HeritageXplore Summer Garden Tour: 6 Glorious Historic Gardens to Visit in 2025
When the UK’s gardens burst into life, there’s no better time to combine floral wonder with historic discovery. The Heritage Xplore collection includes some of the most stunning house gardens in Britain—from coastal Cornish retreats to Capability Brown masterpieces. Each is ready to welcome you for a summer filled with colour, scents and serenity.
Here are six gardens that promise unforgettable days out—complete with visitor tips, travel notes and places to eat nearby.
Lamport Hall’s Walled Garden, Northamptonshire
Where history meets a thousand blooms
Lamport’s expansive walled garden is a summer gem, featuring one of the largest cut-flower areas in England. In high season, the space hums with bees, scent, and colour—ideal for a tranquil wander. Tucked away among the borders, don’t miss the quirky and much-loved gnome collection, adding a dash of humour and character to the historic grounds. The garden pairs beautifully with a tour of the 17th-century house and its extraordinary rare book collection.
🎟 Tickets: Visit via Heritage Xplore
Getting there: Easily reached by car via M1 (Jct 16)
Nearby bite: The Globe Inn, Lamport – traditional English pub fare
Trewithen House & Gardens, Cornwall
A Cornish retreat in bloom
Set among ancient woodland, Trewithen offers a calm and contemplative space with meadows, champion trees and a soft naturalistic style. It’s a peaceful summer escape with sweeping paths, rare plant species and a 200-year gardening legacy.
🎟 Tickets: Plan your visit here
Getting there: Best accessed by car from Truro or St Austell
Nearby bite: Trewithen Restaurant, Truro – modern British cuisine
Mount Stuart House & Gardens, Isle of Bute
A subtropical surprise on Scottish soil
Mount Stuart’s gardens overflow with rare species, from palms and tree ferns to sprawling borders brimming with colour. Thanks to the warming effects of the Gulf Stream, the planting is lush, exotic, and truly unlike anywhere else in Scotland. After wandering the woodland walks and coastal paths, step inside to explore the house’s dramatic Victorian Gothic interiors—full of stained glass, marble, and rich history.
🎟 Tickets: Book via Heritage Xplore
Getting there: Ferry from Wemyss Bay to Bute, with local transport to the estate
Nearby bite: The Boathouse Bistro, Rothesay – casual seafood with sea views
Newby Hall & Gardens, North Yorkshire
The north’s floral showstopper
Newby Hall is home to Europe’s longest double herbaceous border—a breathtaking summer spectacle of colour and scale. Beyond the borders, you’ll find elegant topiary walks, tranquil water features, and family favourites like the miniature railway and adventure playgrounds, making it one of the most complete garden experiences in the country.
🎟 Tickets: Book through Heritage Xplore
Getting there: Just outside Ripon, with convenient onsite parking
Nearby bite: The Galphay Inn – hearty countryside meals in a peaceful spot
Blenheim Palace Gardens, Oxfordshire
A grand stage for summer colour
A visit to Blenheim Palace is as much about the gardens as it is the grandeur. Designed by Capability Brown, the estate’s vast parkland is dotted with classical temples, water features, and floral displays that come into their own in summer. From rose-scented terraces to lakeside strolls, every path offers a view worth pausing for.
🎟 Tickets: Plan your visit here
Getting there: Train to Oxford Parkway, then walk or cycle to the estate
Nearby bite: The Feathers, Woodstock – upmarket pub with seasonal menus and garden seating
Mapperton House & Gardens, Dorset
Where Italian design meets English charm
Tucked in a secluded Dorset valley, Mapperton feels like a secret waiting to be discovered. Its gardens spill down in graceful terraces, dotted with stone fountains, statues, and a romantic orangery that captures the spirit of 1920s Italianate elegance. With its blend of architecture and planting, it’s one of the most peaceful and atmospheric spots on the Heritage Xplore map.
🎟 Tickets: Plan your visit here
Getting there: Near Beaminster; car recommended
Nearby bite: The Marshwood Vale Inn – classic English cooking in countryside surrounds
From carefully clipped terraces to wildflower wonderlands, these gardens reveal the soul of their historic houses. Whether you’re a seasoned horticulturist or simply after a peaceful day out, summer is the best time to see them in full bloom.
Explore more and plan your summer escape at HeritageXplore.com.
