Well, you raise a good point. Yes, they are all closed at the moment. No, we don’t know when they’ll reopen. But yes, they should be on your list of immediate post-lockdown activities. Ready? Good.
Down House, London
We choose to believe that Charles Darwin was talking about gardening when he said “A man who dares to waste on hour of time has not discovered the value of life.” He probably wasn’t, but that doesn’t matter. Nonetheless, Down House is where the great naturalist developed his infamous theories of evolution and wrote The Origin of Species. Needless to say, there’s a spectacular outdoor element to the home where one of the world’s great outdoorsmen spent a great part of his life. English Heritage now manage the site, and several of his experiments have been recreated in the historic landscape.
Stourhead Gardens, Wiltshire
First opened in the 1700s, and described as a ‘living work of art’, this 2,500+ acre estate attracts visitors from all over the world to marvel at the Neo-classical gardens. The entire ensemble is arranged around a huge manmade lake, and you can expect to stumble across grottos, temples and a Palladian house during your visit. The garden itself is home to internationally-rare trees, and is the source of Dorset’s River Stour.
Kew Gardens, London
Obviously. Kew is a UNESCO-listed garden and is one of Britain’s most popular tourist destinations, and by far its most famous garden. Bringing two million visitors every year, and tracing its roots back almost 250 years, Kew is arranged over 330 acres and is one of the world’s largest collection of botanics. There are more than 30,000 species throughout the gardens, all protected by one of the smallest constabularies in the world; Kew’s very own police force.
Wrest Park, Bedfordshire
Wrest Park is like a journey through time. Over a modest 90 acres, the gardens take you on a trip through 300 years of landscape design, and show you how English gardens have evolved over the years. It also showcases French, Dutch and Italian styles but head beyond the pretty parterres and borders to immerse yourself in the forests, sculptures and ornate buildings. One of the lesser known gardens on the international stage, but a must if we’re going to be confined to England for the foreseeable…
Eden Restored is a team of passionate garden designers working throughout London, Kent and Surrey.
We deliver value-for-money on projects of any size, from inner-city courtyards to countryside cottages.
To discuss your ideas and how we can help throughout the entire process, get in touch.