The Stately Homes
Stately homes with gardens.
156 houses where visitors single out the gardens as a reason to visit - drawn from publicly available Google reviews across all four nations. Not every house with a lawn: the ones people actually praise the gardens for.
156 of the 286 stately homes on this list are singled out for their gardens across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Cadhay is the best-rated of them, at 4.9 from 137 Google reviews. Chatsworth House draws the most reviews, 24,775 of them.
England - 133
Althorp
“…here. Plenty of parking. The house and the garden are beautiful and peaceful. The gift shop and the cafe are okay. You can…”
Alward House
“…property was immaculate on arrival and the gardens were beautiful. Considering the size of the property and the great conditi…”
Anglesey Abbey
“…nd just explored the gardens. And what lovely gardens they are with plenty to see and explore. Really impressed…”
Antony House
“Lovely gardens, mostly tree species. I didn't go in the house. Nice cafe,…”
Arbury Hall
“…our and they lady was very informative. The gardens are beautiful and the tea room was a nice treat for cake and a cup of tea”
Arley Hall
“Beautiful house and walled gardens with manicured topiary and countryside views. Lovely cafe w…”
Arlington Court
“…von and comprises a 19th century house, formal gardens, 20 miles of country walks and the National Trust Carriage…”
Ascott
“Beautiful well manicured gardens with several fountains .Those were lovely to look at. ..dow…”
Athelhampton House
“Quite an impressive place. The gardens are beautiful with a surprising number of separate areas with fountains a…”
Attingham Park
“…ns provided. The house is stunning! The walled garden was huge, one of the biggest we have seen at a national tru…”
Avebury Manor
“Great National Trust Manor House and beautiful gardens in Avebury. Unfortunately the Manor House itself was closed…”
Bateman's
“Great experience with lovely gardens, the volunteers are very knowledgeable and very friendly! 💚…”
Beningbrough Hall
“…of history. So many rooms to view!! The walled gardens were lovely to view as well. Volunteers friendly as always…”
Berrington Hall
“…ely place. Lots of work going on in the walled garden. Lovely courtyard to have coffee, the sun was shining so ve…”
Blickling Estate
“Really extensive grounds, beautiful gardens and estate with plenty of long walks to be had or indeed cy…”
Boughton House
“It was a great place to visit with a beautiful garden. The actual 'house' is huge, more like a palace, really. Th…”
Brodsworth Hall and Gardens
“…g but that didn’t stop us exploring the beautiful gardens! They were well maintained and full of colour and beauty! W…”
Brympton House
“…to the beautiful lake, the picturesque walled garden and everything in between. I love how every part of the day…”
Buckland Abbey
“…scenery was absolutely beautiful, with lovely gardens, woodland walks, and stunning historic buildings. Everythin…”
Burghley House
“…artisan! We had a lovely walk round the stunning gardens but it was too hot...32 degrees. So, we'll be back to do an…”
Burton Agnes Hall
“…and thoroughly enjoyed looking around. The gardens were stunning with so many plants/flowers to look at. One of the best we'…”
Cadhay
“The gardens are lovely and very well kept. A hidden gem. Reasonably priced entry t…”
Calke Abbey
“…vely views and interesting gardens. The walled gardens especially were really nice. The house was interesting and…”
Canons Ashby
“…room which serves hot and cold snacks. The gardens are lovely and peaceful to walk around. All in all, a lovely visit.”
Carlyle's House
“…e is pretty much as they left it with a lovely garden. Carlyle and his wife were writers and considered a celebri…”
Castle Howard
“…o were keen to impart their knowledge. Beautiful gardens. A couple of tea rooms where the food was good quality and…”
Chartwell
“…ton Churchill bought and maintained it. The gardens are beautiful and we saw the famous black swans. I would recommend visiti…”
Chatsworth House
“…ed the tractor tour, Nikki was amazing! The gardens were stunning. We e joyed the maze and the rocks. We had great weather to…”
Chenies Manor House
“…led by excellent knowledgeable guide. The gardens are beautifully kept. Only slight criticism is that the tea and cakes are…”
Chillington Hall
“…illington Hall, is a hidden gem, set in lovely gardens, the rooms are majestic. It’s a bit out of the way but it’s…”
Claydon House
“…plenty of seating in the shade and sun. Lovely walled garden. The staff / volunteers all lovely, friendly and knowledgea…”
Clevedon Court
“…nd the volunteers were really friendly. The garden is beautiful and the fact there is a family still living there makes it…”
Cliveden
“…ploring. The grounds are stunning, with beautiful gardens, woodland walks, impressive views, and plenty of areas to d…”
Coleridge Cottage
“…romantic poets was really interesting. The garden was lovely as well.”
Coleton Fishacre
“Absolutely fantastic place,magnificent gardens and views beyond belief. Visited when the white (bluebells…”
Cottesbrooke Hall
“…when we went the House was closed, but the gardens are lovely with plenty of walking opportunities. The tearoom is lovel…”
Coughton Court
“…y relaxed and welcoming place to visit. Lovely gardens if you do want to explore them but there are also lots of o…”
Dalemain Mansion
“Excellent tour of the house and beautiful gardens to wander around. (We booked the tour in advance as recomme…”
Doddington Hall
“…The hall is beautifully preserved, and the gardens are stunning and well maintained. The café is lovely too, with great foo…”
Down House (Home of Charles Darwin)
“…theory. The house was beautiful, with a walled garden and a large open space. No photos or videos were allowed on…”
Dudmaston
“…ut that is down to personal preference. The gardens are beautiful and well kept.”
Dunham Massey
“…skipped a part where most of them are. The gardens are beautiful with a massive array of different flowers and trees. You ha…”
Dyrham Park
“…to walk. The house itself is pretty and the gardens were beautiful! Highly recommend.”
East Riddlesden Hall
“…h loads of incredible spots for photos. The gardens are beautiful and perfect for relaxed, natural moments, and inside the ha…”
Eltham Palace and Gardens
“…and pedestrian access is over the moat. The gardens are beautifully maintained with both formal planting and meadow areas for…”
Elton Hall
“…ted out. After the tour we explored the beautiful gardens, which didn't disappoint. We went as members of Historic Ho…”
Fawley Court
“…much. The house feels rather soul-less. The gardens are beautiful but they don't surround the house, you have to cross a (qui…”
Felbrigg Hall
“Even In spring the walled garden was beautifully kept. My mum was able to use a mobility sco…”
Fenton House
“Lovely house and stunning gardens. Staff nice and helpful. Vast collection of musical instru…”
Firle Place
“…). The event offered lots to see - from beautiful garden furniture to handmade cards. You won’t go hungry either, as…”
Forde Abbey
“…e to the Abbey has a fine fountain. The landscaped gardens include a large bog garden with hostas, irises and ferns; t…”
Fursdon
“…ls, and in the distance, Dartmoor. The gardens are worth a visit. The Georgian House is quite fascinating, and the g…”
Godinton House
“Visited during a craft fair . The beautiful gardens were open including the fantastic greenhouses. Stunning pla…”
Godolphin
“…d the video and exploring the barn, and the gardens were lovely to walk around. The old King’s Room was a real highlight wi…”
Great Chalfield Manor
“…uesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. The gardens are beautiful to walk round. You can only enter the house via guided tour…”
Greenway
“…play. Outside, the grounds include neat walled gardens, beautifully restored greenhouses, a fernery and woodland.…”
Gunby Hall
“…the house and people who'd lived there. The gardens were beautiful. We wandered over to the nearby church (which isn't NT) and…”
Haddon Hall
“An interesting house with well-kept gardens. Note, access to the extensive parks is not permitted unle…”
Hanbury Hall
“Beautiful gardens and property. Here you don’t just have the inner gardens bu…”
Hardwick Hall
“…showing period fittings and furniture. Lovely gardens. Nice food & drink from the National Trust caravan, both th…”
Harewood House
“…history. I would definitely return when the garden is in full bloom and the kitchen garden begins to fruit.”
Hartland Abbey
“…cottage used in sense and sensability. The gardens are beautiful and definitely worth the walk. The house is very nice with…”
Hatfield House
“…he main house when it opens for tours. The gardens are beautiful, and we had a lovely walk in the woodland. The cafe and the…”
Highclere Castle
“…t on the day we visited, added to this. The gardens are beautiful, full of blossom and spring flowers, plenty of seats where…”
Hinton Ampner
“…ense of history in every room. Outside, the gardens are well tended, providing a stunning backdrop for a stroll. There a…”
Hoghton Tower
“…he facilities were well maintained, and the gardens were beautifully kept. Overall, a really enjoyable experience for familie…”
Holker Hall
“…lovely visit to Holker Hall & Gardens. The gardens were beautiful, with a fantastic variety of flowers and planting schemes p…”
Holkham Hall
“Went to Holkham Hall today to see the walled garden. Great place to walk around, lots of unusual plants. There…”
Houghton Hall
“…t distance. We then went through to the walled garden. It was absolutely stunning! Every single aspect 👌 All s…”
Hughenden
“…spent a good hour wandering through the walled garden and orchard, which boasts dozens of ancient apple varieties…”
Ickworth
“…k. So peaceful and worth going into the walled garden for a lovely setting by the river. Mini golf upstairs was f…”
Kelmarsh Hall
“…afe with gluten free options. Excellent walled garden to walk around and a big estate to explore. We stayed there…”
Kentwell Hall
“…tly framed and surrounded by a moat and well kept gardens. Inside the tour route is a fascinating trip back in time w…”
Killerton
“…Interesting Georgian house with a small formal garden. Beautiful grounds to walk in and picnic. Enjoyed a cream…”
Kiplin Hall
“…marsh, as well as a lawn, forest walk, walled garden and more. The snowdrops are out, and they beautifully carp…”
Knebworth House
“…, Oasis etc. The grounds are very nice, beautiful gardens, a maze and a dinosaur trail not just for kids!. There is a…”
Knightshayes
“…dens pretty. We didn't do the house and walled garden because we had the dog. Would like to go back and see these…”
Lamb House
“…answer any questions you may have! The gardens are the highlight for me, on my visit they were being maintained by the garde…”
Leighton Hall
“…some really interesting information and beautiful gardens full of flowers and produce. All for £13.50! Cafe had decen…”
Levens Hall
“…vely but the wonderfully whacky topiary gardens are the real gem here probably. A great way to spend a few hours.”
Loseley Park
“Stunning walled garden and country house. We just visited the garden but spent a g…”
Lyme Park
“…eed a whole day to walk and explore and beautiful gardens with ramp routes for access”
Lytes Cary Manor
“…around the estate grounds, but not the formal gardens or house. At the time of my visit adult tickets were £15, r…”
Mapperton House
“…ave been on. I thoroughly recommend it. The gardens are beautiful too and the cafe is brilliant with some superb local produc…”
Mompesson House
“…ng by the NT lady was very interesting. Lovely gardens outside with small cafe and second hand bookshop.”
Monk's House
“Small but quaint with beautiful gardens. Very relaxing to sit toverlooking the downs, quintessentia…”
Moseley Old Hall
“Great place, lovely gardens and he house is very different with great history. We would…”
Mottisfont
“…d 11.45am. Car parks were getting busy. Lovely gardens maintained great by the staff and volunteers. Interesting h…”
Mr Straw's House
“…stem for the live in maid at the time. The garden is beautiful and divided into two for the two properties with a few appl…”
Newark Park
“…lks around the extensive grounds with a beautiful walled garden to relax in. Impressive restoration work on the original 'c…”
Norton Conyers
“Small but beautiful gardens with small selection of healthy plants to purchase. There i…”
Ormesby Hall
“Beautiful gardens and interesting old house to wander around. A bonus is a sp…”
Osborne
“…with fine views from the windows of the formal gardens and grounds. On the outside, there are plenty of lovely ar…”
Overbeck's
“Beautiful well kept gardens. Wonderful views. Friendly staff. Lovely welcome on arrival…”
Owletts
“…en let go since our last visit with the walled garden closed off.”
Packwood House
“Beautiful gardens! Loved the pond and lake, as well as the yew gardens. We we…”
Parham House
“…riendly, the house guide dog only. The walled garden had been completely emptied during covid to tackle bind wee…”
Peckover House
“…ere or there is a guide book available. The gardens are well kept and a nice peaceful spot to winder round. There is a t…”
Pencarrow House
“Fascinating historic house set in lovely gardens. The guided tour of the house was excellent. Each guide no…”
Penshurst Place
“…istory inside the 'house' and plenty of beautiful garden to wander around. Great shop, plant sales and cafe on site…”
Petworth House
“…e artist JMW Turner. Even in Winter the formal gardens harbour Spring flowers ready to brighten the path from car…”
Polesden Lacey
“…leaf room. There is a dog cemetery in a beautiful garden. Great for walking, big grounds, woodland. You can rest in…”
Prideaux Place
“…isit. Lovely guided tour of the house. Beautiful gardens. And a lovely deer herd that you can help feed. (Dependant…”
Quebec House
“…nal Trust. The house is surrounded by a beautiful garden with nice trees and flowers. At the back of it, the stables…”
Rainham Hall
“…features. Place steeped in history with beautiful gardens. Excellent coffee and cakes. We have thoroughly enjoyed our…”
Ranger's House - The Wernher Collection
“The gardens are stunning with masses of roses, modern style plant groupings and mode…”
Renishaw Hall
“…. Whether you’re interested in history, beautiful gardens, or simply enjoying great food in a lovely setting, it real…”
Rufford Old Hall
“Lovely birthday day out. Beautiful gardens with picnic benches. Interesting house. Nice relaxing tearo…”
Saltram
“…ound hilarious and quite an odd match) The gardens were lovely and the cafes had a great range of snacks and plenty of sea…”
Sandringham House
“…enty of space to have a walk and relax. Beautiful gardens with freshly new plants which in few years will create beau…”
Scampston Hall
“Lovely walled garden set out as separate garden rooms including vegetable gsrden…”
Seaton Delaval Hall
“…shipping and glass works. Outside, the formal gardens and arboretum were full of colour.”
Shaw's Corner
“…taff always knowledgeable and friendly. Beautiful garden to sit quietly in and feels like home. Wish there was a gar…”
Shugborough Estate
“…er!), woodland, and a working farm. The walled garden and upcoming Arcadia garden are really lovely. It is such a…”
Somerleyton Hall
“…fabulous conservatory. Further off is a walled garden with long herbaceous borders and a huge pergola covered in…”
Stansted Park
“Lovely garden centre with a large selection of house plants and garden pl…”
Stoneacre
“…re ready to answer questions. There are formal gardens to the front of the house, and the rest of the grounds are…”
Stoneywell
“…views are fantastic and the flowers in the garden are beautiful. The house is very quirky. The staff are very friendly and…”
Stourhead
“…t an utterly delightful place to visit. The gardens are magnificent and the staff excellent. We also visited the house and agai…”
Stowe House
“We absolutely loved our visit. Beautiful gardens and house. It's a bit of a walk to the main part, but we lo…”
Sunnycroft
“…u. The house is amazing, plenty to see. The gardens are well maintained. Free parking for NT members. Toilet facilities.…”
Sutton Park
“…e house itself is not open very often. The gardens were well kept and quite colourful Inside the house was a lot of his…”
Tatton Park
“…nhanced the experience and views of the stunning gardens and landscapes. Deers wandering freely. Peaceful. Disabled…”
The Bishop's Palace, Wells
“Gorgeous gardens for wandering around in. Reasonably priced. Preferred the g…”
The Greyfriars
“Beautiful gardens and setting, really relaxing. Not a lot to choose from with…”
Trerice
“Absolutely gorgeous gardens, so peaceful. Also glad I came across the box-breathing exe…”
Upton House
“Fantastic property with an absolutely gorgeous garden. We visited during a heatwave and so mostly stuck to the in…”
Washington Old Hall
“…wisteria What a beautiful scent in the walled garden. Lovely and quite short promenade to go there from the maim…”
West Wycombe Park
“…but there are two within a short walk (Walled Garden run by the Dashwood family and the Apple Orchard on the Hig…”
Wightwick Manor
“…ily who built the place, unfortunately. The gardens are lovely at this time of year (late May) and there are quite a few p…”
Wimpole Estate
“…alk through the grounds and explore the beautiful gardens and the historic house at your own pace. Overall Wimpole E…”
Wordsworth House
“…r and back down so you can get into the walled garden. Explore the walled garden that has plenty of fruit trees a…”
Wrest Park
“…big. If you appreciate an old fashioned walled garden and well kept gardens with lots of wildlife then this is th…”
Scotland - 13
Abbotsford
“…ramrkably beautiful property set within stunning gardens. There is easy parking on site and the location is also eas…”
Broughton House
“What a fascinating house and gallery. The garden was gorgeous with a beautiful view of the water if you venture all the w…”
Dalmeny House
“…heep and pheasant just strutting about, well kept gardens and and a golf course. Perfect on a day for a donder plus a…”
Dumfries House
“…maze, treetop platforms and slides, and beautiful garden trails that are worth visiting all through the seasons. The…”
Floors Castle
“…to the grounds from Kelso. Visited the beautiful walled gardens. The flower borders were a riot of varied colours and form…”
Haddo House
“…very relaxing time wandering around the lovely gardens and the grounds. All the grounds are wheel chair accessible…”
House of Dun
“…tour was really interesting, the nearby walled garden was good. The trails further out take you to more gardens a…”
Leith Hall
“Nice house and gardens, the gardens are worth it on their own. Dogs welcome but the usual not in the hous…”
Manderston
“…se brought alive by Edward - our guide. Lovely gardens including a lake and a surprising cricket ground with pavil…”
Mount Stuart
“…t had to ask and it was made perfectly. Lovely gardens, and you can access the nearby shoreline.”
Pollok House
“…r stops while you’re enjoying the park. The gardens are well kept, so spring would be very colourful here.”
Scone Palace
“…re if you want to go inside the palace. The gardens are beautiful through - we had the weather to enjoy them and have a good…”
The Hill House
“…tist, Hill House is worth a visit & has beautiful gardens to walk around too.”
Wales - 5
Bodrhyddan Hall
“A Serene Escape: Exploring the Beautiful Gardens of Bodrhyddan Hall Stepping into the gardens of Bodrhyddan…”
Erddig
“…lpful staff to explain all the details. The gardens are beautiful, even in the Autumn. The usual national trust facilities su…”
Llanerchaeron
“What a great find! Lovely garden and walks. The house is one of the last of its kind a John…”
Plas Newydd
“Beautiful gardens with views across the menial strait. The house has a few ro…”
Plas yn Rhiw
“Very hidden place, beautiful gardens, very cute tearoom's & good food, shame we didn't see the h…”
Northern Ireland - 5
Florence Court
“…ing. We walked through the woods to the walled garden; beautiful. A very enjoyable visit.”
Montalto Estate
“…s, but both times very pleased with the beautiful gardens, fab food, friendly staff and of course ease of parking. We…”
Mount Stewart
“…grounds are varied and extensive, from formal gardens to areas where nature conservation is the focus. There is a…”
Springhill
“Beautiful settings, lovely walks, well maintained gardens and totally dog friendly. Clean washrooms and friendly staf…”
The Argory
“What a fabulous gem. The gardens are beautiful, there is a great play area for kids, and the house is abso…”
Common questions
How many of these stately homes are worth visiting for the gardens?
156 of the 286 stately homes on this list. A house appears here only when a visitor's own Google review singles the gardens out as a draw - a walled, formal or landscaped garden, or one praised in its own right - rather than merely having grounds. Houses whose gardens nobody has reviewed in those terms are missing, so this reflects what visitors chose to write about.
Which is the best-rated?
Cadhay in Devon, rated 4.9 from 137 Google reviews. Only houses with at least 100 reviews are considered, so a high score from a handful of visitors does not top the list. That rating covers the house as a whole, not the garden on its own.
Which one is the most reviewed?
Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, with 24,775 Google reviews at 4.7. That is a rough proxy for how well known and how busy a house is, not a visitor figure, which no house here publishes.
Who runs them?
Of the 156 here, 6 are run by English Heritage, 82 are run by the National Trust, 6 are run by the National Trust for Scotland and the remaining 62 by private estates, independent trusts or local councils. Who owns a house decides whether a membership card gets you in, so each entry names its operator and links to the official site.
More ways to choose a house
Where this list comes from
Each house is here because a real visitor praised its gardens in a publicly available Google review - a walled garden, formal planting, or the grounds named as the highlight of the day. Houses that merely have grounds are not included: this is a list of places people go for the gardens.
Always check before you go
Gardens are seasonal. Many are at their best between spring and early autumn and some close over winter, and a garden can be closed while the house is open. Check the house's own page (linked from every entry) before you travel.