Colourful rhododendrons in the garden in June at Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire — The garden in bloom at Rufford Old Hall | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Gardens in Liverpool and Lancashire

To gardens filled with history and colour at Speke Hall, to a peaceful garden with canal walks at Rufford Old Hall, discover gardens to explore in spring.

Don't miss: summer highlights

From roses to rhododendrons, the North West’s gardens are full of vibrant colour and scents throughout summer. Here are just some of the things to look out for.

Brilliant blooms

Find rhododendrons in every colour in the gardens at Speke Hall and Rufford Old Hall. Keep an eye out for hydrangeas brightening borders with their delicate flowers in shades of pink, white and blue too.

Visitors in the garden at Speke Hall, Liverpool

Radiant roses

Find roses that were popular in Victorian times at Speke Hall such as the fragrant Margaret Meryl white rose. Or head to Rufford Old Hall to find pastel-coloured roses dotted alongside the walls and side of the black-and-white Tudor house.

The South Range of the house with black & white timberwork at Speke Hall, Merseyside. The Rose garden is in the foreground.

Tip-top topiary

Take a seat in the Squirrel Border at Rufford Old Hall. Here you can see the mischievous duo of giant squirrel-shaped topiary, which used to be cut in the shape of pheasants back in the 1900s. The gardeners work hard to keep the expertly manicured topiary tip-top all year round.

A man clipping a topiary hedge at Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire.

Wonderful wildflowers

The Walled Garden at Gawthorpe Hall is in full bloom throughout summer. Keep your eyes out for butterflies and bees – and if you’re lucky you might catch the rare white letter hairstreak butterfly that feeds on the elm tree that sits here.

Close up of a White Letter Hairstreak butterfly

Top gardens in Liverpool and Lancashire

Speke Hall, Liverpool

From peaceful strolls through colourful borders, to adventures in the woodland and spotting wildlife in the secret garden, there's plenty of seasonal joy to find at Speke Hall.

Rufford Old Hall, near Ormskirk

The gardens at Rufford Old Hall have lots of variety, from giant squirrel topiary and beehives, to picnic spots in the orchard and peaceful walks by the canal.

Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham

Take a leisurely stroll around the formal garden with its views of the River Calder. Relax in the ornamental terraced garden to the north of the hall or the landscaped garden to the south.

Child visitor smelling a rose in the garden at Gawthorpe Hall, Lancashire

Gardens near Liverpool and Lancashire

Discover more seasonal blooms in the north of England and Wales with plenty of gardens and parks to visit.

Quarry Bank, Wilmslow

Wander through the dramatic valley garden, stroll by the river and tune into the sights and sounds of the season as you explore this rare retreat where nature and industry collide.

Dunham Massey, Altrincham

Summer is a celebration of colour and contrast at Dunham Massey. During the warmer months, the garden comes alive with layered planting and fresh foliage. Paths are lined with emerging blooms, and each week reveals something new.

A border of red roses at Dunham Massey, Greater Manchester

Lyme, Stockport

Explore all the different areas of the garden at Lyme. Appreciate the changing colours of the garden with the wild moors and parkland beyond.

View of the Orangery Terrace in the garden at Lyme Park, Cheshire on a sunny day

Hare Hill, near Macclesfield

Enjoy a leisurely stroll around the Walled Garden, or take a seat to listen to birdsong in the Wooded Garden. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle, little legs will find Hare Hill an ideal place to let their imaginations go wild and a safe spot to roam.