Gardens and parks in and around Buckinghamshire

It's lovely to take in the peace and beauty of the muted colours of our gardens and parks as winter takes hold. Sunny, frosty days bring welcome brightness for long parkland strolls in the fresh air at Stowe or Hughenden. Greys days are for peaceful pondering - short walks around the garden at Cliveden, Hughenden or north to Canons Ashby.

A family enjoying the outdoors in autumn or winter

Visiting information for this winter 

In England and Northern Ireland, our gardens, parks and countryside remain open for local people to exercise. Shops, houses and other indoor areas are closed, and cafés are takeaway only. The safety of our staff, volunteers and visitors from the nearby community remains our priority and we urge you to book your visits in advance and stay local. All places in Wales are currently closed. Please check the property webpage before you travel.

More details on what's open
Visitors walk in Stowe in winter
Walking trail 

Stowe

Almost as soon as Christmas is done at Stowe, it's Stowedrop season. There are swathes of the delicate white flowers carpeting the Elysian Fields, Lamport Garden and Sleeping Wood. There's a special route you can follow to see the best of them, along with the winter aconites and hellebores. It's such a hopeful sign that spring is on its way.

Discover the Stowedrops walk
Hughenden during snow

Hughenden 

Thanks to its high elevation, if there's any frost or sprinkling of snow in the offing, Hughenden will benefit. The manor looks so cosy, reassuringly red and all hunkered down amongst its protection of coniferous trees. The West Bank garden is also at its best in January and February when the sweet box and winter flowering shrubs make for a pretty and fragrant stroll in the crisp air.

Discover Hughenden's gardens
Cliveden's Long Garden in the frosty winter

Cliveden 

Once the hedges and topiary have been clipped, it's satisfying to see their clean lines and sharp, stark silhouettes on a winter walk at Cliveden. The Long Garden and parterre are best for this. Cliveden is also great for wonderful long views over the river Thames as the vistas open up after the leaf fall.

Take a look at Cliveden's many gardens
The garden at Waddesdon

Waddesdon 

Waddesdon's statues get all wrapped up for winter, so don't be surprised to see ghostly shapes emerging from the mist. This winter, Waddesdon is extending its winter lights through to the end of January. It's an exhilarating walk under the tree canopy lit with dramatic colour and playful installations. It's worth a visit, but you'll need to book via the Waddesdon website.

Find out more about Waddesdon
The south front of Canons Ashby sprinkled with frost in the winter sun.

Canons Ashby 

Winter is a great time to visit Canons Ashby. With bare leaves, fewer flowering plants and a quieter garden, you're able to appreciate the clean crisp lines of the formal 18th century garden and topiary. The bedding shapes are sharply cut and there are distant views over the countryside.

Find out more about Canons Ashby in winter