The exterior of Hill Top cottage surrounded by thick green shrubs and trees — The exterior of Beatrix Potter's home at Hill Top, Cumbria | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Gardens in the Lake District

A garden grown by Beatrix Potter, a riot of colour in castle grounds or an intriguing collection of culinary and medicinal herbs; the Lakes is known for dramatic country landscapes, but there are some fantastic gardens to explore, too.

Top gardens in the Lake District

This summer, soak up the colour and scent of the herbaceous border at Sizergh, see what's growing in the vegetable patch at Hill Top or explore the rose garden at Wordsworth House.

Hill Top

Step into the garden tended to by Beatrix Potter, restored to how it was in her time, which provided some of the inspiration for her little white books.

Wordsworth House & Garden

Wordsworth's House's walled heritage garden, where William learned his love of nature, is filled with the colours, scents and sounds of the season.

View of the garden towards the house with fully laden apple trees in the foreground on a sunny day

Sizergh, Kendal

Feel inspired with a stroll through the gardens at Sizergh and find out what you’re likely to see growing here when you visit.

A family of four stand on the other side of a small lake surrounding by autumn foliage looking around them and into the water

Acorn Bank, near Penrith

Potter around the fascinating garden at Acorn Bank. The garden boasts over 275 varieties of herbs as well as hot beds, vegetable patches and traditional fruit orchards.

Stone pathway leading through a garden gate beside Acorn Bank's building, surrounded by autumn foliage

Stagshaw Garden, Ambleside

Stagshaw's rambling paths and unusual combination of shrubs, trees and plants give this tranquil garden an enchanted feel, with views out to the lake and mountains beyond.

Townend

Townend is a traditional Lake District farmhouse full of fascinating domestic objects and stories of the family who lived there. Step back in time and learn more about the Browne family and their lives.

A woman in period costume creating food on a table in an old farmhouse kitchen

Allan Bank

With rugged 19th-century woodland grounds bordering formal lawns, a re-established vegetable garden and views over Grasmere lake, there's plenty to see and do in the gardens at Allan Bank.

Top gardens for blossom

From wild blackthorn blossom along farmers' hedgerows to carefully cultivated cherry blossom in historic gardens, keep an eye out for bright and delicate blossom everywhere you go.

Blossom at Sizergh

Look out for the Japanese cherry at the entrance to the Stumpery adorned with fragrant white cup-shaped flowers, and the pale pink flowers of Prunus Kojo-no-mai on the Spring Walk. As you enter the Stumpery, you can’t miss the spectacular Hawthorn covered in white flowers. The orchard fills with clouds of pink and white apple blossom, followed in June by the blossom of the Dwarf Indian Horse Chestnut near the Herbaceous Border.

Family walking under blossom tree in Spring at Sizergh Castle, Cumbria

Wordsworth House & Garden

Fluffy pink and white apple blossom decorates the walled garden, and local apple varieties adorn the orchard, such as Keswick Codlings, Carlisle Codlings and Greenups Pippins. Underneath, wild primroses and beautifully fluffy common bistort flower in the beds bloom, later to be joined by fiery red and orange tulips.

Visitors exploring the garden at Wordsworth House and Garden, Cumbria

Acorn Bank

Out on the estate, hawthorn and elderflower blossom, along with the subtle white blossom of three huge cherry trees overhanging the Sunken Garden from the woodland. Apple blossom arrives in the orchard in May, and the huge Blakeney Red pear tree - donated by cider makers Babycham - becomes covered in white petals.