are more than welcome to experience the wonders of Cirencester Park for yourself as the Park is open to members of the public.

Westonbirt Arboretum

Home to 2,500 different species from the far corners of the globe and 5 national tree collections, Westonbirt is the perfect place for you to escape, relax or have an adventure! Take a journey up into the canopy on the STIHL Tree Top Walkway, stop by the café for a tasty treat or see if you can spot the Gruffalo! Join their experienced and knowledgeable volunteers as they guide you through the Old Arboretum . Explore the seasonal features and discover a hidden gem or your new favourite spot!

Stanway Water Gardens

The Stanway Watergarden is one of the finest in England, created in the 1720s for John Tracy, probably by Charles Bridgeman, gardener to Lord Cobham at Stowe, Buckinghamshire from 1719 and Royal Gardener from 1727, who invented the English style of gardening , which superseded the Franco-Dutch style. Typically Bridgemanic is the Canal, a magnificent formal sheet of water, situated unusually on a terrace 25 feet above the house, and the Cascade (the largest in Britain, partially restored), fed by water flowing under the Pyramid from the Pyramid Pond.

Westbury Court

You can explore canals, admire clipped hedges and see 17th-century vegetable plots growing through the seasons. There's a dedicated picnic area over the bridge, so why not make some sandwiches, pack your rug and book your visit? Visiting is like stepping back in time to a place of elegance and calm. Here you'll find straight canals reflecting the sky, clipped hedges, ornate garden buildings and old-fashioned orchards.

Arts and crafts inspired garden with intricately designed outdoor spaces in the rolling Cotswold hills. Explore the maze of narrow paved pathways and discover secret gardens , delightful vistas and colourful planting. The garden is divided into a series of ‘outdoor rooms’, each with its own character. The formality of the ‘rooms’ melts away as you move through the garden away from the house.

Newark Park

Tudor hunting lodge set proudly in an estate on top of the Cotswold escarpment, looking down into the Ozleworth Valley and to the Mendips beyond. The quaint gardens and sprawling parkland are filled with seasonal blooms. The peacocks that roam the garden are very friendly and love to call out to their friends. They live at Newark Park full time so you're almost certain to see one.

The garden of this Cotswold manor house is the perfect place to unwind and explore hidden vistas, quiet corners and unexpected delights. It is the perfect place to explore on a spring walk which takes in the beauty of this place and gives remarkable views of Snowshill Manor and Garden .

Open Gardens

The scheme gives visitors unique access to over 3,600 exceptional private gardens in England and Wales, and raises impressive amounts of money for nursing and health charities through admissions, teas and cake.

Dyrham Park

Situated near Bath, this ancient parkland is full of magnificent trees and view points with extensive vistas that stretch as far as the Welsh mountains. The garden is home to sumptuous planting, formal areas and peaceful wooded terraces.

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Gloucestershire

Famed for its famous scenic landscapes, beautiful Cotswold towns, picture-postcard villages, and a thriving, modern city, Gloucestershire offers the best of all worlds. With plenty of places to see, things to do, and attractions to visit, Gloucestershire certainly ticks all the right boxes as a highly desirable visitor destination.

Bourton House

This is a mainly formal garden of around 5 hectares, incorporating 17th-, 19th- and 20th-century features.

Kiftsgate Court

Kiftsgate Court is a 20th-century plant and shrub garden of around 2 hectares with outstanding borders. The gardens surround a late-19th-century house.

Days out in Gloucestershire

Besides a wealth of fantastic countryside to discover, Gloucestershire has plenty of picturesque villages, gorgeous market towns, including Cheltenham, Cirencester, Stroud, Berkeley, and Tewkesbury, and the fabulous city of Gloucester to enjoy. With each offering a whole range of attractions, activities, and days out, you’re spoilt for choice!

With a captivating history and as Gloucestershire’s only city and county town, Gloucester is home to plenty of landmarks, including the famous Cathedral. At almost 1,000 years old, the spectacular architecture, vaulted ceilings, and stained-glass windows are still a wonderful sight.

The Museum of Gloucester is an essential visit if you’re looking for a full background to the city’s history, including its Roman origins, while the Gloucester Docks lets you explore the city’s maritime trading heritage. Beatrix Potter’s House of The Tailor of Gloucester is a wonderful museum and shop, as well as being the inspiration for the story.

Outside the city, Cheltenham features some impressive architecture, particularly the Montpellier district; head to the Promenade to see the impressive Neptune Fountain. For things to do in Stroud, the Museum in the Park is a Grade II listed building inside Stratford Park and its collections give a fascinating account of Stroud’s history. You won’t want to miss the hustle and bustle of the Shambles indoor and outdoor markets for a spot of bargain hunting.

Among the lovely regency architecture and Cotswold stone buildings that make Cirencester so special, the Corinium Museum features significant artefacts and mosaics from the area’s rich Roman history – a truly engaging attraction for any age. Cirencester Amphitheatre has the remains of one of Britain’s largest Roman arenas, once seating up to 8,000 people.

Gloucestershire gives you the chance to enjoy plenty of breathtaking scenery and idyllic landscapes. Together with the Royal Forest of Dean and the Severn Vale – both areas of historical significance and a haven for wildlife – the county is perhaps best known for the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Explore this beautiful area along some many walking routes, cycle trails, and bridleways to really experience Gloucestershire’s great outdoors.

Topography, geology, and climate

As a gloriously rural county, Gloucestershire has natural beauty in abundance with an incredible mix of woodland, hills, valleys, and historic, protected countryside. All these features come together to give Gloucestershire its unique range of diverse landscapes, land qualities, and fertile soil types.

With the eastern side of Gloucestershire almost entirely made up of the Cotswolds AONB, its underlying limestone rock provides a free-draining, shallow, lime-rich soil with a loamy texture. As the west of the county is split by the River Severn, this gives distinct soil changes on either side. To the west is largely a mix of acidic clay, loam, and base-rich loam soils. To the east, lime-rich loam and clay soils give slow drainage, but high fertility levels.

The weather in Gloucestershire can vary due to its mix of low and higher ground, but overall it enjoys a mild and temperate climate. High summer temperatures can reach an average of around 22ºC (71ºF), while winter lows can drop to an average of just under 2ºC (35ºF). You may want to bring your wellies, as Gloucestershire’s annual rainfall can be consistently heavy, with an average of around 800mm (31”) across the year.

Gloucestershire’s parks and gardens

To rival the county’s wonderful landscapes, Gloucestershire features a wide range of beautiful gardens, parks, and arboretum to enjoy. If you’re a keen gardener or horticulturalist, the county doesn’t disappoint. Each offers an informative and relaxed, fun day out, with plenty to enjoy for the whole family.

Set in the Cotswold Hills, Sudeley Castle & Gardens near Winchcombe has a collection of 10 award-winning gardens covering the castle’s 14-acre grounds. There’s plenty to enjoy here with ever-changing colour through the seasons including the Knot garden, with its intricate box hedges, the Secret garden with its vibrant display of tulips, the White garden, and Sudeley’s highlight, the Queen’s garden, which features more than 80 varieties of rose.

In Moreton-in-Marsh, there are two wonderful venues to explore. Firstly, Bourton House Garden has beautifully designed, inspirational gardens that feature beautiful tender perennials in wide borders and terraces, sitting perfectly with the rural surroundings. There’s also a knot garden, parterre, and topiary walk to enjoy. A real feast for the senses in any season, but particularly magnificent in late summer.

Dubbed ‘India in the Cotswolds’, Sezincote House Gardens provides a totally different, but equally impressive collection. Designed by landscape architect Humphry Repton, the renaissance-styled garden has Indian paradise garden influences. Together with the magnificent curving orangery and Indian-style pavilion, expect to see a wide range of rare plants and features in the Water garden, together with a fine collection of specimen trees.

Near Westbury-on-Severn, Westbury Court Garden is a uniquely designed Dutch-style water garden. Featuring a magnificent 450-ft long, Yew tree-bordered canal as its centrepiece, a worthwhile visit to this National Trust property also includes beautiful borders, a Walled garden, 17th-century veg plots, and a Dutch-style pavilion with views over the gardens.

Though just a short distance from Gloucester city centre, Barnwood Arboretum & Park in Barnwood is a peaceful, natural haven accessed by a footbridge. With a range of mature trees, the grassland is left to provide a natural habitat for a variety of birds, insects, and small animals with pathways leading you around a tree trail. A great place to explore, but look out for the grazing cattle and sheep.

In Rodmarton, near Tetbury, Arts & Crafts-style Rodmarton Manor features an 8-acre garden with a series of beautiful garden rooms. Expertly designed with pathways to maximise the glorious surroundings, the broad variety of planting schemes provide plenty of interest, colour, and texture all year round in wide herbaceous borders, rockeries, and a large kitchen garden.

Cerney House Gardens, near Cirencester, is a secluded, atmospheric, and quite lovely garden. In the grounds of this family home, you’ll discover a wonderful selection of herbaceous borders, filled with perennial favourites and surrounded by a selection of roses and climbers. Divided into four sections, the 3.5-acre Walled garden is alive with colourful borders and fine, flowering displays throughout the year.

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Gardens to Visit in Gloucestershire

Barnsley house.

Laburnum Flowers in May © Seasonal Gardening

Created by the well-loved garden writer Rosemary Verey in the 1950s. The gardens are beautifully laid out with attractive planting schemes, including a laburnum arch under planted with ornamentals, pleached lime walkways, mixed borders and a good selection of shrub Roses. Other features include interplanted stone pathways, a working kitchen garden, herb garden & potager.

Facilities: parking, accommodation. Open: Feb to Dec - by appointment only Address: Barnsley, Cirencester GL7 5EE Tel: 01285 740000 - Privately Run Hotel Web: barnsleyhouse.com

Bourton House Garden

© Bourton House

Restored 18th-c. manor house set in magnificent landscaped gardens, with mature trees, shrubs, water features, winding paths and lavish borders. The gardens are managed by Head Gardener Paul Nicholls and include imaginative topiary, a knot garden, parterre, water features, herbaceous borders, pasture land and a fine collection of specimen trees.

Facilities: parking, cafe, shop, plant sales Open: April to October Address: Burton-on-the-Hill, GL56 9AE Tel: 01386 700754 Web: bourtonhouse.com

Batsford Arboretum

Acer Palmatum © Seasonal Gardening

Spectacular 56 acre garden, with lovely views across the Evenlode Valley. Home to over 1500 specimen trees from around the world. You can meander along winding pathways and tree lined streams to discover exotic statues hidden in wooded glades. Well worth visiting at any time of year, with drifts of bulbs in spring, flamboyant blossoms in May and rich autumn leaf colour.

Facilities: parking, cafe, shop, plant sales Open: all year, daily Address: Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos. GL56 9AB Tel: 01386 701441 Web: batsarb.co.uk

Cheltenham Gardens

Cheltenham Promenade © Seasonal Gardening

Colourful public gardens set out in the Imperial Park behind the town hall and along the main promenade (shown above). The gardens were laid out in 1817 to encourage people to walk from the town to the spa. Around 25,000 bedding plants are planted each year to create the magnificent floral displays enjoyed by thousands of visitors. Events and festivals throughout the summer.

Facilities: Free Access Open: Any reasonable time. Address: Imperial Square, Chelt. GL50 1QA Tel: 0844 5762210 Web: cheltenham.gov.uk

Dyrham Park

© National Trust Images/James Dobson

Historic baroque style country house, surrounded by an ancient parkland with fallow deer. A delightful place for a leisurely stroll, with richly planted borders, tranquil ponds and an idyllic wildflower orchard.

Dryham's charming 250 acre landscaped gardens are famous for their annual tulip festival in April.

Facilities: parking, shop, tea room, park trails Open: Late February to mid-December Address: Dyrham, Gloucestershire SN14 8ER Tel: 0117 9372501 - Owned by National Trust Web: nationaltrust.org.uk/dyrham-park

Hidcote Manor Garden

Hidcote Gardens - by Ron Porter (CC0)

A delightful 10-acre arts and crafts garden, designed by the horticulturist Major Laurence Johnston. Established in 1907, the garden is beautifully situated in the rolling Cotswold hills. Designed as number of garden rooms, enclosed by trimmed Yew hedges. Each garden is planted to a unique theme, such as the Bathing Pool Garden with its topiary birds and the Theatre Garden.

Facilities: parking, shop, cafe, garden centre Open: Late February to mid-December Address: Chipping Campden, Glos. GL55 6LR Tel: 01386 438333 - Owned by National Trust Web: nationaltrust.org.uk/hidcote

Kiftsgate Court Gardens

The Rose Border © Seasonal Gardening

A charming plot, situated on the edge of the Cotswolds, with dramatic views towards the Malvern Hills. The garden makes good use of its natural topography, with terraces and paths sloping down to a lawn and crescent pool. Kiftsgate is a quiet and intimate place, luxuriantly planted and always colourful, especially in June when the roses are in full bloom.

Facilities: parking, cafe, shop, plant sales Open: April to September Address: Mickleton, Glos. GL55 6LN Tel: 01386 438777 Web: kiftsgate.co.uk

White Water Lilies - Nymphaea alba (FM)

Exotic Indo-oriental style garden, complete with charming water gardens, bridges, indian temples and statues. Influenced by Thomas Daniell and Humphry Repton, the gardens are lusciously planted with hosta, skunk cabbage, rodgersia and other moisture loving plants that line its streams and canals. The site is surrounded by ancient woodlands, ornamental trees and fine cedars.

Facilities: parking Open: all year (Exc. Xmas) Address: Sezincote GL56 9AW Tel: 01386 700444 Web: sezincote.co.uk

Snowshill Manor

© National Trust Images/Jonathan Buckley

A traditional 16th-c. Cotswold manor house, surrounded by a charming walled gardens and terraces packed with spring and summer colour. Situated on a hillside with spectacular views across the Cotswold countryside. The gardens were designed by Charles Wade & M.H. Baillie Scott as a series of interconnecting 'rooms' divided by hedges, walls, steps and archways.

Facilities: parking, restaurant, shop Open: April to October Address: Snowshill, Gloucestershire WR12 7JU Tel: 01386 852410 - Owned by National Trust Web: nationaltrust.org.uk

Sudeley Castle

Tulips in Spring (FM)

This lovely castle of Cotswold stone is set in formal gardens with box Hedges, topiary and an Elizabethan-style herb garden. Take a relaxing stroll along shrub borders, clipped yews and broad lawns lined with trees. The tulips are a delight in Spring, with fragrant roses in summer, followed by rich autumn colour in the secret garden. The garden's rare animal collection is an added bonus.

Facilities: parking, terrace cafe, visitor centre Open: April to October, daily Address: Winchcombe, Glos. GL54 5JD Tel: 01242 602308 Web: sudeleycastle.co.uk

Westbury Court Garden

Restored late 17th-c. Dutch-style water garden, formally laid-out with canals and clipped yew hedges. There is also a lovely little walled garden stocked with period plants, including old roses, herbs, medicinal herbs and fruit trees.

Facilities: parking, children's quiz/trail Open: April to October Address: Westbury-on-Severn, Glos. GL14 1PD Tel: 01452 760461 - Owned by National Trust Web: nationaltrust.org.uk

Westonbirt Arboretum

Autumn Shades at Westonbirt (FM)

Famed for its spectacular autumn colours, this 600 acre tree lovers paradise contains one of the largest and finest collections of temperate trees in Britain. Also noted for its summer flowering shrubs and evergreens. Including fine displays of Japanese Maples, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Magnolias and over 16000 specimens of wild flowers. The Maple glade in the Autumn is one the parks biggest draws.

Facilities: parking, visitor centre, shop, cafe Open: All year, daily Address: GL8 8QS Tel: 01666 880220 Web: westonbirtarboretum.com

Due to the wide variations in opening times, and seasonal changes, we are only able to state the core months in which these gardens are open. For details of the actual days and times of opening, please visit the garden's website using the link provided or call them using the telephone number listed.

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The History Hit Miscellany of Facts, Figures and Fascinating Finds

10 of the Best Historic Sites in Gloucestershire

Nestled amongst the cotswold hills, forest of dean and river severn are some historical gems not to miss in gloucestershire..

Lucy Davidson

19 may 2022, @lucejuiceluce.

Gloucestershire, a country in South West England, is mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as early as the 10th century. The area, which includes the Cotswold Hills, part of the River Severn and the entirety of the Forest of Dean, has witnessed a range of significant historical events.

The Battle of Tewkesbury took place in Gloucestershire in 1471, and proved to be one of the most decisive of all battles in the Wars of the Roses. Similarly, the last battle of the English Civil War took place in 1646 close to Stow-on-the-Wold.

Today, the county is home to a number of fascinating historic sites which attest to its varied heritage. From medieval abbeys to Jacobean manor houses, here are 10 of the best historic sites in Gloucestershire that you can visit today.

1. Chedworth Roman Villa

Located in a beautiful valley in Cheltenham are the remains of one of the grandest Roman villas ever discovered in Britain. Evidence of the first stone structure at Chedworth Roman villa dates to the 2nd century AD, and consists of three detached buildings of a few rooms each. Over the following centuries, the villa was extended until it was at its most lavish in the 4th century AD; it featured large bath houses, stunning mosaic floors and marble features. However, it was abandoned after the Roman Empire pulled out of Britain in 410AD.

Centuries passed, and it was not until a gamekeeper unearthed it in 1864 that the full scale and grandeur of the villa was discovered. The outline of the villa was then reconstructed by placing local stone on top of surviving walls, and a lodge and museum were built nearby. In 1924, the property was passed to the National Trust. Today, the remains of the villa – including the stunning mosaics and sophisticated flushing toilets – are open to the public.

2. Berkeley Castle

Located in the town of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, Berkeley Castle is a grade I listed building that dates to the 11th century. Originally a motte-and-bailey castle, it was held by three generations of the Berkeley family. Much of the castle dates from the 14th century, when it was expanded. It is known as having been the likely site of the murder of King Edward II , and for having been visited by Queen Elizabeth I .

Today, the castle is the third-oldest continuously occupied castle in England (after the Tower of London and Windsor Castle ), and the oldest to continuously be both owned and occupied by the same family. Visitors can enjoy the finely decorated rooms which feature chandeliers and silver lamps, as well as paintings dating from the 16th to 20th centuries, fine furniture and a spider’s web ceiling.

3. Thornbury Castle

Grade I listed Thornbury Castle is a Tudor castle located in Thornbury. Construction on the castle began in 1511 as an additional residence for the Duke of Buckingham. When the 3rd Duke of Buckingham was beheaded for treason in 1521 on the orders of King Henry VIII , the castle was confiscated by Henry, who lived there for 10 days with Queen Anne Boleyn in 1535. After the Civil War , the castle fell into disrepair; however, it was renovated in 1824 by the Howard family.

Today, the castle is a 26-room luxury restaurant and hotel as well as a popular wedding venue. From 1966 to 1986, it was operated as one of the UK’s top restaurants by Kenneth Bell MBE along with Nigel Slater and Simon Gault. Today, it maintains an excellent reputation for its food.

4. Gloucester Cathedral

Located in the north of Gloucester near the River Severn, Gloucester Cathedral originated in around 678 AD with the foundation of an abbey, which was later dissolved by King Henry VIII . A church of St Peter was built in the same location in 1058. It consists of a Norman nave, with a notable monument in the cathedral being a shrine to Edward II of England, who was murdered at the nearby Berkeley Castle in 1327.

Today, the cathedral is a practicing religious building as well as a tourist attraction. Popular features are a stained glass window which depicts the earliest images of golf, which dates to around 1350, and a carved image of people playing a ball game, which is believed by some to be a very early image of medieval football.

5. Hailes Abbey

Richard of Cornwall is said to have founded this abbey following his involvement in a near-fatal shipwreck. The abbey was consecrated in 1251. In 1270, the abbey acquired a vial that was said to contain the Holy Blood. It then became a popular pilgrimage destination. Hailes Abbey fell victim to Henry VIII’s Reformation in 1538 , when the phial of Holy Blood was removed from the site and found to be ‘honey clarified and coloured with saffron’.

Today, the site is home to the stunted yet elegant ruins of the abbey – the cloisters’ fine arches remain, overgrown but dignified. Nothing’s left of the church, save the outlines of its foundations. There’s also a fascinating little museum displaying items from the site, including floor tiles, carved ceiling bosses and an exceptionally rare fragment of a 14th-century monk’s spectacles. A free audio tour really brings the site to life.

6. Cirencester Roman Amphitheatre

Cirencester Roman Amphitheatre was constructed in the early 2nd century to hold a capacity of 8,000 spectators. Located in the major Roman city of Corinium, today known as Cirencester, Cirencester Roman Amphitheatre would have attracted visitors from around  Roman Britain .

Though Corinium was the second-largest city in Roman Britain after Londinium , following the Roman retreat from Britain in the 5th century however, the once-thriving community rapidly declined. The amphitheatre fell into disuse as a centre of entertainment. It was briefly used as a medieval fortress, then it was abandoned again until the Abbot of Cirencester began using it as a rabbit warren.

Today, Cirencester Roman Amphitheatre is managed by English Heritage and is open to the public. Very little of its structure remains however its large earthworks are still visible, giving an insight into the size of the former theatre – one of the largest in Britain.

7. Sudeley Castle

Grade I listed Sudeley Castle in Sudeley, near the Cotswolds, is part of a 1,200-acre estate in the Cotswold hills. It was initially built in 1443 on the site of a former 12th-century fortified manor house. It was later seized by the crown, becoming the property of King Edward IV and King Richard III , who built its famous banqueting hall. King Henry VIII and his wife Anne Boleyn visited the castle in 1535, and it later became the resting place of King Henry VIII’s final wife, Catherine Parr. The castle was used as a military base during the First English Civil War , then was besieged and slighted by parliament. It remained in ruins until it was purchased and turned into a family home in 1837.

Today, the castle is known for its stunning interiors, art collection and its 10 gardens covering some 15 acres. It remains one of the few castles left in England that is still a private family residence.

8. Newark Park

Situated on top of the Cotswold escarpment, Newark Park is made up of a 750 acre estate which features a former Tudor hunting lodge, built in 1550. Over successive centuries the lodge changed hands and was added to, most notably by the Low family of London, who significantly extended the building in 1672 by adding a four-storey building to the west. In 1949, the property was gifted to the National Trust, who initially turned it into a nursing home. After falling into a state of disrepair, it was saved by Texan architect Robert Parsons in the 1970s, who highlighted many of the property’s original features.

Today, the informal gardens at Newark Park are popular amongst visitors. The National Trust hosts a range of events throughout the year such as Easter trails, a classic car show, a Christmas weekend and outdoor theatre performances.

9. Stanway House

A Jacobean manor house near the village of Stanway in Gloucestershire, Stanway House was constructed in the late 16th and early 17th century for the Tracy Family, the Earls of Wemyss and March, who still live there. A Grade I listed building, it is known for its elegant furniture, fascinating gatehouse, 14th century tithe barn, 18th century water garden, church and parkland.

The current Earl of Wemyss and March has pursued a programme of restoration for years, such as on the 18th-century water garden, which features a single jet fountain that reaches 300 feet high, making it the highest fountain in Britain, and the highest gravity fountain in the world. Today, the house and grounds are open to the public on a limited basis every year.

10. Odda’s Chapel

One of the most complete surviving Anglo-Saxon churches in England, Odda’s chapel lay undiscovered for centuries, its walls hidden amongst the winding rooms of a 17th-century farmhouse, Abbot’s court. The nave had been converted into a kitchen, while the chancel was used as a bedroom. Originally established by the eponymous local nobleman in the 1050s, it was dissolved by during the Dissolution of the Monasteries , at which point it became a farmhouse.

In 1865, a local vicar realised that there had once been a chantry chapel nearby. However, it was only in 1885 during repairs to Abbot’s Court that a blocked Anglo-Saxon window was discovered hidden behind plaster. Today, the chapel is open to the public. Walks in the area are also popular. 

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Gardens in Gloucestershire, England

England is the most garden-loving country in the world, with more gardens open to the public than anywhere else. London is the Garden Capital of the world, in the sense of having a higher proportion of garden-loving residents than any other capital city in the world. But there are disappointingly few great English gardens in London: one therefore has to travel by car or train to other English regions to find great gardens to visit. The most famous period in English garden history is the eighteenth century, when the original English landscape gardens were made. In addition to these English Garden Finder entries, please see (1) Garden Tours in England (2) our 10 musical histories of garden and landscape design in the British Isles (3) our page on Prehistoric Landscapes and Gardens in the British Isles .

Recently updated Gardens

• Westonbirt Arboretum updated at 11 May 09:01
• The Garden at Miserden updated at 18 Feb 16:54
• Sezincote Garden updated at 11 Mar 12:16
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The 6 best parks and gardens in Gloucester

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THE 10 BEST Cotswolds Gardens

Gardens in cotswolds.

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1. Hidcote Manor Garden

2. Highgrove Gardens

3. Westonbirt Arboretum

4. Batsford Arboretum

5. Snowshill Manor and Garden

6. Painswick Rococo Garden

7. Bourton House Garden

8. Sezincote House & Garden

9. Snowshill Manor

10. Kiftsgate Court Gardens

11. Bibury Trout Farm

12. Cerney House Gardens

13. Highnam Court

14. The Garden at Miserden

15. Rodmarton Manor

16. Victoria Pleasure Gardens

17. Ernest Wilson Memorial Garden

18. Beverston Castle

19. Hillfield Gardens

20. Mill Dene Garden

21. Monastery garden prinknash

22. Asthall Manor Garden

23. Whichford Pottery

24. Owlpen Manor House and Gardens

25. Rockcliffe House

26. Hookshouse Pottery

27. Througham Court Gardens

28. River Barn

29. Eyford House

30. living green centre, what travellers are saying.

• Bourton House Garden
• Highgrove Gardens
• Kiftsgate Court Gardens
• Sezincote House & Garden
• Batsford Arboretum
• Hidcote Manor Garden
• Snowshill Manor
• Painswick Rococo Garden
• Westonbirt Arboretum
• Snowshill Manor and Garden
• Cerney House Gardens

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20 of the UK's most beautiful gardens to visit

Looking for a glorious garden to explore on a day out or staycation? Check out a few of our favourites

With the warmer weather arriving, it’s the perfect time to start planning how you’ll make the most of the UK’s great outdoors over the coming months. As well as the many beautiful, natural landscapes we have here in Britain, we’re also lucky to have a variety of lovely gardens, from perfectly manicured palace grounds to fragrant and colourful cottage gardens.

These lush attractions invite you to witness their vibrant flower and plant displays and get inspiration for your own outdoor space, or simply soak up the ambience for pleasure.

With plenty of charm and character, you'll find impressive 'outdoor rooms,' walled gardens, herbaceous borders and more at these remarkable gardens around the country.

Browse the loveliest gardens to visit across the UK.

Sissinghurst Castle, Kent

One of the most celebrated English gardens, Sissinghurst Castle Garden is a joy to explore. Designed by poet Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson who moved here in 1930, the gardens were completely transformed from a space to grow vegetables for farm workers to the series of ‘rooms’ filled with various planting schemes.

The bold and bright Cottage Garden with its hot colours and the White Garden, which has inspired countless imitations, are just two of the garden's highlights. You'll also want to check out the fiery reds and yellows of the South Cottage garden.

How to visit: Country Living's four-day exploration of Kent and Sussex's finest gardens will take you to Sissinghurst on an early bird visit, where you'll have the chance to explore the gardens before they open to the public. You will also spend time with designer Sarah Raven.

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Tresco Abbey Gardens, Isle of Scilly

If ever you needed an excuse to visit the heavenly Isles of Scilly , the glorious Tresco Abbey Gardens is it. A botanical paradise that you're guaranteed to fall in love with, the garden was planted among the ruins of a Benedictine priory.

You'll find 20,000 plant species, which have been collected as far as New Zealand, South Africa and South America. It's also home to the Valhalla Museum, a collection of figureheads gathered from shipwrecks around the islands. Tresco Abbey Gardens is a great place to spot rare red squirrels, too.

How to visit: Join Country Living on a tour of the Isles of Scilly with top wildlife and nature expert Julian Branscombe, who knows the islands inside and out. You'll visit Tresco Abbey Gardens during the six-day break.

RHS Harlow Carr, Harrogate

One of the Royal Horticultural Society's northern flagships, Harlow Carr is an inspiring garden, showcasing the best of gardening innovation. There are sections devoted to different groups of plants, including a rose garden, a bulb garden and an arboretum, and plants blooming across a range of terrains, with woodlands, wildflower meadows, and rockeries.

You can combine a visit to the garden with time exploring lovely Harrogate, the upmarket spa town where Harlow Carr is located. Attractions in this historic town include the Mercer Art Gallery, the Royal Pump Room Museum and of course Betty's Tearoom, a Harrogate institution, serving delicious afternoon teas. How to visit: Country Living has a special trip to RHS Harlow Carr as part of our four-day tour of some of England's best gardens. On the trip you'll also visit Easton Walled Garden and hear from Arthur Parkinson.

Hidcote, Gloucestershire

Located in the Cotswold hills, this Arts and Crafts-inspired garden has several intricately designed outdoor spaces to explore. Hidcote 's fabulous garden was created by talented American horticulturist Major Lawrence Johnston and is characterised by its colourful outdoor ‘rooms’ that are full of surprises.

A must-see if you’re on holiday in the Cotswolds, you'll adore the maze of narrow paved pathways and secret gardens with plants bursting with colour. Many of the plants that grow here were collected from Johnston’s plant hunting trips in faraway places. It’s the perfect place to visit if you’re after gardening inspiration. Look out for green woodpeckers and the elusive hummingbird moth.

How to visit: Cotswold House Hotel is a 12-minute drive from Hidcote in Chipping Campden, with a restaurant, spa and a cosy atmosphere.

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The Royal Gardens at Highgrove, Gloucestershire

Since buying the property in 1980, King Charles has redeveloped the garden at Highgrove , taking on a new project every year. With the help of his friend Lady Salisbury, he surrounded the house with scented wisteria, honeysuckle, jasmine and thyme.

The royal also created an experimental wildflower meadow of around 32 different varieties of endangered native plants, such as yellow rattle and common spotted orchid.

How to visit: Whatley Manor is an eight-minute drive from Highgrove. The country pile has a superb spa, a Michelin-starred restaurant and gorgeous gardens of its own.

Tintinhull Garden, Somerset

Tintinhull Garden can be found behind a pretty stone house near Yeovil in Somerset and makes a wonderful spot to stroll around on a warm day. Sparkling ponds and water features, secluded lawns, brightly coloured borders and manicured hedges create the perfect place to relax and unwind away from the hustle and bustle.

Designed by Mrs Phyllis Reiss in the Arts and Crafts style, the garden is separated into seven garden ‘rooms’ by manicured yew hedges and stone walls, and you’ll discover different colours and scents in each.

How to visit: From country lodges to shepherd's huts and charming inns, there are places to stay in Yeovil, around 15 minutes from Tintinhull Garden.

PLACES TO STAY NEAR TINTINHULL GARDEN

Plas Cadnant, Anglesey

If you're looking for a garden to truly surprise you, you should plan a trip to Plas Cadnant on the tranquil Isle of Anglesey - considered one of North Wales’ best kept secrets. This hidden garden is still in the process of being slowly uncovered and is often called the Welsh 'Lost Gardens of Heligan'.

So far, three different gardens have been discovered, including an unusual walled garden with curving walls and a pool, a secret valley garden with three waterfalls and a river, and an upper woodland garden with stone outcrops and the remains of a 19th-century folly.

How to visit: There is an abundance of accommodation options near Plas Cadnant and around Anglesey, including Haulfryn Cottage, Anglesey Arms Hotel and Chateau Rhianfa.

PLACES TO STAY NEAR PLAS CADNANT

RHS Garden Bridgewater, Greater Manchester

The Royal Horticultural Society's long-awaited fifth garden, RHS Garden Bridgewater , is one of the most impressive new heritage gardens, not just in the North of England, but in the whole of the UK.

Created over 154 acres on the former site of Worsley New Hall, an Elizabethan Mansion in Salford, Greater Manchester, it's the first ever RHS garden to be created in an urban area. Highlights include the Weston Walled Garden, one of the UK's largest Victorian walled gardens, alongside extensive landscaped grounds including orchards, woods, meadows and lakes as well as living plant collections and horticultural trials.

How to visit: Check in to Didsbury House Hotel in a trendy south Manchester suburb and you'll be a 20-minute drive from RHS Garden Bridgewater. The Victorian villa has original features and a cosy bar for drinks.

Ventnor Botanic Garden, Isle of Wight

Ventnor Botanic Garden is a real must-see for any budding botanist. With a magnificent collection of over 30,000 rare and sub-tropical plants, it’s a true gem of a garden and is open year-round.

This impressive botanical garden is home to plants which you won’t be able to see anywhere else in Britain. The wonderful selection of exotic plants thrive here due to Ventnor Undercliff’s unique microclimate. The average temperature in Ventnor is around five degrees warmer than the rest of the UK, meaning it feels more like the Mediterranean - which is nice for visitors, as well as the plants! The garden is also dog friendly, so you can bring your four-legged pals as you wander through 22 acres of lush tropical beauty.

How to visit: The Royal Hotel in Ventnor offers a great base to explore the botanic garden. The grand Victorian hotel serves afternoon tea on the terrace, refined dinners in the dining room and cocktails in the bar.

Mottisfont, Hampshire

The gardens of this romantic 18th-century house boast carpets of spring bulbs, a beautiful walled rose garden, rich autumn leaves and a bright winter garden. Mottisfont is a feast for the senses all year round and the world-famous collection of old-fashioned roses flowers once a year in June, making this a great time to visit.

A fantastic place for families, you'll find plenty of space to run and jump around. The herbaceous borders in the walled garden showcase a huge variety of flowering plants, while the wide, grassy lawns, and the tree-lined river walk provide plenty of shade on sunny days.

How to visit: There's no shortage of welcoming country house hotels in Hampshire, but among our favourites is the stately Lainston House, a Georgian red-brick country pile dating back to the 17th century and only a 20-minute drive from lovely Mottisfont.

Temple Newsam, West Yorkshire

Just a short journey from the centre of Leeds, you'll be wowed by the explosions of colour, delicate scents to be found at the historic Temple Newsam . One of the highlights is the Rhododendron walk, which blooms in a pretty palette of fuchsia, purple, white and pink every May.

There are over 1,500 acres of beautiful woodland, parkland and gardens to explore here, landscaped by the famous 18th century gardener Capability Brown. You can have a picnic in the lakeside gardens, or take a stroll through the romantic Georgian walled garden. You’ll be able to see national plant collections, colourful herbaceous borders and stunning seasonal displays in the glasshouse.

How to visit: The Bells in Leeds is around an 18-minute drive from Temple Newsam and offers apartments with one or two bedrooms, huge living spaces and hot tubs in most rentals.

Mount Stewart, County Down

This neo-classical is considered one of the most outstanding gardens in the world and is unique and of rare quality, being one of the few late compartmentalised Arts and Crafts-like gardens.

The creation of Edith, Lady Londonderry in the early 20th century, Mount Stewart is a deeply personal garden and the strong, artistic theme combined with an unrivalled plant collection forms one of the most spectacular places to visit in Northern Ireland.

How to visit: Explore Mount Stewart during a stay at the Culloden Estate & Spa, overlooking Belfast Lough, just a 25-minute drive from Mount Stewart. The hotel boasts period features, including antique furniture, paintings and chandeliers for stay that's both luxurious, homely and rural.

Chatsworth Garden, Derbyshire

Well-loved for its beautiful water features and sculptures, as well as its pretty Victorian rock garden, there is something for everyone to enjoy in the sprawling 105-acre Chatsworth Garden . Home to the Dukes of Devonshire for many generations, Chatsworth Estate’s world-class gardens are steeped in history. The estate was purchased by Elizabeth and William Cavendish in 1549 and over the following generations the house and gardens have transformed into what you’ll see today.

The garden retains many of its original features, including the Canal Pond, the Cascade and the Duke's Greenhouse. There are plenty of activities for all the family to enjoy at Chatsworth too – perhaps take a walking tour in the gardens or join a drawing workshop.

How to visit: Check in to the charming Devonshire Arms at Pilsley and you'll be based just a five-minute drive from the Chatsworth Estate. It's dog-friendly, a great spot for walkers and it serves up hearty meals in the cosy bar and restaurant.

Wentworth Castle Gardens, South Yorkshire

Once known as ‘the finest garden in England,’ today Wentworth Castle Gardens is South Yorkshire’s only Grade I registered landscape. The original gardens, designed by Thomas Wentworth in the early 18th Century, used geometric patterns.

One remaining example is the unusual Union Jack Gardens, which is laid out so that, viewed from above, it combines the crosses of St George and St Andrew to celebrate the Union of Scotland and England. During a visit, you'll want to check out the Victorian Flower Garden and look out for unusual and exotic plants housed in the conservatory.

How to visit: Check into a traditional stone cottage around 10 minutes away near the village of Wortley. This romantic holiday rental for two people is in a secluded and peaceful location, where you have just sheep and cows as your neighbours.

Great Dixter, East Sussex

A historic, 15th century farmhouse, Great Dixter was transformed in the early 20th century by Edwin Lutyens into an impressive country house. The heavenly gardens here are the handiwork of renowned English gardener and author Christopher Lloyd, who moved into Great Dixter in 1954, creating a nursery specialising in rare and unique plants.

You can still see the results of Lloyd's passion for horticulture, garden design and experimentation at Great Dixter today. There is a huge collection of exotic plants and a recent experiment involved installing a summer tropical garden rich in bold shapes and brilliant colours.

How to visit: Join Country Living's garden tour of Kent and Sussex with Sarah Raven, which includes a visit Great Dixter along with several other delightful gardens.

Scone Palace, Perthshire

Perched above the River Tay in Perthshire, this red sandstone palace's enviable location offers stunning views across the surrounding Highland landscapes. Scone Palace has been the seat of parliaments as well as the crowning place of the Kings of Scots, including both Macbeth and Robert the Bruce.

The gardens here are as splendid as the Palace itself, with highlights including a maze in the shape of a five-pointed star, a kitchen garden providing produce for the palace kitchens, and a Laburnum Walkway which dazzles with its distinctive yellow flowers. The Grampian Mountains make a dramatic backdrop for these historic gardens, and you can gaze on the city of Perth across the river.

How to visit: You'll find guest houses, hotels and apartments within one to three miles of Scone Palace, where you can have a peaceful mini-break in Perthshire and explore the historic house on a staycation.

PLACES TO STAY NEAR SCONE PALACE

Powis Castle, Powys

Dating back 300 years, Powis Castle ’s world-class gardens are steeped in history. You can wander the Italianate terraces blasted from the solid rock and marvel at the spectacular yew hedges, dancing statues and lavish herbaceous borders.

From the fabulous hilltop setting you can see the Mid Wales countryside for miles around as they change through the seasons. Marvel at the herbaceous borders' riot of colour, cool off with a shaded woodland walk and spend a lazy afternoon relaxing in the Fountain Garden.

How to visit: Just a 10-minute drive away from Powis Castle, Offa's Dyke View is a grade II listed holiday cottage that's perfect for a group of family or friends, plus one dog. While it's a lovely place to stay near Powis Castle, you'll want to get out and about by walking and cycling the breathtaking surroundings.

Easton Walled Garden

The site of Easton Walled Gardens is at least 400 years old, but was left derelict in 1951 when Easton Hall was demolished. The beautiful 16th-century garden with its Victorian flourishes has now undergone extensive renovations, with its current owner, Lady Cholmeley. The house and gardens have been owned by the Cholmeley family since 1561 and it's truly been restored to its former glory, converted into the colourful and lively garden you can enjoy today. You'll see grand Italianate terraces and a yew tunnel, a cut flower garden, David Austin roses, meadows and sweet pea collections along with cottage and vegetable gardens.

How to visit: Visit Easton Walled garden on our very special tour of England's finest gardens. Not only will you meet Lady Cholmeley and hear her talk passionately about her restoration project, but you'll also hear from top gardening writer Arthur Parkinson who'll join you for lunch and a Q&A. FIND OUT MORE

Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire

When Lord Fairhaven designed his garden at Anglesey Abbey , he wanted to create something that would inspire and surprise his guests. around personal taste and his regular routine of entertaining guests, with something to show them each and every season.

Today, the gardens still follow the same seasonal pattern, with different areas within the 114 acres coming into the spotlight for their time to shine, before making way for the next. The dazzling Dahlia Garden, striking Formal Garden and the pretty Wildflower Meadow are highlights of the stunning garden in Cambridgeshire.

How to visit: From country cottages to pubs with rooms and cute studios, there are a range of places to stay near Anglesey Abbey.

PLACES TO STAY NEAR ANGLESEY ABBEY

Arundel Castle, West Sussex

If you're looking for a garden to truly surprise you, Arundel Castle is the place to visit. It's home to a variety of landscapes and environments, from the quirky Stumpery to the formal Collector Earl’s garden to the warmth of the Glasshouses.

Here, you'll be wowed by the explosions of colour, delicate scents and structural designs. Immerse yourself in the fragrance of the Rose Garden and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Fitzalan Chapel's White Garden.

How to visit: Discover Arundel Castle's epic garden while staying in another historic West Sussex castle by checking in at the 12th-century Amberley Castle, just a 12-minute drive from Arundel and with its own pretty 12-acre grounds to explore.

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Gardens to visit near me: 19 best gardens in the UK to visit now

From a royal residence in Gloucestershire to romantic gardens in Dorset, we've rounded up 19 of the most beautiful gardens to visit in the UK near you.

We’ve rounded up 19 of the most beautiful country-style gardens to visit in the UK.

From a royal residence in Gloucestershire to a romantic valley garden in Dorset, take time to visit gardens near you and savour these inspiring and uplifting horticultural gems this year.

Gardens to visit in South West England

Mapperton house and gardens, dorset.

A romantic valley garden featuring formal topiary and lush lawns intermingled with deep herbaceous borders and ornamental and native woodland .

mapperton.com

Highgrove, Gloucestershire

The private Cotswolds residence of Their Royal Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the extensive gardens at Highgrove epitomise the classic country estate aesthetic and feature iconic areas such as the shaded Stumpery, magical Sundial Garden and picturesque wildflower meadow.

highgrovegardens.com

Hidcote, Gloucestershire

A world-famous Arts and Crafts-inspired garden, Hidcote is located in the rolling Cotswold hills. A mix of intricate formal gardens and wilder areas that blend with the surrounding countryside, there’s plenty to see at every turn.

nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/gloucestershire-cotswolds/hidcote

The Garden House, Devon

Set deep in Dartmoor , there are 10 acres to explore and marvel at, including densely planted borders and endless meandering pathways.

thegardenhouse.org.uk

Hauser & Wirth, Somerset

Planted in 2014 and designed by renowned designer Piet Oudolf, this gallery site at Durslade features landscaping and a vast perennial meadow with mesmerising drifts and blocks of textural planting.

hauserwirth.com

Bowood House & Gardens, Wiltshire

Bowood House & Gardens is now closed and will re open on Friday 29th March – 3rd November 2024, and will showcase beautiful blooms of Rhododendrons and Azaleas.

Burncoose Gardens & Nurseries, Cornwall

This 30-acre woodland garden boast carpets of bluebells, daffodils , primroses, snowdrops and wild violets which bloom in abundance in the late winter and spring.

burncoose.co.uk

Gardens to visit in South East England

Kew gardens, richmond.

Dating back to the early 18th century, Kew Gardens houses over 50,000 living plants. From the Temperate House – the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse – to the Alpine Rock Garden, there’s a whole host of things to see. Brightening up the winter months, the much-anticipated Kew Gardens Orchid Festival 2024 will open on 4 February and run until 5 March.

Mottisfont, Hampshire

These walled gardens with their extensive collection of old-fashioned roses peak in summer , brimming with perfume and the most romantic of blooms .

nationaltrust.org.uk

Sussex Prairie Gardens, West Sussex

Set in the rolling South Downs, the gardens brim with dense borders of grasses and colourful perennials that move and change with the seasons. Innovative sculptures are also dotted amongst the planting.

sussexprairies.co.uk

Waterperry Gardens, Oxfordshire

Made famous by Beatrix Havergal, who established her School of Horticulture for Ladies here from 1932 to 1971, highlights of these ornamental gardens include the 100-metre-long colour co-ordinated mixed herbaceous borders and the enchanting Mary Rose garden.

waterperrygardens.co.uk

Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent

The epitome of the English garden, Sissinghurst is a result of the collaboration between Harold Nicolson’s formal design and Vita Sackville-West’s joyful, passionate planting. Well worth a visit are the colourful Rose Garden and peaceful White Garden.

nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/sissinghurst-castle-garden

Ramster Gardens, Surrey

Nestling in a fold of the Surrey Hills, the award winning Ramster Gardens are home to over 25 acres of peaceful woodland, views of lakes and hillsides, which are filled with colour and interest in spring .

ramsterevents.com

East Bergholt Place, Essex

This peaceful garden comes alive in spring when early displays of snowdrops, magnolias, rhododendrons and camellias are followed by the fritillary and wild flower meadow.

placeforplants.co.uk

Ashridge House, Hertfordshire

This summer, Ashridge House is opening its historic Grade-II registered gardens to the public. Designed by celebrated landscape gardener Humphry Repton for the Earl and Countess of Bridgewater in 1813, the gardens are today the finest surviving example of Repton’s work and are often referred to as his ‘Garden of Gardens’. Visitors can expect to see a great range of styles, from formal gardens to flower gardens to fairy-tale woodlands. Other distinctive features include Lady Marion Aldford’s skating pond and moat and a re-creation of Repton’s planned arbour.

New dates for the garden tours have just been announced, running weekly on Thursdays from 8 June to 10 August, 2pm-3pm.

ashridgehouse.org.uk

Gardens to visit in the North of England

Leighton hall, lancashire.

Expansive lawns, lush herbaceous borders and an idyllic woodland walk give this property an air of tranquillity. The walled vegetable garden and new herb and sensory area are truly inspiring.

leightonhall.co.uk

Holker Hall, Cumbria

An enchanting mix of formal and informal gardens, presided over by a 17th-century great lime tree, make this grand estate a national favourite. A cascade and sunken garden add to the romantic charm.

holker.co.uk

Dove Cottage, Cumbria

Home to William Wordsworth and his family from 1799 to 1808, Dove Cottage is located in the Lake District. Visitors can now discover the Garden-Orchard behind the cottage which has been restored to resemble the garden William and his sister, Dorothy, lovingly created. William once described the garden as ‘the loveliest spot man hath ever found’. Today, the garden is a beauty to behold all year round, from spring bluebells to winter snowdrops.

wordsworth.org.uk

Gardens to visit in the West of England

The laskett, herefordshire.

The Laskett will reopen for the 2024 season on Thursday 4 April, allowing visitors to enjoy their Celebration of Tulips. After this, the garden will be opening every Tuesday and Thursday until the end of October. Set in the idyllic countryside of Herefordshire on the Welsh borders, the gardens were created in celebration of the arts by Sir Roy Strong CH and his late wife Julia Trevelyan Oman CBE.

thelaskett.org.uk .

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