Where to see Humphry Repton landscapes

The north front of Antony House, Cornwall | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Discover the dramatic landscapes created by Humphry Repton, one of Britain’s best-loved landscape designers. Repton helped shape landscapes where the barriers between gardens and parks were broken down; estates that combine the polished look of ‘Capability’ Brown with the more naturalistic and dramatic landscapes of the Picturesque Movement. Find out the National Trust places you can go to see his work.

Repton's designs and Red Books

The National Trust looks after many parks and gardens influenced by Repton including Sheringham Park, Norfolk, which he described as his ‘most favourite work’.

Repton was a skilled watercolour painter and each time he was commissioned to design a landscape he would produce an ingenious 'Red Book', a sketchbook to illustrate his proposal.

Here are some of the best places to explore Repton’s work.

Antony, Cornwall: Completed in 1792, Antony is one of several Repton-designed sites on the Tamar in Cornwall. It's still home to the Carew Pole family, who commissioned Repton to landscape the grounds. When you visit, look out for the woodland planting in particular – Repton's advice was followed closely and you can still see the results today.More about Antony
Ashridge Estate, Hertfordshire: Though the house and garden at Ashridge are privately owned, you can still explore a large area of the wider park, which is cared for by the National Trust. Repton’s 1813 design for the Ashridge Estate had to complement the magnificent Palace of Ashridge House and earlier work by ‘Capability’ Brown. In what would be one of his final designs, Repton proposed 15 different kinds of garden, including a winter garden, Monk’s garden, rosary and American garden.More about Ashridge Estate
Attingham Park, Shropshire: Explore Attingham Park to see one of the most historically important landscapes in Britain. When the 2nd Lord Berwick inherited Attingham, he hired Repton to enhance the parkland. Repton's aim was to create a natural landscape around the mansion with views of the Shropshire Hills and the Wrekin. Unfortunately, after Repton's work was finished, the family went bankrupt. No further work to the parkland followed and therefore Repton's vision remains unaltered by new additions or other designers.More about Attingham Park

The house and parkland at Uppark, West Sussex, with lush trees in the foreground. — The house and parkland at Uppark | © National Trust Images/David Sellman

Hatchlands Park, Surrey: Repton produced his plans for Hatchlands Park in Guildford in 1800. They included the introduction of pleasure grounds, planting to screen the road and changes to the approach road. When you visit, you'll experience the layout of the garden and the park as Repton intended, as it remains true to his original design.More about Hatchlands Park
Plas Newydd House and Garden, Anglesey: In 1799, Repton completed a commission at Plas Newydd, home of the Marquess of Anglesey, but only the text of the Red Book survives. Explore the grounds to see his ideas for the drive and trees between the stables and the house. He also suggested the construction of a greenhouse-come-pavilion, a hexagonal structure with removable sides. A sketch of this was reproduced in his treatise Observations on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening (1803).More about Plas Newydd

A visitor and their dog walk on a path in the distance between some woodland and a fenced field at Plas Newydd, Anglesey, North Wales — Dog walking around Plas Newydd | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Sheringham Park, Norfolk: Discover how Repton used the rolling landscape of the park to frame views of the north Norfolk coastline. Successive generations of the Upcher family used his 1812 design as a blueprint to manage and enhance the estate. The most recent major Repton intervention – the temple – was built in 1975. The Sheringham Red Book remains key to how we manage and care for the park to this day.More about Sheringham Park
Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire: The owners of the Wimpole Estate employed a succession of landscape gardeners to ‘improve’ their estate including Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. Repton presented his Red Book for Earl Harwicke in 1801 in which he recommended removing trees to reveal the beauty of the house and to make the estate appear more wooded. Discover the results of his designs when you visit.More about Wimpole