Gardens
Find inspiration from gardens of all sizes both in the UK and internationally
Beautiful outdoor Christmas decoration ideas for a winter wonderland in 2024
Bring the festive spirit to your garden with our selection of the best outdoor Christmas decorations.
The most inspiring winter garden walks
It may be cold outside but you can still visit beautiful gardens over the winter months. Here's our top picks of UK open gardens to visit for a refreshing winter walk
Winter gardening jobs
Just because winter is here, it doesn't mean there's nothing to do in the garden. Rosie Fyles, head gardener at Chiswick House, and head gardener Benjamin Pope explain what winter gardening needs to be done
How to care for your teak garden furniture
If you already have teak garden furniture, or you are considering buying teak for your outdoor space, here’s how to look after this attractive hardwood
Winter flowers: experts' choice of winter flowering plants
Our panel of experts pick the best winter flowering plants to grow over the colder months to ensure bright blooms add colour and interest in your garden
What's new?
Brilliant eco-friendly advent calendars for the Christmas countdown
Enjoy the build up to Christmas with less waste this December with one of these luxury, eco-friendly advent calendars.
‘I didn’t harvest a single carrot. That was a sharp lesson’: Charles Dowding on his no-dig journey and how to compost well
No-dig expert, market gardener and author Charles Dowding talks about his new book, the books he reads, and what he’s up to next
How to do bokashi composting and the worm compost method
Most gardeners know about traditional ways of composting, but head gardener Joshua Sparkes explains the options for smaller spaces. Illustration Vicki Turner
A zero waste garden: this space was completely transformed, without sending anything to landfill
Designer Miria Harris gave herself the challenge of a no-skip, zero-waste project, giving away, recycling or reusing everything in this back garden before transforming it into a space her client could love.
Words: Zia Allaway, Photographs: Rachel Warne
From boarded up library to gorgeous community garden: this space in London was transformed by a Chelsea gold-winning designer
A new community garden designed by Sarah Price around
an old library turned arts centre in southeast London is a treasured space for local residents
and garden lovers alike.
Rural
Autumn jobs in the garden: Sissinghurst head gardener explains what you should be doing over this season
As the garden slips into a new season, head gardener Troy Scott Smith and his team are busy with tasks from hedge cutting and lawn work to bulb planting and sowing seeds. Words Troy Scott Smith, photographs John Campbell
Appreciating Sissinghurst Castle Garden in autumn: Harold Nicolson's structure emerges while fallen apples encourage wildlife
Sissinghurst's head gardener Troy Scott Smith on the beauty of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson's garden in autumn
Traditional meets contemporary in this modern country garden design for a couple of newbie gardeners
Inspired by the historic house and setting at Park House in Cambridgeshire, landscape architect Robert Myers has woven together traditional and contemporary design elements to create a haven for people, plants and wildlife. Words Zia Allaway, photography Richard Bloom
Meet the gardeners
Monty Don: 'We underestimate in this country how privileged we are in terms of climate, soil and general horticulture conditions'
Gardener, television presenter and author Monty Don talks about his new book, how he fell into writing and TV presenting and why UK gardeners are 'billionaires'
Alan Titchmarsh releases new festive album in musical collaboration for RHS Christmas light trails
Alan Titchmarsh has teamed up with composer Debbie Wiseman on a new album which retells the story of Jack Frost and will be played at Christmas light trails across the country
No-dig expert Charles Dowding recommends the best winter vegetables to grow
Organic vegetable grower, Charles Dowding chooses his favourite vegetables to grow in the garden or allotment in winter and offers his advice for getting the most from your crop. Photography Andrew Montgomery
Gardens to visit
Visiting a beautiful garden can be a wholly enriching experience. The benefits of visiting a garden – from mental health right through to exercise – are huge, and garden days out are perfect ways to have fun on your own, or as an entire family.
Regardless of how, and whoever you visit with, we have a host of suggestions of which gardens to visit, from gardens for the season, through to the gardens that are in full bloom and at their best each month. We have collated lists of the best gardens to visit with the help of our experts and many years of visiting gardens all around the UK, and beyond. We have gardens organised by theme, days out and local area, so you should find something for wherever you are and whatever garden experience you are looking for.
Enjoy our comprehensive guide to the best gardens to visit in the UK.
A zesty tangerine-coloured roof top garden in London designed by Nigel Dunnett
On the edge of one of London’s busiest roundabouts, Nigel Dunnett has created exciting combinations of drought-tolerant plants for a roof garden that is as unexpected as it is joyful. Words: Natasha Goodfellow, Photographs: Alister Thorpe
Gardens to visit in November for glorious autumn colour
Head gardener Tom Brown recommends the gardens to visit the month of November to see seasonal plants at their best
Tips for visiting Christmas light shows
Christmas light show enthusiast Alice Tuffery gives us her advice on visiting festive light displays.
Gardens of the world
Worldwide gardens you need to see
From pit to paradise: four former mining sites that are now beautiful gardens
Robert Lowe looks at four beautiful gardens that have been created from former ugly mining sites.
Piet Oudolf with a twist: this beautiful naturalistic garden emulates the planting master but has a style all its own
The naturalistic gem Hans Gieszen has created in former meadowlands near Utrecht in the Netherlands is the culmination of a lifelong passion.
Words: Claire Masset, Photos: Sietske De Vries
How to make a small suburban garden, and the surrounding street, a truly magical space, with Super Bloom’s Jac Semmler
In the middle of suburbia, Super Bloom’s founder Jac Semmler has created a floral wonderland that spills out on to the street.
Words: Georgina Reid, Photographs: Caitlin Atkinson
Urban gardens
Amazing gardens from towns and cities
This professional designer transformed his own typically long, narrow town garden into an urban oasis
Landscape architect Matt Evans has turned his typically long, narrow, town garden in Bath into a plantsman’s paradise. Words Veronica Peerless photographs Jason Ingram
This tiny, tranquil city sanctuary garden designed by Harry Holding makes the most of its shady situation
For this small London garden, designer Harry Holding has taken inspiration from the lush textures of tropical forests to create an urban woodland oasis.
Words: Natasha Goodfellow, photographs: Alister Thorpe
A small sloping backyard was given a designer update and is now a beautiful, flower-filled family garden on different levels by Farlam & Chandler
Design duo Farlam & Chandler has transformed a heavily shaded plot into a beautiful, flower-filled family garden