Top 10 Spring Gardens To Visit In The Uk
Friday March 28, 2014 by Alex Wood
Spring officially arrived on the 20th of March and with the garden visiting season now underway, green fingered gardener Alex Wood shares her top tips on where to stay to see the best gardens around the UK.
So, in no particular order then…lets start with:
The Savill Garden, Windsor, Berkshire
Begun in 1932, these Royal Gardens consist of a series of woodland gardens where camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas and flowering dogwoods are all underplanted with carpets of bulbs. See also the dramatic drifts of skunk cabbage and swathes of Narcissus Bulbocodium.
Open year-round, daily (except the 25th & 26th December), from 10am - 6pm.
Serviced Apartment options nearby: Guard's View, Windsor - It's only so often that one gets to see a historic castle right outside of one's doorstep!
BOWOOD GARDENS, NR CALNE, WILTSHIRE
For six weeks from mid-April until early June, the rhododendron woodland garden at Bowood House is one of the finest spring displays in Britain. Covering 60 acres and surrounding a Palladian mausoleum designed by Robert Adam in 1762, this garden offers a masterclass in how to grow Asian rhododendrons. Magnolias, camellias, azaleas, pieris and an array of other spring-flowering shrubs, all add to the splendour.
Open from 11am - 6pm from the 1st April to 30th November. NB: The Rhododendron Walks reopen on 26th April 2014, when they will be in bloom once again!
Serviced Apartment options nearby: Villets House Serviced Apartments, Swindon - an exclusive development of serviced apartments in a period building dating back to 1729.
RHS GARDEN, WISLEY, SURREY
Wisley has been voted Britain's Favourite Garden in the BBC Countryfile Magazine 2013 Awards! In Spring it really comes alive, when you can take the meandering paths through the woodland garden on Battleston Hill to see the magnolias, azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias, and be sure not to miss the alpine meadow, where a dazzling display of hoop-petticoat narcissus will be in full bloom.
Open year-round, daily (except December 25th), from 10am - 6pm (9am weekends and Bank Holidays)
Serviced Apartment options nearby: Enterprise Place Apartments, Woking - Contemporary, modern living in the centre of Woking
CASTLE HOWARD, YORK, NORTH YORKSHIRE
Castle Howard in North Yorkshire has won the highly prestigious Historic Houses Association (HHA) Garden of the Year award and to many, the house is recognisable as the set of Brideshead Revisited and the BBC dramatization of Death Comes to Pemberley. With 1,000 acres to explore, Castle Howard is a haven of peace and tranquility whatever the time of year. With extensive woodland walks, temples, lakes and fountains, the monumental landscape offers breathtaking views at every turn. As well as the dramatic landscape, Castle Howard is well known for its annual displays of daffodils, rhododendrons, delphiniums and roses.
Grounds open from 10am – 5pm, year round, and the house is open from Saturday 22nd March.
Serviced Apartment options nearby: The Lawrance, York - Really special serviced apartments in the heart of historic York
EXBURY GARDENS, NEAR BEAULIEU, HAMPSHIRE
There are a million (who counted?!) rhododendrons in the 200-acre woodland as well as camellias and magnolias. Early spring also brings flowering cherries and carpets of daffodils - flower lovers get down to this Garden!
Open from March - November, daily, from 10am - 5.30pm.
HEVER CASTLE, HEVER, KENT
The gardens of this 14th-century moated castle burst into spring colour with crocuses, daffodils, tulips and bluebells. Camellias are trained against the walls of the spectacular Italian Garden and the park of oak trees is underplanted with rhododendrons.
Open daily from 10.30am - 6pm in the main season from 30 March - 24October.
BATSFORD ARBORETUM, MORETON-IN-MARSH, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
What's an 'arboretum' I hear you ask... a tree collection! Batsford is one of the largest in the country and has almost 100 magnolia cultivars and an impressive collection of Japanese cherry trees, which start to flower in late March and continue well into May, are underplanted with drifts of early spring bulbs and, in late spring, cowslips, primroses and wild garlic.
Open 10am to 5pm daily.
ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, KEW, SURREY
Explore the world’s most famous botanic garden, just 30 minutes from central London. You’ll encounter breathtaking landscapes and world-class attractions from iconic glasshouses full of rare and beautiful plants to historic buildings, botanical art galleries and the soaring treetop walkway. The Gardens change with the seasons but visit in spring to experience its sensational displays of colour. You’ll see over five million bulbs in bloom including crocuses, daffodils and tulips.
Open daily at 9.30am – 5.30pm (except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).
Serviced Apartment options nearby: Clarendon House & Apartments, Kew - A peaceful retreat from the City of London in leafy Kew
WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM, NEAR TETBURY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
We've mentiond this one before for it's Christmas market but in Spring the arboretum comes alive with magnificent displays of rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias in the Old Arboretum and the wildflowers, bluebells and cherry trees in Silk Wood. The glorious spring displays can be all the more appreciated by walking one of the self-guided woodland trails.
Open year-round, from Monday - Friday, 9am - dusk; Saturday & Sunday, 9am - 8pm.
Serviced Apartment options nearby: SACO West India House, Bristol - Waterfront apartments in a Grade II listed building in the centre of Bristol
YOUR TURN...
Do you have a top tip for a spring garden? Let me know by nominating your favorite on Facebook or Twitter (#PASholidays) and I'll put together all of the favorites throughout the year in a round up review post!
Plan a family trip in the UK this Spring Contact our sales team to book a luxury serviced apartment
Tel: 020 7704 6514 or email: sales@prestigeapartments.co.uk
Author
Posted by Alex Wood
