Gardens & parks

We have more than 200 wonderful gardens to explore and enjoy. Beautiful flower gardens, impressive landscape parks and space for you and your family to relax

Visitor on a bridge in the Arboretum at Bodnant Garden
Autumn colour at Stourhead

Dazzling displays of autumn colour in our gardens and parks 

Catch the glorious displays of autumn colour at one of our places this season. Discover some of our oldest trees and most splendid landscaped gardens.

Wheelbarrow full of freshly picked vegetables in the garden in July at Knightshayes Court, Tiverton, Devon

Top kitchen gardens 

Sustainable food production is a big shift in food culture, and we're leading the way at many of our kitchen gardens. Here's our pick of the best.

Geese on water with the Palladian Bridge in the background at Stowe

Our most famous gardens 

We care for hundreds of amazing gardens, but these are the jewels in our crown. Find out why they're so well known.

Visitors in the walled garden in winter at Hinton Ampner, Hampshire

Explore for free with your National Lottery ticket 

National Lottery players help us to protect special places across the UK. As a thank you, we're offering free entry at places in our care between 23 - 29 November 2019. All you need is a lottery ticket or scratch card.

Stag in the parkland at Knole, Kent

Deer rut rambles 

The deer rut is one of the iconic sights of autumn. There are resident deer herds at several of our special places, so pull on your walking boots and see if you can witness the annual spectacle.

See the deer rut
North Front of Waddesdon Manor lit for Christmas, Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire

Christmas lights and winter illuminations 

This Christmas, the houses and gardens in our care will be illuminated with twinkling light displays. Wrap up warm and pay a visit to kick-start your celebrations.

Children playing in autumn leaves

Family-friendly gardens 

Planning a day out the whole family will enjoy? Let your children's or grandchildren's imaginations run wild as they explore our gardens.

A boy on a rope swing at Woodchester Park

Great natural play areas 

Follow willow tunnels or make your very own woodland den in our natural play areas. You can also splash along muddy trails, hang onto rope swings and hunt for treehouses and bug hotels.

Children building a den in the woods

'50 things' activities for gardens and parks 

From den building to scavenger hunts, there's plenty of ways to keep the kids busy in a garden or park over the summer. Find inspiration with our '50 things to do before you’re 11¾' activities, perfect for connecting children with nature.

Gardens and parks near you

From walled gardens to landscaped lawns, gardens designed by big names to acres of parkland, we've more than 500 years of history for you to explore.

Discover our gardens and parks
A couple speaking to a gardener during an 'Ask the Gardener' event at Mottisfont

Autumn flowers and garden events 

Have you got green fingers? Visit a flower show to see magnificent displays of blooms, get your hands dirty helping our gardeners to plant seeds and flowers, or hear talks from experts on how to care for your own beds and borders.

Garden events near you
A family walks in open parkland at Hatchlands

Nine great parklands to explore 

We look after a great number of parklands across the UK with wide green spaces, leafy avenues and ancient woods. Here's our pick of the best.

Visit our top parklands

Gardens through the ages

The Pleasure Grounds at Osterley
Orchard House at Cragside
Hidcote Manor garden
Studley Royal Water Garden, Fountains Abbey
The garden at Moseley Old Hall
Powis Castle, Welshpool

Georgian gardens: 1714-1830 

Gardens and parks merged into one during the 18th century to create a British style that would influence gardens across Europe.

Victorian Garden Designs: 1837-1901 

Exotic plants from around the world were brought home to gardens by Victorian collectors. The bright new colours were displayed in more formal garden styles.

20th-century gardens: Edwardian gardens to present day 

The structured 'rooms' that epitomised gardens at the turn of the century were later softened with borders of the many new herbaceous plants being bred.

Medieval gardens: Middle Ages to 1500 

Medieval garden style was dominated by monasteries and manor houses. Herbs were grown for medicine and gardens were an important food source.

Tudor gardens: Henry VII 1485 - Elizabeth I 1603 

The influence of the Renaissance left its mark on the gardens of the Tudors, seen in the inclusion of architectural features. The most recognised feature from this period is the knot garden.

Stuart Gardens: 1600-early 1700s 

Gardens grew larger during the Stuart period as the influence of French and Dutch formal gardens brought features such as long avenues, terraces and topiary.

Garden conservation

Find out more about the work that goes on behind the scenes by our talented garden teams to restore and conserve the gardens you love to visit

What we do

Gardener's tips

Looking after more than 200 gardens has taught us a thing or two, so here our gardeners share some of their tips for a blooming beautiful garden

Pick up some top tips