Find out where to see the country’s most beautiful blooms at any time of year
Whether you prefer traditional English gardens or award-winning sculpted parks, marvel at Britain’s most exquisite blooms throughout the year with our pick of stunning gardens to visit.
Best botanical gardens
1. Kew Gardens, London
Credit: Getty
One of the UK’s most beautiful botanical gardens, Kew Gardens is home to an extraordinary collection of plants, historic glasshouses, and iconic landscapes.
At the heart of Kew is its spectacular Palm House, a masterpiece of Victorian architecture sheltering an indoor rainforest packed with lush tropical plants. Surrounding it are meandering pathways to tranquil lakes and ancient woodlands in 300 acres of grounds, themed gardens including the Waterlily House, the Rock Garden, and the Children’s Garden, and yet more architectural splendours
such as the vast Temperate House, the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse.
Boundless members gain unlimited access to Kew throughout the year with their membership – find out how Katy Stern, the family blogger behind Otis and Us, spent a day out at Kew with her three children using her Boundless membership.
How to get there
500m from Kew Gardens station
Opening times
Open daily, 10am-7pm. Check the website for full details.
Price
Unlimited access for Boundless members (see above), otherwise you can find ticket prices and opening times here)
2. RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey
Credit: Getty
Run by the Royal Horticultural Society, Wisley Garden has 240 acres of formal and wild gardens to explore and, from the elegance of the Rose Garden to the tranquil beauty of the Alpine Meadow, there’s plenty to delight all year round.
In Wisley’s stunning Glasshouse, you can journey through cloud forest, desert and tropical landscapes, exploring the rich diversity of plant life that exists around the world.
How to get there
M25 or A3
Opening times
Open daily, please check the website for full details.
Price
Free to RHS members, otherwise you can find ticket prices here.
Best traditional English gardens
3. Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, Doncaster
Credit: Getty
Brodsworth Hall and Gardens is a beautifully restored Victorian garden that's a treat to visit, especially in early and late spring.
In the spring, the garden bursts to life with daffodils, closely followed by colourful tulips and hyacinths. In summer, over 100 historic rose varieties take centre stage, filling the air with fragrance. The Rose Garden features a long pergola draped with climbers, and the nearby Rose Dell is full of wild roses.
As autumn arrives, the topiaries and hedges come into their own, with colourful hollies adding shots of scarlet – and in winter, over half a million snowdrops push through the ground in a dramatic display.
How to get there
Take A635 from A1 J37 and follow the brown tourist signs
Opening times
Opening times vary, please check the website for full details.
Price
Free to English Heritage members, otherwise you can find ticket prices here.
4. Doddington Place Gardens, Kent
Set in 10 acres in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the landscaped grounds at Doddington Place Gardens include a woodland with a collection of rhododendron and azalea, thanks to a rare pocket of acid soil. The display is at its best in late spring, when a mass of pink and purple flowers burst into bloom. There’s also an Edwardian rock garden, rare Asian trees and a giant mound of cumulus cloud-like yews. The gardens have been open in aid of the National Garden Scheme for over 50 years.
But there’s plenty to see here all year – the woodland garden, for example, is particularly striking in early summer when it’s full of rhododendrons and azaleas.
How to get there
10 minutes from A20 and A2
Opening times
Please check the website for full details.
Price
You can find the current ticket prices here.
Best Scottish gardens
5. Arduaine Garden, Argyll and Bute
With views of some of Scotland’s most spectacular scenery, Arduaine Garden is a coastal retreat at the head of the Sound of Jura. Boundless Plus members can enjoy unlimited access to the gardens, and all National Trust for Scotland sites.
Arduaine Garden displays a diverse collection of the world’s plant species, including rare and exotic trees, vibrant rhododendrons and azaleas. One of the highlights is its stunning coastal setting, which provides a picturesque backdrop for leisurely strolls along winding pathways and quiet reflection as you explore secluded alcoves, and relax on its shore.
How to get there
A816
Opening times
Closed during winter months, then open daily. Please check the website for full details.
Price
Unlimited access for Boundless Plus members, otherwise you can find ticket prices here.
Northern Ireland’s best historic gardens
6. Hillsborough Castle and Gardens
Credit: Historic Royal Palaces
Set in the rolling hills of County Down, Northern Ireland is Hillsborough Castle and Gardens – a place steeped in history, elegance, and natural beauty. Once the grand residence of the Marquesses of Downshire it’s now the official residence of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Despite the beautiful Georgian castle, it’s the gardens that steal the show here. Spanning 100 acres of meticulously landscaped grounds, they’re a paradise for nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike. Meandering pathways guide you past ancient trees and flowering shrubs, while intricately manicured parterre beds and serene lakeside walks await your attention.
With Boundless Plus membership enjoy unlimited access to Hillsborough and other Historic Royal Palaces across the UK.
How to get there
A1 and follow the brown signs.
Opening times
Opening times vary, please check the website in advance.
Price
Unlimited access for Boundless Plus members, otherwise you can find ticket prices here.
Best National Trust gardens
7. Stourhead, Wiltshire
A landscaped garden designed around a picturesque lake, Stourhead is a stunning example of 18th-century garden design, featuring classical temples, grottos and a magnificent Palladian mansion.
Managed by the National Trust, the gardens bloom throughout the seasons, with snowdrops and daffodils offering cheer in the cooler months. There’s plenty for children to enjoy too, with Easter trails and events throughout the year.
How to get there
Take A303 or the B3092 from Frome and follow the brown tourist signs
Opening times
Opening times vary, please check the website in advance.
Price
Free to National Trust members, otherwise you can find ticket prices here.
8. Nymans Gardens, Handcross, West Sussex
In the springtime, fragrant magnolia trees bloom and vibrant bluebells carpet the gardens and ancient woodland of Nymans’ Grade II listed gardens.
Managed by the National Trust, visitors can explore the beautifully curated Rose Garden, stroll along tree-lined avenues, and venture into the adjoining woodlands where there are good opportunities to spot wildlife.
Nyman boasts lots of plants from hotter sections of the globe, which really start to thrive in the summer months. Another highlight of the season is the dramatic Edwardian summer borders, which contain a mix of herbaceous perennials around a Verona marble fountain.
The gardens stay colourful into autumn, with beds of South African flora flowering later, and the arboretum’s trees providing an autumn glow.
How to get there
Off the A23 between London and Brighton, four miles south of Crawley
Opening times
Open year-round – please check the website for full details.
Price
Free to National Trust members otherwise you can find ticket prices here.
Best for Repton's finest work
9. Woburn Abbey and Gardens, Bedfordshire
One of our most famous landscape gardeners, Humphry Repton, died over 200 years ago – and Woburn Abbey and Gardens features the greatest number of realised Repton plans in the UK.
His designs included a lake, an American garden, the Folly, the Cone House and a menagerie among many other features. Among the most eye-catching of these is the Rockery and Pavilion. In 2009, the gardens team began restoring the Rockery, and in 2011 the Pavilion was built, faithfully recreating Repton’s original illustration. And, although it’s not a Repton feature, the Camellia House is a spring highlight, as the camellias burst into colour at this time of year.
The garden’s centre beds have been restored with species collected for the 5th and 6th Dukes of Bedford by plant collectors such as Sir Joseph Hooker, William Banks and John Bartram.
How to get there
10 minutes from the M1, J12 or J13
Opening times
The Abbey and gardens are closed due to refurbishment work until 2026, although the Safari Park and Deer Park’s footpaths remain open. Check the website for the latest information.
Price
See above for information about refurbishment work in the Abbey and gardens. You can find prices for the Safari Park here and you can walk in the Deer Park for free.
10. Cragside, Northumberland
With its manicured lawns, vibrant flower beds, and elegant water features, Cragside’s gardens are a tranquil escape from modern life. The formal garden is laid out over three terraces offering breathtaking views of the Northumberland countryside, and there’s the colourful rhododendron forest, cascading water features and meandering paths in the Rock Garden to explore.
There are lots of impressive tree specimens too – in fact there are over seven million evergreens in the entire Cragside estate, which stand out particularly in autumn when surrounding trees are losing their leaves. Laer in the year, Tumbleton Lake transforms into a winter wonderland, so there’s good reason to visit in every season.
How to get there
On B6341, 15 miles northwest of Morpeth via A697
Opening times
Gardens open year round – please check website for full details.
Price
Free entry for National Trust members, otherwise you can find the current ticket prices here.
Best secret UK gardens
11. Antony Woodland Garden, Cornwall
Hidden away in the Cornish countryside, Anthony Woodland Garden runs along the pretty Lynher Estuary and is a plant-lover’s paradise.
Home to a staggering 600 varieties of camellia, it is one of just five International Camellia Gardens of Excellence in the UK.
From rare species such as Camellia saluenensis, originally introduced by the Victorian plant hunter George Forrest, to Camellia reticulata, which is enjoying something of a renaissance thanks to its bold red blooms, you’ll be inspired to find one to grow at home.
There are also many wonderful wildflowers here at all times of the year – snowdrops from January onwards, bluebells and wild garlic in March, and even more varieties through the summer filling the gardens with fragrance.
How to get there
Cross the Tamar Bridge (A38) from Plymouth and take the A374, or use the Torpoint Ferry
Opening times
Please check the website for full details.
Price
You can find current ticket prices here.
Best organic kitchen gardens
12. Audley End House and Gardens, Essex
Spring bursts into life in the organic kitchen gardens of Audley End House, with pink peach blossoms kicking off the show, followed by apple and pear blooms from March to May.
In the Capability Brown parkland, there’s also a stunning spring bulb display in the parterre, boasting over 7,000 daffodil bulbs and 12,245 tulips, including heritage varieties like 'Couleur Cardinal', 'Peach Blossom', and 'Greuze', echoing the garden's original planting plans dating back to the 1800s.
The gardens are also productive with vegetable sowing and planting, featuring heritage varieties reminiscent of those grown and used in the 19th century.
As early summer arrives, vibrant bearded irises and heritage peonies adorn the landscape, while the park's mature trees bloom through June and July. Outdoor beds and traditional fruit cages yield abundant soft fruits, with kitchen produce such as peas and broad beans appearing later in the summer.
In the autumn months, the garden team continues to harvest winter vegetables like cabbages, kale, and leeks, ensuring the garden remains a vibrant hub of activity throughout the year.
How to get there
1 mile west of Saffron Walden on B1383 (M11 J8 or J10)
Opening times
Opening times vary, please check the website for full details.
Price
Free to English Heritage members, otherwise you can find ticket prices here.
Best gardens for seeing cherry blossom
13. Batsford Arboretum, Gloucestershire
Batsford Arboretum is home to the UK’s national collection of Japanese cherry trees, guaranteeing a springtime spectacle with acres of pink blossom.
A variety of magnolias add to the spectacular spring display, as does the Davidia (or pocket handkerchief) tree and much more. Clouds of wildflowers – forget-me-knots, buttercups, foxgloves and orchids – provide a summer backdrop, while autumn adds fire to the country’s largest private collection of trees and shrubs. Ice, frost and snow can’t stop snowdrops and aconites in the winter, either!
How to get there
On A44 to Bourton-on-the-Hill, a mile and a half west of Moreton-in-Marsh
Opening times
Open all year round; please check the website for full details.
Price
You can find the current ticket prices here.
Best gardens from the Arts and Crafts movement
14. Rydal Hall, Ambleside, Cumbria
Located in the Lake District Unesco World Heritage Site, the formal gardens of Rydal Hall were designed by Thomas Mawson, a landscape architect, in the 1600s. From the grotto you get great views of Rydal Falls, and inspired William Wordsworth to write about it in his poem ‘An Evening Walk’. The estate also belongs to the Red Squirrel Conservation Project and began generating its own hydro-electric power over 100 years ago.
You can visit for free all year round (though there’s a parking charge if you arrive by car) but the hall also participates in the National Gardens Scheme so twice a year they collect for charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, and the Queen’s Nursing Institute.
How to get there
Off the A591 north of lake Windermere
Opening times
All year, daily.
Price
Free, though donations to the garden’s upkeep are welcomed.
Best gardens for European style
15. Wrest Park, Bedfordshire
Wrest Park boasts 92 acres of award-winning gardens, including the formal parterres, the impressive Archer Pavilion at the end of the Long Water, plus a Chinese Bridge and Temple, a Bowling Green House built in the 1700s, and a spectacular marble fountain. The gardens were created over 300 years, inspired by French, Italian and Dutch fashions as well as traditional English design, and change colour every season – an explosion of flowers in autumn, lush greens in summer, and a golden autumn where the design comes to the fore.
How to get there
Off the A6 south of Bedford, and 20 minutes from the M1
Opening times
Opening times vary, please check the website for full details.
Price
Free to English Heritage members, otherwise you can find ticket prices here).
Do more with Boundless
If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus.
With Boundless, you get unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions including Kew Gardens and Wakehurst and WWT centres across the UK, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more. With Boundless Plus, you can enjoy additional benefits including unlimited access to Historic Royal Palaces sites, National Trust for Scotland places, access to the Ramblers' extensive group walks and routes, and peace of mind with roadside assistance and local recovery by LV= Britannia Rescue.
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