The 10 Best gardens to visit

What could be finer – now that the weather has improved – than a walk around some bucolic beds and borders?

1. Helmsley Walled Garden, North Yorkshire

Built in the 18th century, this stunning garden features extensive flower borders as well as greenhouses and fruit trees. The garden is run as a charity that aims to help anyone with a disability benefit from the restorative qualities of gardening and they run weekly horticultural therapy sessions.

Adults, £5.50, concessions £4.50, children, free, helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk

2. Threave Estate, Dumfries and Galloway

One of Scotland's most popular attractions, this National Trust property has hundreds of acres of beautiful landscaped gardens to explore. There is also a wetland nature reserve.

Admission for gardens only; adults, £7, concessions, £6, family, £16.50, nts.org.uk/Property/Threave-Estate

3. Arley Hall and Gardens, Cheshire

A vibrant garden, cultivated for over 250 years by generations of the same family. The Herbaceous Border – probably the first of its kind in England – draws green-fingered visitors from miles around.

Admission for gardens only; adults, £7.50, seniors £7, children aged 5-12, £3, family, £18, arleyhallandgardens.com

4. RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey

The springtime daffodil displays are just one of many things to enjoy at the Royal Horticultural Society's flagship garden. There is also a world-class plant collection in their glass house.

RHS members, free, adults, £10.75, children aged 5-16, £4.60, family, £27.60, rhs.org.uk/Wisley

5. Trebah Garden, Cornwall

Set in the sub-tropical climate of the Cornish coast, this "paradise" is rated among the finest gardens in the world. As well as boasting diverse plant life, there is a secluded private beach.

Adults, £8.50, seniors, £7.50, children aged 5-15, £2.50, under 5s, free, trebahgarden.co.uk

6. Minterne House, Dorset

This historic house boasts an 18th-century landscaped garden that features lakes, waterfalls, streams and rare trees. Take part in a themed trails, such as the Murder Mystery Trail or Spy Mission.

Admission for gardens only; adults, £5, under 12s, free, minterne.co.uk

7. Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire

Set around a spectacular 19th-century castle, the Belvoir gardens have been lovingly restored by a small team of dedicated gardeners. There is a woodland area, fresh water springs and specialist plants and roses on display.

Admission for gardens only; adults, £8, concessions, £7, children, £5, family £25, belvoircastle.com

8. Hestercombe, Somerset

With 50 acres of lakes, woodland and terraces built up over 300 years, Hestercombe is a fantastic place to witness contrasting styles of garden design.

Adults, £8.80, seniors, £8.10, children aged 5-15, £3.30, students £4.50, family, £22, hestercombe.com

9. Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens, Norfolk

This exquisite private garden is the work of Alan Gray and Graham Robeson, who have spent 40 years transforming the 32 acres of land into a floral feast.

Adults, £7.50, children aged 3-14, £1, e-ruston-oldvicaragegardens.co.uk

10. Bodnant Garden, Conwy

With spectacular views across Snowdonia, this garden includes plants from across the globe. The botanical collection, built up during Victorian plant-hunting expeditions, is world famous.

Adults, £8.45, children, £4.22, nationaltrust.org.uk/bodnant-garden

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