Explore the most impressive UK gardens
We truly believe that spending time in a quintessentially British garden is one of the greatest antidotes to modern life. Had a busy week at work? Sit on a bench shaded by an old oak and read your favourite book. Feeling overstimulated by city life? Take a stroll around a garden and tune into the sounds of the birds, bees, and rustling leaves. Sit against an ancient tree and enjoy the solitude and fresh air.
Live your best cottagecore life and visit one of these stunning gardens
Fortunately, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to gardens in the UK, so we have rounded up a few of the most picturesque to narrow it down for you.
The Beth Chatto Gardens, Essex
This world-renowned garden is a haven for anyone looking to start an ecological garden (which means to work with nature, rather than against it), particularly those that are working with challenging conditions. Beth Chatto transformed a ‘desolate wasteland’ into a stunning garden that still serves as an inspiration for keen gardeners today.
Image credit: @bethchattogardens Instagram.
Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s world-famous botanical garden sprawls across 70 acres of greenery and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the skyline, including the castle. The garden has a rich and diverse collection of plant species, and it’s also home to numerous wildlife, such as badgers and sparrowhawks.
Image credit: @rbgedinburgh Instagram.
Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent
This world-famous castle garden is divided into several outdoor ‘rooms’ including The White Garden, The Rose Garden and The Herb Garden. It’s a wonderful place to get lost on a sunny day.
Image credit: National Trust Images/ Joanna Simmonds
Stourhead, Wiltshire
Stourhead Garden was described as ‘a living work of art’ when it first opened in the 1700s, and it’s clear to see why. The calming lake serves as the centrepiece, but there are also classical temples and rare, exotic trees. We challenge you to find a more romantic garden than this one.
Image credit: @ntstourhead Instagram.
Hidcote, Gloucestershire
Tucked away in the charming hills of the Cotswolds is Hidcote Manor, which is home to one of England’s most creative and inspiring gardens. The garden is divided into outdoor ‘rooms’ that form a sort of elegant maze for visitors to explore.
Image credit: National Trust Images.
Forde Abbey, Somerset
This ancient Cistercian monastery is set in the rolling hills of Somerset and is a must-visit for both gardeners and history buffs. There is something to admire in the gardens all year round: snowdrops in winter, daffodils in spring, herbaceous borders in summer and striking colours in autumn.
Image credit: @travelsoujourns Instagram.
Bodnant Garden, Conwy
Bodnant Garden is set in the picturesque hills of Wales. The gardens are ablaze with colour and feature diverse plants, lush green lawns and grand terraces. It’s also home to the Laburnum arch, a 180-foot archway of dazzling yellow flowers that make the perfect photo opportunity for the ‘gram.
Image credit: @blaenybuarth Instagram.
Arundel Castle, West Sussex
You can explore Arundel Castle’s award-winning Tropical and English gardens while a magnificent Medieval castle serves as your backdrop. There’s an impressive kitchen garden to spark your inspiration for growing fruit and veg, as well as a stumpery that features gnarled, twisted stumps and flourishing plants that create an otherworldly landscape.
Kew Gardens, London
Nestled away in Richmond, just a stone’s throw away from the bustling city life lies the solitude of Kew Gardens. This garden is famous for its grand Victorian greenhouses: The Palm House, which is as close to a rainforest as you’ll get in the UK, and the Temperate House, which contains plants from Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire’s ancient Cistercian abbey ruins are both awe-inspiring and haunting. The landscape features a tranquil water garden that’s considered one of the best surviving examples of a Georgian water garden in England.
Transform your garden
Now that you have plenty of inspiration to plan your own garden utopia, all you need is some plants to get started. So let us introduce you to some of our best selling outdoor plants.