Six of the most renowned English gardens to visit

This award-winning garden is arguably the finest example of an English garden you can find across the country. Renowned for its beauty and diversity, Sissinghurst is a culmination of the creative tension between Harold Nicolson’s formal design and the exuberant planting of Vita Sackville-West.

It is in spring that the first wave of purple arrives with tulips, wallflowers, Lunaria annua (honesty) and Hesperis matronalis (sweet rocket) weaving their way through the clumps of emerging foliage and that the iconic Lime Walk comes alive and looks its best during the spring months.

No visit to Sissinghurst would be complete without heading up to the tower for a bird’s-eye view of the stunning gardens, providing different viewpoints of the intricate layouts.

This charming Edwardian estate, once owned by Frederic Lubbock, was laid out in the 19th century and heavily influenced by William Robinson. Emmetts Garden is celebrated not only for its rare trees and shrubs from across the world but also for being one of the highest spots in Kent, offering panoramic views over the unspoilt Weald.

As the temperature warms, Emmetts Garden bursts into a riot of colour with great displays of daffodils, bluebells, camellias, magnolias, and rhododendrons flourishing. These seasonal flowers perfectly complement the 30 cherry trees nestled between the Rock Garden and Wildflower Meadow.

Each of the blossoming cherry trees in the tulip meadow used to be carefully formed into the shape of a lollipop. Cultivating trees in different architectural shapes was a gardening technique used for centuries and thanks to a discovery of stereoscopic glass slides dating to around 1910.

The vantage point is unparalleled during the spring months when the garden truly comes alive and visitors can revel in the vibrant hues of the Rose Garden, the enchanting Rock Garden, and the captivating water features.

Winston Churchill’s profound appreciation for landscape and nature is clearly demonstrated throughout his family home. Since acquiring the residence in 1922, he and his wife, Clementine, transformed the property by adding lakes, the kitchen garden, and the Marycot—a charming playhouse for their youngest daughter, Mary.

Throughout the grounds the Churchills’ love for nature and beauty is unmistakable, especially with the recurring presence of roses throughout the gardens. Every year, the roses unfurl across the Golden Rose Avenue and Lady Clementine’s Rose Garden, reaching their peak in mid-June, and continuing to bloom all summer and well into early autumn.

As we transition into the warmer months, you can marvel at the lush growth and vibrant colours of the herbaceous plants, which beautifully frame the garden’s structural elements. This season also brings an abundance of wildlife around the grounds—from black swans and chickens to butterflies and the six beehives in the private orchard.

Our curated list of Kent’s finest gardens is just the beginning—there’s a plethora of beautiful green spaces waiting to be discovered throughout our charming region, including our own Balfour Winery.

Balfour Winery is one of England’s leading wine producers, pioneers for both English traditional method sparkling wines, and a new wave of English still wines. Making over 400,000 bottles of still and sparkling wines each year, Balfour is one of England’s most respected and renowned wineries, combining world-class winemaking with a spirit of innovation.

The Estate comprises 400-acres of manicured vineyards, apple orchards, wildflower meadows and ancient oak woodland, rich in flora and fauna. Sustainability and conservation are of paramount importance and reflected in the practices used across the Estate.

If any of these gardens have caught your eye and you’re in search of a welcoming retreat to base your adventures from, we invite you to enjoy a stay in one of our cosy en-suite bedrooms. With several of our rooms being dog-friendly, you can bring the entire family along for the journey.

Book directly with us and enjoy a 15% discount on your stay.