Blooms With a View: City to Country to Coast
March 25th, 2024In need of staycation inspiration for the holidays? Find beauty, peace and some of the most enchanting family-friendly gardens in the UK on a road trip to the South West – stopping in on our Partner Gardens.
With the holidays almost upon us, now’s the time to plan adventures to explore subtropical landscapes and soak in spectacular views as the country’s green spaces burst into bloom. Newt Members can do all of this and more with free entry to glorious national (and international) Partner Gardens – many of which reside in the South East and South West.
From city to country
Escape London for the holidays with a day trip to one of four awe-inspiring gardens within easy striking distance.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kew Gardens is home to the finest collection of plants and fungi on earth. Travel the globe in the temperate surroundings of the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse and discover weird and wonderful specimens in every corner of their 320 acres. Visit in spring to see magnolias, azaleas and cherry trees in bloom and awaken your senses at Sounds of Blossom, a collaboration with the Royal College of Music until 14 April.
Kew’s wild botanic garden in West Sussex, Wakehurst spans 500 acres of diverse landscapes, from woodlands to meadows, with plants from across the world. An area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, there are family-friendly activities from tree adventures to dedicated children’s gardens and natural play spaces to explore.
Coming soon! The latest addition to our green network of friends for 2024, Borde Hill in West Sussex is home to an English country garden set within 383 acres of heritage-listed landscape in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Planted as a series of outdoor ‘rooms’, highlights include the Azalea Ring, tranquil Italian Garden and hypnotic Rose Garden. From woodland walks to workshops, story trails and a children’s playground with zip-wire, there’s something for all the family – including four-legged friends – to enjoy.
A place of pilgrimage for horticulture lovers worldwide, Great Dixter in East Sussex is widely regarded as one of the UK’s most dynamic, experimental and pioneering gardens, with biodiversity and sustainability at its heart. Plantspeople will be in their element over the weekend 6 – 7 April, when over 30 nurseries set up stalls for their Spring Plant Fair.
From country to coast
Those travelling east to west can break the journey halfway, with a stop at The Newt. Charge the car, book lunch, stock up on treats, and immerse yourself in the tranquillity of our own ever-changing ornamental and productive gardens. It’s a wonderful way to start (or cap off) a holiday.
Eden’s spectacular covered biomes allow you to trek through the rainforest and discover thousands of Mediterranean plants. The former clay pit is transformed into a beautiful global garden with acres of outdoor space, perfect for children to explore. Visit over the Easter holidays to catch Springfest, with family activities galore and prizes to be won.
Cornwall’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’, reawakened in 1990 after a near 80-year slumber, is a wonderland for wildlife, plant lovers and explorers alike. Heligan’s Play Meadow with ‘jumping pillow’ reopens in time for Easter, and budding adventurers will love the raised boardwalks and Burmese Rope Bridges in their outdoor jungle.
With a unique microclimate perfectly mimicking the foothills of the Himalayas, you can venture through Europe’s largest tea gardens and a jungle garden hidden for 25 years. Newt Members can enjoy a complimentary private tour of the River Garden, to immerse yourself in the history and beauty of the surroundings.
A magical valley garden teeming with tree ferns, canopies bursting with exotic blooms and vibrant tunnels of colour cascading down to its own private beach on the Helford River. In spring, Trebah comes alive with a colourful array of 100-year-old rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias, with seasonal trails and their famous ‘paraglide’ for little ones to explore.
See large-scale and exotic subtropical planting interwoven with site-specific works by internationally renowned artists, on a beautiful hillside overlooking St Michael’s Mount. Tremenheere is a magical, peaceful garden perfect for sparking imaginations of all ages, with a children’s adventure map and wildlife, from buzzards to bunnies, in abundance.
Travelling elsewhere this spring? You’ll find radiant gardens to discover around the UK and further afield with 17 Newt Partner Gardens, including two new additions for 2024.
