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.

Family exploring the gardens at Speke Hall, Liverpool

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

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.

Children running through the kitchen garden at Sizergh, Cumbria in summer

The Kitchen Garden at Speke Hall

Step into the Speke Hall’s Kitchen Garden where the beds are full to the brim with produce. Highlights include colourful sweet peas climbing the frames, salads of every sort in the no-dig raised beds and the pollinator-friendly flower border.