Gorgeous gardens of the Cotswolds

The Cotswolds boasts a whole host of world-class gardens of all shapes, designs and sizes giving you the option to enjoy one or two in a day – or stay for a week and see them all!  And it doesn’t matter what time of year you visit – there’s colour, interest and wonderful floral sights from early spring to late autumn.

Kelmscott Manor

The Arts and Crafts movement in the early 20th century had a huge influence on some of our most famous gardens:  Hidcote Manor Gardens and Kelmscott Manor are wonderful examples of this era, thanks to the toil and passion of Major Lawrence Johnston at Hidcote, and the influence of William Morris, who spent his summers in the Grade 1 listed Kelmscott.

Painswick Rococo Gardens
 
Fans of early spring colour will delight in the snowdrops and hellebores at Painswick Rococo Garden, Colesbourne Park and the former Tudor hunting lodge at Newark Park while historic woodland like Woodchester Park and the Westonbirt and Batsford arboreta are full to bursting with early spring flowers like bluebells and muscari and a confetti-whirl of blossom – as well as spectacular autumn colour.

Bourton House Garden

From early summer, blowsy herbaceous borders and rose gardens take centre stage – few more beautiful than those at Bourton House Garden, Kiftsgate Court Garden, Sudeley Castle and the Capability Brown landscape at Blenheim Palace.   And don’t forget our royal connections!  As well as the inspirational gardens designed by Prince Charles at Highgrove, Berkeley Castle boasts beautiful borders and woodland walks beloved of the royals of old.

If you like mixing your animals with gardens – head for the Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens where exotic plants provide perfect enclosures for the huge array of animals – from giant tortoises to white rhino.  And Birdland Park and Gardens too has nine acres of gardens and woodland set against the picturesque backdrop of the winding River Windrush.

You’ll find traditional English cottage garden style at Cogges Manor and Mill Dene Gardens, but for design enthusiasts, Rousham, designed by William Kent in the late 1600s retains its original design and is a favourite of TV gardener Monty Don no less.

Saltridge Woods (Credit: Ken Long)