The Cotswolds has some of the finest gardens and arboreta in Great Britain. Many are designed on a grand scale, but there are also many smaller gardens full of the old-fashioned romance of an English country cottage. Whatever your interest you are sure to find something to delight your interest in The Cotswolds!
Apart from the classic cottage garden, it is the manor house garden that most typifies the Cotswolds. Hidcote Manor Garden, near Chipping Campden, and Snowshill Manor, near Broadway, both owned and run by the National Trust, are two of the best known. Nearby is the Kiftsgate Court Garden, famous world-wide for the Kiftsgate Climbing Rose. Along with these are the Abbey House Gardens near Malmesbury, another glorious location that is quickly gaining a popular reputation.
Some gardens are open to visitors all year and it is also worth looking out for the colourful displays of flowers in towns and villages.
Please be sure to check times before you travel so as to avoid disappointment.
THE GARDENS
Barnsley House
Family garden created since 1952 by the well known writer and gardener Rosemary Verey and is now run by her son Charles. A wonderful mixture of planting and features.
Located in the village of Barnsley, near Bibury.
Our Cottages: Lilac and Lavender Cottages, Lupin Cottage; The Bakehouse
Batsford Arboretum - Open all year.
55 acres of parkland overlooking the Evenlode Valley containing over 1500 species of trees. In spring there are spectacular displays of flowering bulbs, wild flowers, and magnolias.
Batsford is located on the outskirts of the village of Batsford near Moreton-in-Marsh.
Local cottage: The Cottage, Moreton in Marsh
Bourton House - Opening Times (see below)
Tel. 01386 700121
Surrounding a delightful 18th century Cotswold Manor House (not open) and 16th century tithe barn, this exciting and popular 3 acre garden brims with ideas for all levels of gardener.
Located in the village of Bourton-on-the-Hill near Moreton-in-Marsh.
Opening time (approximately) mid May to end of August: every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. September and October: Thursdays and Fridays only.
Local cottages: The Cottage, Moreton in Marsh
Cerney House - Open April to September.
This secret Cotswold garden, with typical Victorian features, is set in wonderful parkland surroundings. Cerney has a working kitchen garden within a walled area, along with large herbaceous borders and a veritable plant collection.
Located in the village of North Cerney, not far from Cirencester.
Hidcote Manor - Open April to October.
Tel. 01386 438333
Hidcote garden is internationally renowned. It boasts a series of smaller gardens each with their own theme. It has been described as one of the most inventive and influential gardens of the 20th century.
Located near the village of Hidcote Bartrim - not far from Chipping Campden.
Local cottages: The Cottage, Gable Cottage, Elmhurst in Lower Quinton
Kiftsgate Court - Open April to September.
Tel: 01386 438777
Perched on the edge of the Cotswolds with wonderful views to the west, the gardens of Kiftsgate reflect gardening through the 20th century. The original gardens around the house are planted in colour themes separated by yew hedges.
Located opposite to Hidcote Manor Gardens.
Local cottages: The Cottage, plus Gable Cottage and Elmhurst Cottage in Lower Quinton
Lydney Park - Open late March to early June
Tel: 01594 842027
Lydney is the home of Viscount Bledisloe and is set in beautiful countryside. The spring gardens are in an enchanting secluded wooded valley with lakes and Rhododendrons, Roman temple site museum and New Zealand Museum.
Located at Lydney in Gloucestershire on the edge of the Forrest of Dean and the River Seven estuary.
Mill Dene - Open 1 April to 31 October
Tel 01386 700457
Set in 2.5 acres of Cotswold countryside this water-mill garden has been designed and planted in a true English country style. Steep terraces rise from the mill-pool, stream, and grotto. Paths wander through the rose walk and there is a potager and fantasy fruit garden.
Located in the village of Blockley, near Chipping Campden.
Owlpen Manor: "The epitome of the English village" - HRH The Prince of Wales
OWLPEN has long been recognised as one of England's most romantic early manor houses. In 2006 it was voted one of six finalists in the Country Life award for "England's Favourite Manor House". The Tudor manor (1450-1616) stands with its early formal garden of magnificent yews at the centre of a clutch of medieval landmark buildings. Many are now adapted as quite exceptional award-winning Cotswold holiday cottages.
The Owlpen estate, steeped in 900 years of history, forms its own remote and picturesque wooded valley under the edge of the Cotswold hills. The Mander family welcome you to Owlpen to experience this beautiful and dreamy corner of south-west England, survivor from a bygone age, first hand and at leisure. The Owlpen lifestyle today is based on the family motto: Vive bene, "live well".
Located just south of the Royal town of Tetbury
Painswick Rococo - Open January to November
Situated in a hidden 6 acre Cotswold valley, the Rococo garden is the only complete survivor from the brief, early 18th century period of English Rococo Garden design. It combines formality and informality in a magical experience at any time of the year and is a well worth a visit.
Located on the outskirts of the market town of Painswick.
Rodmarton Manor - Open 9 May to 29 August
The Rodmarton Gardens consist of a number of different rooms each with its own character. The Manor House, which was completed in 1920, is the last manor-house to be built in England.
Located near Cirencester.
Local Cottages: Batemans
Rousham House - Open All Year
Rousham and its landscape garden should be a place of pilgrimage for students of the work of William Kent (1685-1748). Rousham represents the first phase of English landscape design and remains almost as Kent left it, one of the few gardens of this date to have escaped alteration. There are many original features, which delighted Eighteenth Century visitors to Rousham, still in situ, such as the ponds and cascades in Venus' Vale, the Cold Bath, and seven arched Praeneste. Finally is the infamous sham ruin known as the 'Eyecatcher'.
Located approximately 8 miles feast of Woodstock and Blenheim Palace
Local Cottage: Jacob's Yard, The Bartons
Snowshill Manor - Open April to November
Tel 01386 852410
Snowshill Manor is full to the brim of Charles Wade's collection from all over the world. The charming cottage style garden is set in 2.5 acres and is organically run. The garden has stunning views.
Located at the village of Snowshill, 5 minutes by car from Broadway.
Spetchley Park Gardens - Open April to September
Tel. 01905 345213
Spetchley consists of 30 acres of lake, landscaping, and walled gardens loved by laymen and plantsmen alike. Spetchley House and gardens are owned by the Berkeley family - the owners of Berkeley Castle. The House is not open to the public. In Spring the banks of the lake are a wonderful with the daffodils in full bloom.
Located just 3 miles east of Worcester on the A422 towards Evesham.
Stanway House - Open August and September
Tel 01386 584469
Fodor's Great Britain Guide describes Stanway House 'as perfect and pretty a Cotswold manor house as anyone is likely to see'. The house and gardens are a jewel surrounded by beautiful landscaped parkland and villages. There are two wonderful water features.
Located near the village of Stanton.
Sudeley Castle - Open first weekend in March to last in October.
Sudeley Castle is set against the backdrop of the Cotswold Hills and is steeped in history. Surrounding the castle are ten enchanting gardens and a wild flower walk to the tithe barn and heritage seed library with it's rare vegetables.
Located at Winchcombe.
Westbury Court - Open March to October
A fully restored Dutch style formal water garden dating originally from 1700. The garden includes topiary, yew hedges, a 400 year old evergreen oak and a relaxing tranquil atmosphere.
Located at Westbury-on-Severn approx. 5 miles from Gloucester.
Westonbirt Arboretum - Open all year.
Westonbirt contains one of the finest collections of trees and shrubs in Europe. There are 18000 of them spread throughout the property's 600 acres of glorious Cotswold countryside. The gardens also have displays of rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias, and the wild flowers of silk wood.
Located at the village of Westonbirt, near Tetbury.
Local Cottages: Owlpen Manor; The Dower House, Uley
Sezincote - Opening Times, see below.
The gardens at Sezincote which surround the fine house were created in 1810 to encompass an Indian character. The Indian influence can be seen in the garden and the drive goes over an Indian Bridge with statues of bulls. Water features include a temple pool, Canal, stream bordered with bog loving plants. Fine trees include copper beeches, cedars, limes and yews with many unusual shrubs. In Autumn the tints are simply marvellous!
Located on A44, 1.5 miles from Moreton-in-Marsh towards Broadway.
Open - Thurs, Fri and Bank Holidays 2 - 6 (not December) House open May, Jun, Jul, Sept, Thur and Fri, 2 30 - 6 00 (no children in house). Tel. 01386 700444
Local Cottages: Stow on the Wold and Moreton in Marsh