The best of British gardens

From a walk in a Botanical garden to an afternoon picnic in a country park, spending time outdoors is a great way to reconnect with nature and enjoy the fresh air. With an abundance of green space and a long growing season, it’s no surprise then that Britain is famous for its gardens both big and small.

A beautiful garden puts the best of nature on show and offer visitors a chance to get away from it all and learn more about greenery and foliage with origins from around the world. Whether you’re looking to spend an afternoon visiting a garden or a whole week touring around the country’s best, you can find gardens of all shapes and sizes to explore.

Find a garden near you

When it comes to gardens, there’s a nearly endless list of places to discover all over the United Kingdom, whether you want to stay close to home or are planning to travel around and see the best in the country. Particularly during the summer months, gardens are groomed to their absolute best and long opening hours make it possible to enjoy the wonders of nature under the sun.

The National Trust oversees a huge network of beautiful gardens and parks, and on the website you can browse a hand-picked selection of their most beautiful spaces, and even search their collection of famous gardens all over the United Kingdom.

The Royal Horticultural Society also manages a number of gardens and plant centres well worth a visit, and each has a tea room or restaurant where you can enjoy a meal surrounded by the natural scenery.

Finally, Visit Britain has put together a comprehensive guide to the most popular gardens all over the UK, so you can browse what’s out there if you’re not sure where to start.

Gardens in Scotland

Scotland’s parks and gardens are an extension of the country’s already famous rolling hills and deep blue lochs – both in rural and urban areas, you can find picturesque gardens in Scotland well worth exploring. Visit Scotland offers a detailed list of gardens that are popular with visitors, and you can browse this list to find everything from nature reserves to gardens in different regions.

Gardens in England

The Independent’s list of its 10 best gardens to visit features several English gardens that have been popular with visitors from around the world. The website Great British Gardens is another useful place to begin your search and groups gardens by region, making it easy to find one that’s in the right area.

Gardens in Wales

Renowned for its natural scenery, Wales is bursting at the seams with outdoor activities of all kinds to offer travellers. A great place to start your search is on the tourism website Visit Wales, which has put together a list of country parks and botanical gardens you can use to find the best spots open to visitors. This guide to gardens of Wales from the Telegraph also offers advice about must-see spots for garden lovers.

Gardens in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is famous for it’s scenery around the coast, but has much more to offer with beautiful gardens and parks further inland. For inspiration, Discover Northern Ireland has put together a list of gardens in Northern Ireland, which covers everything from forest paths and country walks to garden festivals.