Frosty garden strolls: captivating locations that shine with winter's charm
Discover the Magic of Winter Gardens in the UK
Winter in the UK might be gloomy, but it's also a perfect time to explore the country's enchanting winter gardens. These botanical havens, scattered across the nation, offer a refreshing escape from the cold outdoors and a chance to witness the beauty of hibernating plants. Here are some of the top winter gardens that promise a rewarding experience.
Duthie Park Winter Gardens, Aberdeen
One of Europe’s largest indoor gardens, Duthie Park features 12 glasshouses, including the Temperate House, Fern House, Tropical House, and a serene Japanese Garden. With a vast collection of tropical, desert, and epiphytic plants, an indoor pond with goldfish and terrapins, and seating areas, it offers year-round interest and is perfect for winter visits.
Kew Gardens, London
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kew Gardens boasts over 130 hectares of gardens and more than 50,000 living plants. Renowned for its extensive collection of temperate and tropical plants and magnificent glasshouses, Kew Gardens brightens up winter with exotic and seasonal flora.
Winterbourne House and Garden, Birmingham
An Edwardian Arts and Crafts style garden, Winterbourne House and Garden houses botanical glasshouses with cacti, carnivorous plants, alpines, and tropical plants. The garden includes woodland walks and a restored walled garden, providing year-round botanical interest and peaceful walks during winter.
Regent’s Park Winter Garden, London
Originally one of Europe’s first great glasshouses, the current Winter Garden embraces the British climate with plants selected to shine in winter and early spring. Nearby, the Community Wildlife Garden offers ideas for biodiversity-friendly gardening, and the tranquil St. John’s Lodge Garden provides a meditative winter walk in an Arts and Crafts garden setting.
Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Open until 23 December and reopening daily from 2 January, Cambridge University Botanic Garden continues to be one of the country's premier winter displays. With a focus on shrubs with colorful winter stems, scented winter flowers, and brightly variegated evergreens, it offers a delightful winter walk.
The National Botanic Gardens of Wales
Open every day except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the National Botanic Gardens of Wales houses some of the rarest plants from six areas of the world in its Great Glasshouse, the largest single span greenhouse in the world. Visitors can enjoy a winter walk indoors, away from the gloomy outdoors.
Trentham Gardens, Staffordshire
Trentham Gardens are renowned for their beauty and magical atmosphere in winter. With planting schemes by Chelsea gold-medal winners Piet Oudolf, Tom Stuart-Smith, and Nigel Dunnett, the gardens offer a visual feast, especially during winter.
Bodnant Garden, Conwy
Open every day except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day, Bodnant Garden offers visitors a chance to take a stream-side path to the Old Mill for a warm beverage on a cold day. The garden, with its established winter garden filled with plants chosen for their color and fragrance, is a must-visit during winter.
RHS Garden Rosemoor, Devon
Open every day except Christmas Day, RHS Garden Rosemoor features imaginative winter planting combinations, with a Winter Garden as a highlight. Visitors can enjoy a peaceful walk, observing birdlife on bird feeders and searching for fungi in damp areas of the garden.
Stone Lane Gardens, Devon
Specializing in birches and open five days a week all year round, including Christmas Day, from 10am to dusk in winter, Stone Lane Gardens welcomes visitors with dogs on leads.
These gardens combine botanical fascination with peaceful winter strolling, providing great inspiration and a rewarding experience during the UK’s colder season. Don't miss out on these enchanting winter escapes!
- At Duthie Park Winter Gardens in Aberdeen, visitors can explore 12 glasshouses filled with an extensive collection of tropical, desert, and epiphytic plants, perfect for a winter visit.
- Kew Gardens in London, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, brightens up winter with exotic and seasonal flora, making it a must-visit destination for gardening enthusiasts during the colder season.
- Winterbourne House and Garden in Birmingham houses botanical glasshouses with a variety of plants including cacti, carnivorous plants, alpines, and tropical plants, offering year-round botanical interest for winter walks.
