Best UK gardens to visit with your family

What better way to spend a summer's day than by meandering through blooms in one of the UK's most beautiful country gardens?

Stourhead in Wiltshire is one of England's prettiest gardens (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The traditional English garden – all lakes and rolling lawns – rose to prominence in the early 18th century as a counterpoint to the overly sculptured French gardens that were once the toast of Europe. The idea was to show nature at its most romantic, usually centred around a country house. Ever since, these gentle pastoral landscapes have captivated visitors – and provided respite from infrequent summer heatwaves across Britain.

Plus, gardens are clearly in vogue: the Duchess of Cambridge even got involved this summer, unveiling her “Back to Nature” garden at this year's Chelsea Flower Show.

Here are the best gardens in Britain to explore with your family.

Alnwick Garden, Northumberland, England

Alnwick Castle, which is the home of the Dukes and Earls of Northumberland (Getty Images)

The Alnwick Gardens, attached to the stately Alnwick Castle, date back to 1750 when the first Duke of Northumberland employed renowned English gardener Capability Brown to landscape the parkland. Today these formal gardens have a treehouse loved by children and adults alike, water features, a rose garden and an ornamental garden.

Admission: £12 for adults, £4.50 for children
alnwickgarden.com

Eden Project, Cornwall, England

The Eden Project has two huge biomes under which millions of plants grow (Visit Britain) (Visit England)

A series of domes, called biomes, make up the Eden Project, which houses some of the world’s most exciting tropical flora. There’s the Rainforest Biome, the world’s largest greenhouse; the Mediterranean biome; and the 30-acre Outdoor Garden. There are also themed events and workshops throughout the year to feed the curiosity of both adults and children.

Admission: £28.50 for adults, £15 for children
edenproject.com

Holkham Walled Garden, Norfolk, England

The Walled Garden at Holkham (Holkham)

On the grounds of the posh Holkham Estate in coastal Norfolk is the 18th-century Walled Garden: a six-acre formal garden that blooms in a riot of colours every spring and summer. Come spring, magnolia and tulip trees are in full bloom; the purple wisteria comes out; and in the summer the trees are fat with fruit. Private tours are available.

Admission: £3 for adults, £1.50 for children
holkham.co.uk

Cliveden, Berkshire, England

The Parterre at Cliveden (Getty Images)

A 1,000-year-old yew tree maze, acres of wild woodland and five formal gardens are among the spoils of National Trust-listed Cliveden Estate. Visitors come for the Parterre, which in spring blooms with 21,000 plants including pansies, daffodils and tulips. Meanwhile, the rose garden has more than 900 roses in all shades, while the highlight of the Japanese-inspired water garden is a large lily pond teeming with koi carp.

Admission: £16 for adults, £9 for children
clivedenhouse.co.uk

Audley End Gardens, Saffron Walden, England

Audley End in Essex hosts summer concerts in its gardens (Getty Images)

Surrounding the opulent Audley End House in Essex, once one of the largest houses in Jacobean England, is a sprawling garden with serpentine lake, walled garden and restored parterre, designed by Capability Brown. Concerts run in the grounds all summer long, while children will be captivated by the nearby Audley End Miniature Railway.

Admission: £18.50 for adults, £11.10 for children
english-heritage.org.uk

Stourhead, Wiltshire, England

Stourhead Gardens, with the five-arch Palladian bridge in the foreground (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A visit to Stourhead gardens is a wander through the history of English gardening flair. The 18th-century gardens, set around a lake, include classical temples inspired by European monuments (the Pantheon and the five-arch Palladian bridge are particularly impressive) and a range of trees and shrubs such as birch, tulip and ash. There’s also plenty to occupy families, with activities such as tree climbing, challenges and puzzles. Plus, there are dedicated paths for dog walkers.

Admission: £17.50 for adults, £8.70 for children
nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead

Kew Gardens, London, England

Kew Gardens is a national landmark (Visit Britain)

This 18th-century botanical garden on the fringes of London is home to one of the largest and most diverse plant populations in the world: its living collections contain more than 30,000 specimens. The 330 acre site dates back to 1759, and today makes a perfect afternoon of wandering the treetop walkway, a beehive, architectural features and conservancies. Daily tours are available (and encouraged). There’s also an offshoot at Wakehurst Place in Sussex.

Admission: £18 for adults, £6 for children 4-16
kew.org

Powis Castle, Welshpool, Wales

Whatever the season, Powis Castle in mid-Wales has the capacity to surprise (and is ethereally beautiful in winter). These gardens are most-loved for the beautiful Italianate terraces, which spill down from the medieval castle to sprawling woodland below. The multi-layered gardens also include tall yew trew hedges, statues and a green garden, which generates more energy than it uses.

Admission: £13.50 for adults, £6.75 for children
nationaltrust.org.uk/powis-castle-and-garden

Inveraray Castle, West Highlands Scotland

Inveraray Castle in the Western Highlands is surrounded by wild woodland (iStock)

The ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, Inveraray Castle is set amid the dramatic Western Highlands on the banks of Loch Fyne. As a result of an average annual rainfall of 230cm, the surrounding 16 acres of gardens (that cover both woodland and manicured lawns) are covered with a riot of flowers including daffodils, red, pink and white rhododendrons and azaleas local to this part of Scotland. Fun fact: a Christmas episode of Downton Abbey was once filmed here.

Admission: £11.50 for adults, £7 for children
inveraray-castle.com

Belfast Botanic Gardens, Belfast, Northern Ireland

The glasshouse of Belfast's Botanic Garden (Visit Ireland)

The 28-acre Belfast Botanic Gardens make a pretty diversion on a city break to the Northern Irish capital. The Victorian gardens near Queen's University, established in 1828, encompass the Palm House and Tropical Ravine (full of tropical plants and birds of paradise) and a gorgeous rose garden. This public space also hosts concerts during the summer months.

belfastcity.gov.uk

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