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 and parks 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, this corner of the North West is full of colourful blooms at this time of year.

Bluebells carpet the woodland at Speke Hall, Merseyside, and a path winds between the trees

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Speke Hall

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.

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Rufford Old Hall

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.

Visitors climbing steps in the south garden at Gawthorpe Hall, Lancashire in summer

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Gawthorpe Hall

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.

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

Rhododendrons in spring in the garden at Speke Hall, Liverpool

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.

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

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 Tudor house.

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

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.

Close up of a White Letter Hairstreak butterfly

Wonderful wildflowers

The Walled Garden at Gawthorpe Hall is in full bloom throughout summer. Keep your eye 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.

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