10 SPRING GARDENS TO VISIT
1 DODDINGTON HALL & GARDENS
Well known for its collection of daffodils, plus lots of walks. Open Sundays, Wednesdays and bank holiday Mondays from 16 April, noon to 4.30pm. Entry to house and gardens £10 (gardens only: £7). • Lincolnshire LN6 4RU. 01522 694308, www.doddingtonhall.com
2 BODNANT
Possibly the best spring garden in Wales, with sheaves of daffodils (as you would expect), plus National Collections of both magnolias and rhododendrons. Open daily, 10am to 5pm. £8.50 (RHS and NT members free). • Bodnant Road, Tal-Y-Cafn, Colwyn Bay LL28 5RE. bodnantgarden.co.uk
3 HODNET HALL
Lots of lakes and woodlands for walking as well as a Camellia garden and some wonderful plant collections. Open Sundays and bank holidays, noon to 5pm. £7. • Near Market Drayton, Shropshire TF9 3NN. 01630 685786, www.hodnethallgardens.org
4 BLICKLING ESTATE
Sitting under blue skies, amid glorious open countryside, this is a fine estate with lots of things to do. Amazing daffodil banks and a beautiful Orangery Garden. Open daily, 10am to 5.30pm. £14.95 (garden only: £8.95). NT members free. • Aylsham, Norfolk NR11 6NF. 01263 738030, nationaltrust.org.uk/blickling-estate
5 GREAT DIXTER
If you have not yet visited here, your life remains unfulfilled. This great garden has something for everybody, no matter when you visit. Open Tuesday to Sunday and bank holiday Mondays, 11am to 5pm. £12.10. • Northiam, East Sussex TN31 6PH. 01797 252878, greatdixter.co.uk
6 CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN
Tucked between the river and the bustle of the Kings Road, this garden was founded in 1673. A haven among the traffic. Open daily except Saturdays, 11am to 5pm. Entry £10.50. • 66 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HS. chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
7 ELTHAM PALACE
Although less than 100 years old, this palace feels as if has been there for ages. It is surrounded by 19 acres of gardens, old and new. Open daily except Saturdays, 10am to 6pm. Entry £13.60 (English Heritage members free). • Court Yard, Eltham, Greenwich, London SE9 5QE. english-heritage.org.uk
8 NYMANS
At its best in springtime – there are bulbs, bluebells, cherry blossom, camellias and magnolias in abundance. Open daily, 10am to 5pm. Entry £13.20 (NT members free). • Handcross, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 6EB. nationaltrust.org.uk/nymans
9 TREMENHEERE
A spectacular sculpture garden with some staggeringly good art and a fantastic collection of tender plants. Open daily, 10am to 4pm. £8. [Note – the garden is unfortunately not suitable for disabled visitors.] • Near Gulval, Penzance, Cornwall TR20 8YL. 01736 448 089, tremenheere.co.uk
10 COTON MANOR
A lovely, family-run garden with water gardens, meadows, classic borders and an amazing bluebell wood. Open Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 5.30pm, plus Sundays and Mondays on bank holiday weekends. Entry £7. • Coton, Northamptonshire NN6 8RQ. 01604 740219, cotonmanor.co.uk