Visit the Breathtaking Gardens of Historical Harrogate, England

Twelve delightful acres surround this 17th century stately home. The gardens were laid out in 1750 and enhanced by successive owners including HRH Princess Mary, who opened the gardens as part of the newly created National Garden Scheme in 1928.

Highlights include 120-foot-long herbaceous borders, a quarter-mile Lime Tree Walk planted by distinguished guests including King George V and Queen Mary, and a copse of Japanese cherry trees given to Princess Mary as a wedding gift by the Emperor of Japan.

The organic kitchen garden supplies fresh produce and cut flowers for the Hall. The garden has been laid out with large raised beds built with oak beams, centered around a tiered fountain. The new greenhouse was built in a traditional style using reclaimed brick and cedar and is now the centerpiece of the restored kitchen gardens.

If you are unable to visit these Royal Gardens, I would suggest either researching other local gardens that may be open through the National Garden Scheme or enjoy additional time at Newby Hall and Fountains Abbey instead .

To truly appreciate all that Newby Hall has to offer, you really need a full day. Indeed, it would make a wonderful outing for the whole family—the adventure playground, miniature railway, dolls house exhibition, and delightful Bear House are just some of the unique attractions, in addition to the Hall and gardens themselves.

However, for this multi-stop day trip, I suggest you focus on the award-winning gardens. There are fifteen distinct areas including the curving pergola, a spectacle in late May and early June when the fragrant racemes of golden laburnum drape from the beams. The Tropical Garden features tender exotics interspersed with exotic-looking shrubs and perennials for an impressive summer display. From spring through fall, the White Garden is a delight of monochromatic foliage and flowers, highlighted by silver and glaucous foliage. If your visit is later in the year, be sure to visit the Autumn Garden, a walled garden that showcases late-blooming perennials as well as hydrangeas and exuberant dahlias.

When John Aislabie, a key British politician, inherited Studley Royal in 1693, he wanted to impress his guests and set about creating an elegant water garden of mirror-like ponds, statues, and follies that incorporate the romantic abbey ruins into the borrowed view. Stroll through the woodland and climb up to the High Ride path through the dark Serpentine Tunnel for dramatic views, or follow the riverside paths to the deer park, home to Red, Fallow, and Sitka deer.

I recommend also allowing a little time to explore Fountains Abbey’s agricultural past by visiting Swanley Grange. Here, you can see the renovated medieval vegetable garden that provided food for the monks. There are often demonstrations of wool dying and hands-on activities, such as weaving, during peak season.