Best destinations for glorious gardens and flower fields
Whether you're a garden hobbyist or a budding horticulturist, some of the best destinations around the world combine stunning natural landscapes with beautifully manicured gardens - for a fabulously floral holiday. From springtime blooms to summer gardens bursting with colour, you don't need to travel far to appreciate nature. We have a range of nature and garden trips, some of which are led by our experts to provide exclusive insights and expertise. If you're looking to visit some of the world's best gardens or flower fields, read on.
Cornwall is well known for its Great Gardens, a selection of 14 gardens which include historic houses, modern sculpture gardens and horticultural landmarks. Cornwall's unique climate allows for the cultivation of exotic and sub-Mediterranean plants that may not be found anywhere else in the UK. Among the most popular gardens is the Eden Project, with its iconic biomes, and The Lost Gardens of Heligan, a 200-acre site with outdoor jungle and ancient woodland. For rare camellias, visit Trewithen Garden, or for vast collections of magnolia and rhododendrons, the spring gardens at Caerhays Castle are a must.
The quintessential English country garden has attracted discerning visitors for years and we are blessed to have so many beautiful gardens on our shores. Kent is known as the 'Garden of England' and with good reason, it's home to the famous garden at Sissinghurst Castle. The gardens are split into several sections including The White Garden, The Purple Garden and The Rose Garden. Meanwhile in neighbouring Sussex, you'll find Perch Hill, home to famous garden designer Sarah Raven. Open to the public on selected dates, you'll find wildflower meadows, ornamental gardens and two large cutting gardens.
Alternatively, the Cotswolds are a great destination for a staycation and are full of natural beauty. Home to idyllic rolling countryside, stately homes with sprawling grounds and many gorgeous gardens. Painswick Rococo Garden is England's only surviving rococo garden, having been designed in the mid 1700s and has magical follies and hidden valleys to explore. Another popular garden is Sudeley Castle & Gardens, which has been the backdrop to many TV shows and films. The castle has 10 gardens spanning 15 acres of land, including the majestic centrepiece, The Queens' Garden, and the romantic Secret Garden.
Escape to the Scilly Isles, off the coast of Cornwall and visit the famous Tresco Abbey Garden. This subtropical gem is home to over 20,000 plants from more than 80 countries around the world and is often referred to as "Kew without the glass". The gardens change throughout the year, with spring seeing the best of the blooms, before the reds, oranges and golds of autumn - even in winter, some 300 species of plant remain in bloom. The Isles of Scilly are a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and it's easy to see why. You'll find plenty of flower fields, especially on St Martin, known for its scented narcissi.
Visit: Isles of Scilly Wildlife & Gardens with Julian Branscombe
You know when spring has sprung in the Netherlands - from March to May, tulips are out and cover vast expanses of land into a brightly coloured mosaic. The most famous flower fields are a short drive from Amsterdam in the region of Bollenstreek, and it's here you'll also find the Keukenhof Gardens - showcasing over 7 million bulbs. Flowers change throughout the months, starting with crocuses and hyacinths, to daffodils and tulips and ending with irises and alliums. A cruise of Holland's waterways is another great way to take in the floral displays, or cycle through the colourful landscapes.
"The Floating Garden of the Atlantic" is blessed with beautiful botanical gardens, and the island of Madeira is famed for its annual Flower Festival. With innumerable horticulture highlights in every corner of the island, the colours and scents are a treat for the senses. From the exceptional rose garden at Arco de São Jorge in the north, boasting 1,700 species of rose, to Madeira Botanical Garden in the south, known for its vibrant colours, and the Palheiro Gardens which overlook the capital, Funchal - with palms, camellias and sunken gardens. The Monte Palace Tropical Garden is regarded as one of the best in the world and boasts grottos and pagodas amongst all the beautiful flowers and plants.
Visit: Experience Madeira's Enchanting Flower Festival with Adam Frost
Northern Italy is blessed with gardens that surround its iconic lakes - many of which are open to the public, but others can only be seen from the water, adding to their charm. Villa Taranto is one of the region's dreamiest gardens - blending English style with Italian decorative features. Villa Taranto has a diverse selection of plants including water lilies and a dahlia maze and a lotus pond; Villa Carlotta in Como has a magnificent botanical garden, with citrus tunnels and camellia.
Visit: Explore the beautiful lakes and gardens of Northern Italy
Central Italy is also home to many beautiful and famous gardens - such as Villa Borghese, one of the largest and most elegant urban green spaces of Rome. The Garden of Ninfa is an English-style country garden, often described as the 'most romantic garden in the world', and is home to 1,300 botanical species found over eight acres. Another popular garden is Villa d'Este in Tivoli - the 16th century villa is considered a renaissance masterpiece, with its beautiful terraced gardens and features.
Visit: Visit central Italy's glorious gardens with Paula McWaters
The small village of Giverny in the Normandy region is probably best known as being the home and workplace of Impressionist painter Claude Monet - and his house and gardens can be visited. Popular with lovers of art and gardens alike, the gardens were one of Monet's biggest sources of inspiration and remain meticulously designed and maintained. Expect to see weeping willows framing the famous waterlily ponds and peonies, irises, and roses amongst the Japanese footbridge.
Visit: Discover Monet and France with Paula McWaters
Other places of note include the Dordogne (the Marqueyssac Gardens are renowned for their topiary and boast panoramic views of the Dordogne Valley), Provence (known for its stunning lavender fields) and the Loire Valley (with its diverse gardens and picturesque vineyards). The Gardens of Versailles are also worth visiting, with their perfect symmetry and intricate parterres.
Visit: Take a look at our France trips
Wildflower displays adorn South Africa's North and Western cape during the spring and the 'Wildflower Route' is a 500-mile stretch that runs from Cape Town - a botanist's dream. Showcasing a wide range of floral species, visitors can also explore National Parks and Nature Reserves in a kaleidoscope of colour. At the foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town, you'll find Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. This grand-scale garden consists of three herb gardens, a variety of plant life, as well as a focus on indigenous species, and some of the rarest and most beautiful flowers in the world.
Designed to be admired and enjoyed all year round, Japan's gardens are famous for intracity and traditionalism. Spring sees the iconic cherry blossom, with hues of pinks and whites, while the summer brings more lush greenery and vegetation, and autumn is when the striking foliage from Japanese maples give off vibrant reds and oranges. Japan's three most famous gardens are also known as 'The Three Great Gardens', consisting of Kenroku-en (Kanazawa), Kōraku-en (Okayama) and Kairaku-en (Mito). The city of Kyoto is well known for its gardens and the Botanical Garden even displays nocturnal flowers in a night flower garden.Visit: See Japan during cherry blossom season or Immerse yourself in the best of Japan
Visit: See Japan during cherry blossom season or Immerse yourself in the best of Japan
