ANON Guide to the Top 10 English Gardens
Given that one of our multi-award winning, non-alcoholic spirits is called English Garden, we felt it only right that we should bring together our list of the top 10 gardens to visit across England, giving you a glimpse into the history and culture of our magnificent country.
The British landscape has always been known for its beauty and variety. From ancient temples and castles to beautiful parks and gardens, England offers something for everyone. These ten gardens are perfect places to spend time relaxing or learning new things.
There are over 2,500 gardens across the country, from private estates to public parks. Each one has its own unique charm and character. We have selected our Top 10 for you to enjoy.
Biddulph Grange Garden, Staffordshire
This stunning country house was built in 1760 and has been owned by the same family since then. The current owners have turned it into a luxury retreat where guests can enjoy the peace and tranquillity of rural life. They also offer courses in organic gardening and sustainable living.
A Victorian garden that takes you on a global journey from Italy to the pyramids of Egypt, a Victorian vision of China and a re-creation of a Himalayan glen. The garden features collections of rhododendrons, summer bedding displays, a stunning Dahlia Walk and the oldest surviving golden larch in Britain.
There are over 300 species of birds, butterflies, bees and other insects, plus a wide variety of trees and shrubs.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/biddulph-grange-garden
Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire
Wimpole Estate is a working estate located near Cambridge. The geometric parterre garden is an absolute pleasure and take inspiration from the walled garden with its abundance of fruit, vegetables, and herbaceous borders.
Home Farm, located on the estate, is one of the UK’s largest, rare breed centres, where visitors can meet the resident pigs, goats, Shire Horses, donkeys, rabbits, and cattle.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole-estate
Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall
The Lost Gardens of Heligan are one of the most mysterious estates in England, located on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall.
In 1990, they became Europe’s largest garden restoration project, and today they boast 200 acres of Cornish paradise for the explorer wildlife, plant lover and garden romantic.
Take a stroll through the productive gardens, relax in the pleasure grounds, and explore the Jungle.
Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew
The world famous Kew Gardens in West London is set in over 500 acres of woodland and houses the worlds largest seed collection.
Discover rare and threatened plants in the Victorian glasshouse, feast your senses through the Great Broad Walk borders, the Mediterranean Garden and discover it’s incredible plant diversity and discover the wildness of Kew’s Natural Area, 37 acres of classic woodland.
RHS Wisley
Wisley is one of the world’s greatest gardens packed with horticultural inspiration.
George Fergusson Wilson, a keen grower of fruit and orchids, bought the site in 1878 and established his Oakwood experimental garden. After Wilson’s death in 1902, Sir Thomas Hanbury purchased Oakwood and adjoining Glebe Farm and donated it to the Royal Horticultural Society for its perpetual use.
The Eden Project
The Eden Project was founded in Cornwall in 1993 by Tim Smit, who wanted to create a unique tourist attraction in the United Kingdom. He envisioned a place where visitors could experience nature in its purest form. Today, the Eden Project attracts millions of tourists every year.
Eden really is a feast for the senses that can be experienced in so many different ways. Whether you are looking for a fun-packed day of excitement or a more relaxing exploration of the Biomes, outdoor gardens or the Invisible World Exhibition.
Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent
The National Trust’s Sissinghurst Castle and Garden, near Cranbrook in Kent, are the famous gardens of the writer Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson.
These gardens have a diverse history from its time as a prison in the 1700’s to being a home to the womens land army and a grand family home.
Be sure not to miss the panoramic views from the top of the Tower, taking in the working farm and the 450 acre estate.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden
Stillingfleet Lodge Garden, York
Stillingfleet Lodge Garden and nursery is an organically managed, wildlife friendly family garden close to the historic City of York.
It is a quintessentially English garden, balancing encouraging wildlife whilst at the same time retaining all the beauty of a cottage garden.
The four-acre site comprises a series of themed areas surrounding the traditional farmhouse plus a pond, meadow and vegetable garden.
www.stillingfleetlodgenurseries.co.uk/
Tresco Abbey Gardens, Isle of Scilly
Tresco Abbey Garden is the home to over 20,000 plants from more than 80 countries, located on the picturesque Island of Tresco, 28 miles off the Cornish coast.
The gardens provide an extraordinary backdrop to an incredible array of exotic plants from around the world flourishing in an English Garden and the garden changes face throughout the year as the climate of the region takes effect.
The glories of the venue also include a fine array of wildlife, sculptures and island shipwrecks throughout the grounds.
