There are many benefits of getting out in nature, from reducing stress to improving your mood. If you don’t have your own garden or local park, not to worry, as the South West is home to some of the best botanical gardens in the UK.
So, whether you’re a garden fanatic or are simply looking for a scenic day out, why not visit one of the gardens on our list? Featuring some of the best gardens in the UK, it’s worth discovering for yourself. /p>
Kew Gardens is one of the best gardens in London. A bucket-list item for lovers of gardens and flowers, you’ll need at least a day if you want to explore it properly as it sits at more than 300 acres in size!
Must-visit attractions include the Treetop Walkway, the Palm House, the Waterlily House, Kew Palace itself and its Royal Kitchens, the Redwood Grove, and of course, the beautiful gardens surrounding it all. Keep an eye out for the Kew Constabulary who look after the gardens and serve as its own dedicated police force.
How to get there: Kew Bridge station is just 800 metres from the Elizabeth Gate entrance of Kew Gardens.
The beautiful Chelsea Physic Garden is one of the oldest and best botanical gardens in London. Once a world leader in natural medicine, the garden was opened by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries to grow plants used in healthcare. 5,000 different edible medicinal plants now grow within its walls, including the world’s most northerly outdoor grapefruit tree!
Its rock garden is also the oldest English garden devoted to alpine plants. Featuring one of the most eclectic mixtures of rocks for plant growth anywhere, you’ll find basalt used as ballast in historic sailing ships, clam shells from Tahiti brought back by Captain Cook, and pieces of Tower of London masonry – a superbly British collection.
How to get there: Both Clapham Junction and Vauxhall are similar distances from Chelsea Physic Garden. From Clapham Junction, catch the 170 bus towards Victoria and get off at Chelsea Physic Garden. Meanwhile, you’ll need the number 360 towards Knightsbridge from Vauxhall. Get off at Lister Hospital and walk for 11 minutes.
Holland Park, Kyoto Garden
Kyoto Park's peaceful waterfall
Holland Park, Holland Park Ave, London W11 4UA
The perfect place for a peaceful stroll, the Kyoto and Fukushima Gardens make you feel like you’re wandering in a Japanese fairytale. Picturesque waterfall, peaceful rock pool, peacocks and koi carp – it’s all here. While it might only take an hour or so to explore, it’s worth every moment to admire the beautiful flowers and wildlife in this tranquil corner of London.
How to get there: From London Waterloo, catch the northbound Northern tube line to Tottenham Court Road, then switch to the Westbound Central line. Get off at Holland Park, and the gardens are a 10-minute walk away.
Wisley, near West Byfleet, was given to the Royal Horticultural Society in 1903 and has since grown to be a hub of horticultural excellence. Home now to some of the largest plant collections in the world, RHS Wisley specialises in showcasing inspirational gardening, and its planting schemes are constantly evolving to ensure there’s always something new.
Key highlights within the 240 acres of garden include the Glasshouse, Rock Garden, Rose Garden, Mixed Borders and the new Exotic Garden. Colour is found throughout the year thanks to spring crocus carpets, spectacular summer rose collections, and autumn colour provided by the remarkable collection of trees and shrubbery.
How to get there: The nearest station to RHS Garden is Woking. From there, catch the RHS shuttle and get off at the gardens.
Ventnor Botanic Garden
Ventnor Botanic Garden has a secret underground passage to the beach to be found
As Britain’s most tropical botanic garden, Ventnor is the perfect escape from the UK climate. Nestled in the cliffs and downs of the Isle of Wight is a microclimate that brings 25% more sun to Ventnor than you can expect on the mainland (as well as making it five degrees warmer). So it’s ideal for the sub-tropical plants that adore the weather here – which is why the National Collection of Puya is here, grown outdoors rather than in greenhouses as would be required anywhere else in the UK.
But you’ll also find plants here from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Japan – plants that would be too tender to grow anywhere else in Britain. This includes Giant Amazon Waterlilies, and the Botanic Garden boasts some of the biggest in the world – with floating leaves more than eight feet across!
How to get there: You’ll need to catch a train to the Isle of Wight to explore the Ventnor Gardens. Once you’ve arrived on the island, catch the number 3 bus to Boots, then the garden is a 20-minute walk away.
The best flower gardens in the South West
Richmond Park, Isabella Plantation
Waterside rhododendrons at The Isabella Plantation
First opened to the public in 1953, The Isabella Plantation is 40 acres of woodland garden set within a Victorian woodland plantation that was first planted in the 1830s. Notable for its collection of Rhododendrons and Camellias, and its stunning cherry blossom trees, the garden is at its peak in May. But there’s colour all year round thanks to the many other exotic and rare plants, trees and shrubs.
Of course, all this is set in the stunning Richmond Park – making it ideal for walks amongst the herds of deer and beautiful nature. Make a day of it with a picnic, or add some activity to the day with off-road cycling, horse riding, or even power kiting!
Amazingly, this park costs nothing to enter – perfect for if you’re looking for free things to do in London.
How to get there: Richmond station is the nearest station to Richmond Park, at a 10/15-minute walk away. Enter the park through Ladderstile Gate, then follow the signposts to Isabella Plantation.
The best wildlife gardens in the South West
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
The Centenary Border at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
One of the region’s hidden gems, the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens near Romsey are a sanctuary of natural beauty – a perfect escape from all the stresses of the outside world. Experience the finest parts of nature as you explore 180 acres of gardens, wildlife preserves and playgrounds for the little ones. Colour can be found in every season with specialist seasonal gardens that each come into bloom as the seasons pass by.
On top of this, there are also 80 different species of bird and 25 species of butterfly to discover. There’s also the incredible Centenary Border – the longest double mixed border in the world when planted in 1964 by Sir Harold Hillier. While you’re walking around, keep an eye out for snuffling Woodland Pigs, who help keep the garden’s scrubland clear.
How to get there: From Romsey, Sir Harold Hillier Gardens is around 29 minutes away. Catch the 66 bus towards Winchester, then get off at Woodley Close and walk for 16 minutes.
Sprawling across over 750 acres with the impressive palace as its backdrop, the gardens at Hampton Court Palace are truly something special. Within the world-famous gardens you’ll find the Kitchen Garden, Privy Garden and Pond Gardens, all with their own unique styling and plant life.
But all this is less than half of the features that you’ll find at Kingston Maurward, which also houses the world’s oldest puzzle maze, the largest grape vine in the world and wildlife such as deer which descend from Henry VIII’s original herd.
How to get there: Hampton Court is just a five-minute walk from the entrance of Hampton Court Gardens.
Exbury Gardens
Rhododendrons and azaleas line the pathways at Exbury Gardens
One of the world’s finest collections of rhododendrons and azaleas is housed at Exbury Gardens, so spring is a guaranteed riot of colour. But there’s lots to see between March and October while the gardens are open – from summer in the Iris Garden and the exotic flowers to the acers showing their vibrant red and orange foliage in the autumn. The team at Exbury even keep a rolling guide of what to expect on your visit!
Exbury’s other big draw is its remarkable narrow-gauge steam railway – running over one-and-a-half miles of track, it takes you around – and through – some of the beautiful gardens, giving you a new perspective on the stunning Exbury grounds.
How to get there: Exbury Gardens are just a 30-minute bus ride from Brockenhurst station.
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