British Food and Travel

It’s no exaggeration to say that the English love their gardens. Even the smallest postage-stamp piece of ground can be transformed into a blaze of floral colour. For English Tourism Week, we suggest nine bloomingly beautiful English gardens that are worth a visit.

1. Levens Hall, Cumbria

Visit the world’s oldest topiary gardens at Levens Hall, just a few miles from the Lake District National Park. The garden was designed in 1694 by Guillaume Beaumont, gardener to King James II and they have been carefully maintained ever since. As you wander the grounds, you’ll come across more than 100 carefully sculpted topiary pieces, ranging from geometric shapes to the more whimsical. Look out for peacocks, chess pieces, and Queen Elizabeth – all topiary, of course. The gardens cover 10 acres and also features herb and rose gardens, a willow labyrinth, and a wildflower meadow.

2. Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew

Kew Gardens, created in 1759, is a national landmark and visitor attraction in West London. Covering more than 300 acres, the gardens house more than 50,000 different plant species, one of the largest herbariums in the world, a massive library, and a major research institution. Given its size, visitors might want to hop onto the Kew Explorer, which provides a 40-minute tour of the grounds. You can also hop on and off at points of interest. Highlights include the Palm House, the Temperate House, and the Princess of Wales Conservatory. However, there are many more areas to explore–the Rhododendron Dell, Bamboo Garden, the Waterlily House, to name but a few. The Royal Botanic Gardens were granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2003.

3. Arley Hall, Cheshire

The gardens of Cheshire’s Arley Hall are notable for their double herbaceous borders, thought to be both the largest of its kind in the country, and the first to have been planted. Eight acres of formal gardens are divided into smaller areas. Beyond the Grove arboretum lies the Woodland Walk, both with trails for a quiet stroll. Alternatively, wander through the Kitchen Garden, the Walled Garden, or the Daffodil and Wildflower Meadow. If something in particular catches your eye, you might be able to find it for sale at the nursery.

4. Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Studley Royal Water Garden is maintained by the National Trust. As the name suggests, flowers take a back seat here to an array of ornamental water features. The lakes, ponds, and statues were all designed in the 18th century. Today, as then, they form a marvelously picturesque complement to the remains of Fountains Abbey. But there is more to see than just the lakes. Picnic on the sprawling green lawns, walk along the river path to the deer park, and admire the scenery from one of the many follies.

5. Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, Kent

The gardens of Kent’s Sissinghurst Castle were created by writer Vita Sackville-West in the 1920s and are among the most famous in the country. Sackville-West worked on their design for some 30 years before leaving the property to the National Trust, which still manages it today. The gardens are a series of enclosed rooms, and surprisingly, although Sissinghurst Castle covers 450 acres, the gardens take up a mere 5 acres. The collection of roses here is considered the finest in the world.

6. Trentham Gardens, Staffordshire

Trentham Hall in Staffordshire may have been demolished nearly one hundred years ago, but the gardens still have something to offer every visitor. Incidentally, the remains of the hall shouldn’t be ignored; nature has reclaimed its space among the once glamorous galleries and halls. The gardens have all recently undergone intensive restoration and the results have been declared some of the finest in the past decade. The Italian Garden follows the original designs but with a modern twist, as has the Upper Flower Garden. For those who prefer a wilder, less structured garden, the Rivers of Grass and Floral Labyrinth offer space to play. And don’t miss the various show gardens, including the Sensory Garden.

7. Stowe, Buckinghamshire

You can’t discuss English gardens without mentioning Capability Brown and Stowe Landscape Gardens is an excellent example of his work. The 750-acre property contains 40 historic monuments and temples, and has been associated with some of the key names in landscape gardening. Work on the garden began in 1710 and eventually fell into the hands of Brown, who served as head gardener from 1741 to 1751. The emphasis is on green, so expect to see expansive lawns rather than colourful flowers. The longest and supposedly most challenging of the many garden walks is the Path of Liberty, although it extends for a mere 1.3 miles. You could also take the Path of Virtue or the tempting Path of Vice.

8. Chelsea Physic Garden, London

You don’t have to venture out into the countryside to discover a true English garden. Who knew that there is one right in the heart of London? The Chelsea Physic Garden was founded in 1673 as a training ground for apprentice apothecaries. More than 5,000 medicinal and edible plants are still grown here. Although located in the heart of London, the garden’s position on the banks of the Thames puts it in a unique microclimate that allows for the cultivation of more unusual species. The garden is home to England’s most productive fruiting olive tree.

9. Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Warwickshire

There are several delightful gardens to see while visiting Stratford-Upon-Avon, particularly in the various Shakespeare houses. However, the garden at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is quintessentially English and absolutely charming. It is definitely not like the formal, carefully landscaped gardens featured elsewhere on this list. Instead, it is a picture perfect cottage garden, designed for carefree rambling through hundreds of flowers, which provide a haven for butterflies and bees. Orchards and a willow arbor are also in the garden, but ultimately it is the flowers that captivate. It is truly difficult to leave.