Laburnum arch at Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland — The bright yellow larburnum arch at Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland | © National Trust Images/Tom Carr

Top Gardens in the North East

Discover the vibrant beauty of summer in the North East’s finest gardens. From blooming borders to peaceful walled retreats, explore botanical gems across the region. Whether you're visiting with family, your dog, or enjoying a solo stroll, there’s a garden waiting to inspire you this season.

Uncover the natural beauty and rich heritage of the North East with the National Trust’s most stunning gardens this summer.

Seaton Delaval Hall

In early June, the laburnum arch bursts into golden bloom, creating a stunning tunnel of cascading yellow flowers. Over 20 trees form this vibrant walkway, leading into the tranquil arboretum beyond. June is also the perfect time to enjoy the colourful display of azaleas and rhododendrons in full flower.

Gibside in the summer

Summer brings vibrant life to the gardens at Gibside. From vivid poppies to towering cardoons and globe thistles, there’s colour at every turn. In the Walled Garden, soft fruits ripen under the sun, including strawberries, blackberries, redcurrants, and gooseberries. There’s always something blooming, buzzing, or ripening all summer long.

Wildflowers in the foreground with the hall at Gibside in the background, Northumberland

Wallington's Walled Garden

Summer is the perfect time to visit Wallington’s Walled Garden. Enjoy a riot of colour and scent, and relax to live music every Sunday from local musicians. Pack a picnic, roll out a blanket, and soak up sounds from jazz to folk in this stunning setting. When the music fades, wander through the garden’s beautiful blooms.

Crook Hall Gardens

Wander through a series of interlinked gardens at Crook Hall Gardens, leading you to blooming borders, secluded walled gardens, an orchard, and a tranquil moat pool. In summer, roses greet visitors with their scent, while sweet peas, clematis, and honeysuckle fill the walled garden with heady fragrance.

Sunny view of summer flowering borders in front of the Georgian townhouse

Cragside in bloom

Explore the ultimate landscaped garden in Northumberland at Cragside. Created for beauty by Lord and Lady Armstrong, you’ll discover towering trees, overflowing flower beds, trickling burns, dramatic water cascades and engineered lakes that were created to harness the power of water.

View of Cragside house surrounded by rhododendrons in north east England

Cherryburn in the summertime

Summer is a lovely time to explore Cherryburn’s wildlife-friendly garden. Designed to reflect the natural landscape Thomas Bewick knew, it features easy-to-source plants like foxgloves, geraniums, and ox-eye daisies. Some beds are left to self-seed, while others bloom in soft tones that attract bees and butterflies. The garden now has a wilder, more natural feel—perfect for inspiration. All plants are either wildlife-friendly or familiar to Bewick. Garden talks available.

Purple flowers and white daisies in the foreground with a lawn and Cherryburn museum behind. The sky is blue and the sun is shining.

Lindisfarne Castle's Garden

Designed by renowned plantswoman Gertrude Jekyll, the garden at Lindisfarne Castle is at its peak from July to September. Created to bloom during Edward Hudson’s summer visits, it’s now a tranquil haven filled with colour and buzzing bees. Sweet peas frame views of the castle, and in August, a rare gladioli—saved from extinction by the National Trust and a Jekyll favourite—adds a special flourish to this historic garden.