In the mood to walk about in nature without worrying about your own autumn gardening? That’s what open gardens are for. Here’s a collection of the 10 best open gardens in the UK for autumn walks.
There’s suddenly a nip in the air and pumpkin spice is everywhere you look, which can only mean one thing… It’s autumn!
If you’re in the mood to wrap up and spend some time in the crisp autumn air, but it’s getting a little too cold to be gardening, we’ve collected 10 of the best open gardens in the UK.
That way, whether you’re skipping the autumn gardening or want to see how the pros do it, there are still a selection of idyllic autumn walks waiting for you.
Open gardens in North-West England
1. Lyme Park
| Price: | Adult (£8) Child over 5 (£4) Family: 2 adults, up to 3 children (£20) Family with 1 adult (£12) |
| Location: | Disley, Stockport, Cheshire. |
| Opening times: | Garden is open from: 10:30am to 3:30pm during Autumn/Winter. 10:30am to 4:30pm during Spring/Summer. |
A 1,400-acre estate that boasts gorgeous views and a medieval herd of red deer, a Rose Garden, Ravine Garden, and even a reflecting lake. This particular spot is famous for being the location that Mr Darcy and Miss Bennet met in the BBC’s “Pride and Prejudice.”
Find out more about Lyme Park.
2. Speke Hall
| Price: | Adult (£9.80) Child (£4.90) Family: 2 adults (£24.50) Family with 1 adult (£14.70) Group adult: Minimum group size of 15 (£7.75) Group children: Minimum group size of 15 (£3.85) |
| Location: | The Walk, Speke, Liverpool. |
| Opening times: | 10:30am to 4pm |
Speke Hall is well-known for its turbulent past, stretching across 400 years until it fell into disrepair. Now, in the 21st Century, it’s restored to its former glory and this very much includes its restored gardens, perfect for autumnal walks with fresh air and space.
Find out more about Speke Hall.
Open gardens in South-West England
3. Trelissick Gardens
| Price: | Adult (£13) Child (£6.50) Family (£32.50) 1 adult, up to 3 children, aged 5-17 (£19.50) |
| Location: | Feock, near Truro, Cornwall. |
| Opening times: | 10am to 4:30pm |
A meandering garden that hides all sorts of greenery, from exotic plants to herbaceous borders, all bursting into oranges and reds with the season. Dogs are welcome, so it really is perfect for whole family, and there’s a café, shop, and second-hand bookshop if you feel like coming in from the cold for a spot of tea and shopping.
Find out more about Trelissick Gardens.
4. Buckland Abbey
| Price: | Adult (£8) Child (£4) Family (£20) One adult family (£12) Adult group: minimum group size of 10 (£7.50 each) Child group: Minimum group size of 10 (£3.75 each) |
| Location: | Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6EY. |
| Opening times: | 10am to 4pm (only open at weekends until December). |
Meadows, orchards, and woodlands are all waiting for you at Bucklands Abbey, with way-marked trails that’ll lead you through all kinds of seasonal flowers. In spring you’ll be met with a carpet of bluebells, and in autumn it’s a beautiful battle of reds, oranges, and yellows.
Then, over in the Cider House garden, find a spot for contemplation in its lush, herbaceous borders. Wide-open walks or hideaway strolls—it’s all here.
Find out more about Buckland Abbey gardens.
Open gardens in East England
5. Anglesey Abbey Gardens
| Price: | Adult (£15) Child (£7.50) Family (£37.50) 1 adult, up to 3 children (£22.50) |
| Location: | Quy Road, Lode, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB25 9EJ |
| Opening times: | 9:30am to 4pm. |
What began as an attempt for the future Lord Fairhaven to impress his guests back in the 1930s has become a 114-acre paradise, with something to behold no matter the season. Take a stroll through Anglesey Abbey Gardens and you’ll be met with seasonal colours and smells, taking you back to a simpler time.
Find out more about Anglesey Abbey Gardens.
6. Sheringham Park
| Price: | Adult (£6.50) Note: Price is per car, although parking is free. |
| Location: | Upper Sheringham, Norfolk, NR26 8TL. |
| Opening times: | From dawn to dusk. |
Climb to the top of the towers for unforgettable views of nature, including 1000 acres of woodland, parkland, and cliff top, not to mention the North Norfolk coast, and you may even see a steam train on its way past.
Once famous for its rhododendron champagne parties, Sheringham Park is still well-known for its collection of colourful rhododendrons and azaleas, and if you’re lucky, there are three species of deer to look out for, too!
Find out more about Sheringham Park.
Open gardens in Wales
7. Bodnant Garden
| Price: | Adult (£14) Child (£7) Family (£35) 1 adult, up to 3 children (£21) |
| Location: | Tal-y-Cafn, near Colwyn Bay, Conwy, LL28 5RE. |
| Opening times: | 10am to 4pm. |
Bodnant Garden has something for everyone, from secret spots surrounded by nature and wide, open terraces with amazing views to lush, vibrant woodland. No matter the season, there’s always colour to be found, all set against the Carneddau mountains of Snowdonia.
Need a moment to warm up before you explore further? Relax in their delightful tea-room for a while, also open from 10am to 4pm.
Find out more about Bodnant Garden.
8. Powis Castle and Garden
| Price: | Adult (£14) Child (£7) Family (£35) 1 adult, 3 children (£21) Adult group: minimum of 15 (£13.30 each) Child group: minimum of 15 (£6.65 each) Off-peak prices (November weekdays): Adult (£10) | Child (£5) |
| Location: | Welshpool, Powys, SY21 8RF. |
| Opening times: | 10am to 4pm. |
Powis Castle overlooks a beautiful, world-famous garden of trees and plants that explode with colour during autumn, alongside its original lead statues and even an orangery up on its terraces. If you’re in Wales in autumn, this is the perfect place for a walk.
Find out more about Powis Castle and Garden.
Open gardens in the Midlands
9. Shugborough Estate
| Price: | Adult (£12) Child (£6) Family (£30) 1 adult family (£18) |
| Location: | Milford, near Stafford, Staffordshire, ST17 0UP. |
| Opening times: | 9am to 4pm. |
Shugborough Estate is another beautiful space with something for everyone, including parkland, woodland, formal gardens, walled gardens, and even a Park Farm with chickens, cows, and sheep. The kids will love them!
After a breath-taking walk around everything the estate has to offer, come in from the cold and take a look around the shop or the Mansion Tea-Room, both open from 10am to 3:30pm. It’d be rude not to take a browse, wouldn’t it?
Find out more about Shugborough Estate and gardens.
10. Moseley Old Hall and garden
| Price: | Adult (£9.50) Child (£4.75) Family (£23.75) 1 adult, up to 3 children (£14.25) Note: Free for National Trust members. |
| Location: | Moseley Old Hall Lane, Fordhouses, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV10 7HY. |
| Opening times: | 10am to 4pm, only open at weekends until December, then varies by week. Check calendar from link below! |
If you’re looking for autumn gardening that you won’t soon forget, step into the knot garden of Moseley Old Hall, featuring a precise, maze-like path through its beautiful garden.
That’s not all… Head into the Kings Walk Wood and there’s a special tree-hide that little ones (and big ones, too!) will love. There’s another tea-room waiting for you inside, too…
Find out more about Moseley Old Hall and garden.
Want to discover your own ideal autumn walk?
We’ve shared 10 of our favourite open gardens across the UK this autumn, but if you’re looking for something closer to home or something more specific, the best places to track down open gardens and ideal outdoor spaces are:
Now, wrap up warm and get out there for an autumn to remember!