Top 19 Notable Gardens to Explore in 2025: Untouched Havenings You'll Find Hard to Resist
Get ready to immerse yourself in a kaleidoscope of blooms and breathtaking landscapes as the National Garden Scheme (NGS) unveils a rich variety of new and exciting gardens across the UK in 2025. With nearly 300 gardens opening their doors to the public, there's a garden for every taste and preference.
One of the standout gardens is the Fairdene Gallery Garden in Wales, a private haven created by artist Frieda Hughes over 20 years. This unique garden showcases Hughes' distinctive style, featuring coordinated colour schemes, rock placements, and extraordinary metalwork. Don't miss the special one-day events, including talks by Frieda Hughes and guided garden tours.
In Welshpool, Vaynor Park offers a spectacular garden experience with dramatic landscapes and historic features. For those who appreciate Arts and Crafts design, High Glanau Manor in Monmouth is a must-visit, exemplifying beautiful design and heritage interest.
Gwaenynog, in Denbigh, is famous as the place where Beatrix Potter wrote and illustrated "The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies." Another not-to-be-missed gem is the University of Bristol Botanic Garden, opening on Sunday 6 July 2025, offering a diverse plant collection and educational experience.
The gardens at Kenfield House in Kent, designed by Marian Boswell in 2012, are opening to the public for two days in May 2025. The gardens feature an orchard, spiral lawn, shady 'white garden', and flowering borders of shrubs and wildflowers. A new Alitex greenhouse and two pergolas adorned with climbers have been added to the garden.
For those in London, The Exchange garden, once a mass of brambles and rubble, has been transformed into a community arts space by Chelsea gold medal winner, Sarah Price. The gardens at Caisson House, located in Derry Hill, Calne, SN11 9PQ, are open from 1st April - 2nd November 2025, with opening hours of 10:30am-5:30pm. Caisson House's gardens were lovingly restored by Phil and Amanda Honey, who moved into the Grade-II-listed building in 2010.
If you're looking for a woodland garden in London, there's a unique opportunity to book a two-hour guided tour by the head gardener Brian Corr at Lasborough Park this July. Lasborough Park, built around 1800, has been reimagined by the current owner and the legendary plant designer Tom Stuart-Smith.
The slightly larger Meadow Cottage features a wildflower garden, fruit trees, and a pond, as well as a treehouse for children to explore. Another garden worth visiting is The Wildside Tribute Garden in Devon, designed as a peaceful tribute to Ros Wiley, who died in 2019, and supports wildlife.
For those in the west country, the gardens at Caisson House are one of the hottest new gardens to visit. In Oxfordshire, there are three lovely gardens to explore this June in the hamlet of Christmas Common. At Priors Grove Cottage, there's a half-acre plot with shrubs and herbaceous plants, as well as a formal lily pond, a wildlife pond home to Koi Carp, and a waterfall.
West Dean College's gardens in West Sussex have a new area to explore; the dry meadow, a place to experiment with drought- and flood-tolerant plants. The Four Seasons Garden at The Newt in Somerset opened in spring 2024 and is made up of four separate spaces, designed to flourish in turn.
Finally, Bowood House in Wiltshire is opening its Walled Garden for the first time in April 2025, with borders updated with pale-colored blooms inspired by the house's interior.
To ensure you experience these special garden openings, keep an eye on the official NGS website and social channels for full listings, dates, and ticket details. Happy gardening!
- The Fairdene Gallery Garden, a private garden in Wales, features a distinctive style created over 20 years by artist Frieda Hughes and showcases her unique touch through coordinated color schemes, rock placements, and metalwork.
- For those who adore Arts and Crafts design, High Glanau Manor in Monmouth offers a stunning example of beautiful design and heritage interest.
- Another noteworthy garden is Gwaenynog in Denbigh, where Beatrix Potter wrote and illustrated "The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies."
- In Oxfordshire, three lovely gardens are opening to the public in the hamlet of Christmas Common, providing a diverse plant collection and educational experience.
- To experience the organic beauty of a woodland garden, book a guided tour of Lasborough Park in London, where head gardener Brian Corr will guide you through its lush landscapes.
