Gardens to visit in the North East

Soak up the sights and smells of summer as the gardens around the North East are in full bloom. Explore Wallington's hidden garden, see the flowers blooming in the formal garden at Cragside or discover a small sheltered oasis at Lindisfarne Castle.

Couple enjoying rhododendrons at cragside

Explore the gardens at Cragside 

Lord Armstrong was a landscape genius - Cragside is his imagination in physical form. Visit the Formal Gardens, Pinetum and Rock Garden and see how he experimented with plants, trees and water on a gigantic scale to create Cragside’s vast landscape. In early summer, the estate is transformed into a sea of colour and scent as swathes of rhododendrons and azaleas bloom.

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Visitors walking through the woods

Stroll through an 18th-century landscaped garden at Gibside 

Gibside is one of the few surviving 18th-century designed landscapes and was designed with two things in mind: spectacular vista views and ‘wow’ moments. Stroll past colourful seasonal flowers, look for lilies in the pond and catch the scent of lavender on the breeze. You can enjoy the warmer, lighter summer evenings at Gibside on a Friday evening and bring your blanket to enjoy a picnic tea in the walled garden.

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Family enjoying a picnic in the garden

Enjoy sunny days at Ormesby Hall  

Just a stone's throw from Middlesbrough, the formal gardens of the Pennyman's family home are a peaceful retreat. In the summer months, the garden's colourful borders are filled with the pinks and purples of aliums, foxgloves, lavender and hydrangeas, with splashes of blue from delphiniums and agapanthus. Look out for a wildflower meadow in the orchard too.

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A lady enjoys a stroll through the gardens at Seaton Delaval

Explore Seaton Delaval Hall's dramatic landscape 

Discover the beauty of the gardens at Seaton Delaval Hall - stroll through the formal parterre with its neat hedges, relax in the peaceful privy garden and explore the wider Vanbrugh landscape. In summer wander past the fiery colours in the Hot Border, take in the scent of the lavender or look out for the vibrant pink ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ rose, which has a particularly beautiful scent and is a favourite amongst the gardeners.

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View of Lindisfarne Castle from the walled garden, planned by Gertrude Jekyll

Discover an oasis by the sea at Lindisfarne Castle 

Lindisfarne Castle's walled garden was created by celebrated Arts and Crafts garden designer Gertrude Jekyll and thrives by the sea on Holy Island. Designed to look its best during high summer, the garden is awash with colour at this time of year, and the air is filled with the scent of sweet peas.

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Visitors walking in the garden at Wallington

Explore Wallington's secret garden 

Stroll through the tranquil East Woods at Wallington to discover the hidden Walled Garden, a delightful garden hidden behind high walls at the bottom of a woodland valley. In summer it bursts to life with colourful summer blooms. Don't miss the Hot Border outside the conservatory, which is planted up with bedding plants in vibrant reds, zingy oranges and sunny yellows, such as cannas, dahlias, salvias, tagetes and zinnia.

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Washington Old Hall Bumble bee on Lavender

Relax in Washington Old Hall's historic gardens  

Summer is a great time to visit the gardens at Washington Old Hall. Explore the symmetrical topiary of the knott garden, discover the wildlife nuttery teaming with birds, wildflowers and insects, wander through the growing orchard and enjoy the scent of lavender as it blooms.

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The Gertrude Jekyll Garden near Lindisfarne Castle, Northumberland Play Video