Best Gardens to Visit in South England
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, commonly simply called the Kew Gardens is the most visited and the most famous garden in England. In 2003, it was declared UNESCO World Heritage site for its unique blend of garden art and botanical science.
On 121 acres of gardens, glasshouses and teak garden furniture can be found the largest collection of living plants in the world making the Kew Gardens an absolute must-see if visiting London. It is located between Richmond and Kew in south-west London and is open daily except 24 and 25 December from 9:30am. Closing hours vary from season to season.
Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden at Wisley
The Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden at Wisley is the second most visited public garden in England after the famous Kew Gardens. The garden that covers an area of 240 acres is situated between Cobham and Woking in Surrey, England, and offers a perfect getaway all year round. It was founded by a member of the Royal Horticultural Society, businessman and gardener George Ferguson Wilson in 1878 as “Oakwood experimental garden“ which became famous for its collection of exotic plants by the time of Wilson’s death in 1902.
The garden was after Wilson’s death purchased by Sir Thomas Hanbury who donated it to the Royal Horticultural Society in 1903. Since then, the garden has been continuously expanded becoming one of the most admired gardens in the world. In addition to stunning formal and informal gardens, it features a number of glasshouses including the new Bicentenary Glasshouse overlooking a newly built lake. The Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden at Wisley also features “model gardens“ enabling the visitors to learn how to create their own dream garden.
The Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden at Wisley is open daily except Christmas. It can be visited from Monday to Friday from 10am and 6pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 9am from March to October. From November to February, it can be visited until 4:30pm. The Glasshouse is open daily from 10am to 5:15pm.
Hidcote Manor Garden
Hidcote Manor Garden is a spectacular garden owned by the National Trust. The garden was created by the American-British self-taught gardener and soldier Lawrence Johnson after his mother, Gertrude Winthrop bought the Hidcote Manor in 1907. He moved into the 17th century manor and began transforming the surrounding fields into a garden shortly thereafter.
Lawrence Johnson dedicated more than four decades to what has become one of the most famous, visited and influential 20th century gardens in England. He divided the garden into a series of the so-called rooms each of which has its own character. Yew, hornbeam, holly and beech that are grown as hedges separate the rooms and make each room a unique experience.
Hidcote Manor Garden is located in the village of Hidcote Bartrim near Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire, England. It open from late March to early November from Saturday to Wednesday from 10am to 6pm and until 5pm from October to November. From July to August, it is open from Friday to Wednesday.