Explore gardens and parklands
We care for more than 200 gardens and parks. From kitchen gardens full of fruit and veg to historic parkland, there’s something for everyone.
Best gardens by the sea
If you're looking to visit a garden by the sea, there are many in our care. Wander through some of the best gardens on the coast, take in open views of the ocean and discover the unusual plant varieties that grow in these special climates.
- Coleton Fishacre, Devon
- Framed by coastal cliffs, the garden at Coleton Fishacre is full of rugged charm. Take a walk along paths that weave through glades and past tranquil ponds where you can catch glimpses of the sea. The garden’s sheltered location and unusual microclimate means that an array of colourful exotic plants can flourish here.Visit the garden at Coleton Fishacre
- Dunster Castle and Watermill, Somerset
- Take a stroll in the enchanting gardens at Dunster Castle. Explore the tranquil terraced walks, rare plants and vibrant borders with stunning views of the Bristol Channel.Visit Dunster Castle and Watermill
- Glendurgan, Cornwall
- There are three different valleys of Glendurgan to lose yourself in. Big leaves and exotic flowers thrive in the jungle-like lower valley while sun-loving plants enjoy the upper banks. Wandering through the garden leads down to the unspoilt hamlet of Durgan on the Helford River, which is a great spot to watch birds and boats, skim stones and build sandcastles.Visit the garden at Glendurgan
- Mottistone, Isle of Wight
- This sheltered valley garden, surrounding an Elizabethan manor house on the Isle of Wight, is filled with colour in the warmer months. Mottistone’s double herbaceous borders are packed with African daisies in pale pinks, purples and creams to vibrant reds, oranges and blues. Look out for subtropical plants such as red spider flowers and fragrant five-foot ginger lilies interspersed with feathery African grasses.Visit the garden at Mottistone
- Mount Stewart, County Down
- Mount Stewart is one of the most unusual gardens we care for due to its tapestry-like design. In early summer you can see formal displays of scented rhododendrons in the Italian, Spanish, Mairi and Shamrock gardens as well as the bright carpet of bluebells in the demesne area of the estate. Due to the mild microclimate, summer also brings fresh new growth of ferns, with a large collection of subtropical varieties.Visit the garden at Mount Stewart
- Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne, County Londonderry
- This eighteenth-century coastal estate includes sheltered gardens, a small arboretum, mausoleum and gothic gate lodge. A clifftop walk includes the rugged headland and the Mussenden Temple perched on the cliff edge with panoramic views across the North Atlantic Coast.Visit Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne
- Overbeck's, Salcombe
- Nestled in the cliffs overlooking the aquamarine waters of the estuary at Salcombe in Devon was the seaside home of Otto Overbeck, a prominent scientist, inventor and art collector in the 1920s. The subtropical garden boasts towering palm trees and pops of colour from exotic and rare plants.Visit the garden at Overbeck’s
- Plas Newydd House and Garden, Anglesey
- Set on the shores of the Menai Strait with views of Eryri (Snowdonia) is the vast garden surrounding Plas Newydd House. In the warmer months, the Italianate Terrace is surrounded by flame-coloured plants such as canna, rudbeckia and dahlia. The woodland areas are home to towering Chilean beeches and aromatic eucalyptus.Visit that garden at Plas Newydd
- Plas yn Rhiw, Gwynedd
- Explore this ornamental garden with coastal views. Wander down grass paths surrounded by flowering trees and shrubs, then head to the tea-room afterwards for a light bite.Visit the garden at Plas yn Rhiw
- Sheringham Park, Norfolk
- Explore the Wild Garden at Sheringham Park, with its collection of rhododendrons and azaleas. Afterwards, you can wander through the parkland to enjoy a sea view. You can even climb viewing towers over the garden to take in the seascape.Visit the garden at Sheringham Park
- The Gertrude Jekyll Garden, Lindisfarne
- This garden was designed to be at its best in high summer, with fragrant blooms of all colours dotted around its borders. The team at Lindisfarne have restored the original vision of horticulturist Gertrude Jekyll, who wanted the tranquil garden to be a sheltered oasis all year round.Visit the Gertrude Jekyll Garden at Lindisfarne
- Trelissick, Cornwall
- Trelissick sits on its own peninsula with panoramic views over the Fal Estuary. Take a gentle walk around the mixed exotic borders, tennis lawn and orchard. There are meandering paths through the garden where you can view the ever-changing seascape and countryside.Visit the garden at Trelissick
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Best parklands
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Secret gardens
Find out which of the gardens we care for have their own 'secret' gardens concealed within them. Search for hideaways and hidden gems as you explore once-forgotten paths.
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Famous gardens
We care for hundreds of historic gardens, encompassing more than 500 years of history and a range of garden styles and fashions. Learn about the most famous and significant gardens you can visit.