The Glorious Gardens of Cumbria and the Lake District

The Lake District and the Eden Valley aren’t just havens for hikers and poets—they’re also home to some of the most enchanting gardens in the UK. From world-famous topiary to wildflower meadows, this region’s gardens blend natural beauty with centuries of history and horticultural design. Whether you’re visiting in spring for bulbs and blossom or in late summer for bold borders, here are the The best gardens to visit in the Lake District in 2025.

Hutton-in-the-Forest

Hutton-in-the-Forest combines art, history, and landscape with beautifully preserved walled gardens, topiary, and seasonal blooms like tulips and bluebells.

Stay close by: Explore Hutton while staying at our luxury self-catering cottages, just a short drive away.

Acorn Bank Gardens

Managed by the National Trust, Acorn Bank is known for its sheltered walled garden and vast herb collection. With riverside walks and woodland trails, it’s perfect for a peaceful afternoon.

Stay nearby: Book one of our luxury holiday cottages to explore Acorn Bank and other Eden Valley gems.

Dalemain House and Gardens

Dalemain near Ullswater is an award-winning historic home with elegant gardens that blend Georgian formality with romantic wildflowers. Don’t miss the famous blue Himalayan poppies in late spring. There’s a great restaurant and tearoom, and Dalemain is the home of the World Marmalade Awards!

Stay nearby: Our self-catering cottages near Ullswater make the perfect base for visiting Dalemain and other nearby attractions. Discover more about Dalemain House and Gardens

Lowther Castle and Gardens

Lowther Castle is a romantic ruin with bold, contemporary garden design. Its rose gardens, parterre, and adventure play area offer a mix of heritage and family fun.

Tip: Book a 5 star holiday cottage for easy access to Lowther and other Eden Valley estates.

Brockhole Garden and Visitor Centre

On the shores of Windermere, Brockhole is ideal for families and garden lovers alike. Originally designed by Thomas Mawson, the gardens offer views across the lake, formal terraces, and play areas for children.

Holehird Gardens, near Windermere

Run by volunteers from the Lakeland Horticultural Society, Holehird Gardens is a plant lover’s paradise with alpine houses, hydrangeas, and seasonal herbaceous borders. You’ll also find three National Plant Collections on-site.

Brantwood House and Gardens, Coniston

Brantwood was the home of Victorian art critic John Ruskin. Overlooking Coniston Water, its gardens include a dramatic Zig-Zaggy path, fern gardens, and a wild meadow area—all designed to reflect Ruskin’s views on harmony with nature.

Holker Hall Gardens near Grange-over-Sands

Holker Hall is a 25-acre garden that’s as grand as it is peaceful. Its formal borders and wild woodlands sit alongside a charming labyrinth and one of Britain’s largest trees—the Great Holker Lime.

Levens Hall Garden, near Kendal

Levens Hall boasts the world’s oldest topiary garden, planted in 1694. Its clipped yews and colourful summer borders are a horticultural masterpiece and have barely changed in over 300 years.

Rydal Hall Thomas Mawson Gardens

Rydal Hall features one of Thomas Mawson’s earliest designs. With terraces overlooking waterfalls and a woodland sculpture trail, it’s ideal for slow, scenic exploration.

Yews Garden, Windermere

A charming garden often open through the National Garden Scheme, Yews is intimate, artistic, and known for its stunning spring displays and peaceful atmosphere.

Sizergh Castle and Garden near Kendal

Sizergh Castle offers limestone rock gardens, a mirrored lake, and a colourful kitchen garden. Run by the National Trust, it’s a lovely stop en route to the South Lakes.

Seasonal Gardens

Each season brings something different to Cumbria’s gardens:

• Spring: Tulips, daffodils, and bluebells at Acorn Bank, Hutton, and Holker Hall.
• Summer: Dramatic borders at Levens Hall, Dalemain, and Sizergh.
• Autumn: Glorious foliage at Holehird and Lowther Castle.
• Winter: Crisp walks and formal structure at Levens and Rydal.

Where To See

These gardens are spread across Cumbria and the Lake District, with many just a short drive from Penrith, Windermere, Coniston, and Kendal. Use our luxury cottages near Penrith and Ullswater as a base for your 2025 garden tour.

Great Garden Designers

Several gardens in this list owe their beauty to famed landscape designers like Thomas Mawson whose work can be seen at Brockhole and Rydal Hall. Others, like Levens Hall, showcase early European topiary traditions, making this region a living museum of garden history.

Ready to explore Cumbria’s finest gardens in 2025? Book your stay at The Rowley Estates and immerse yourself in the colours, scents, and history of one of England’s most beautiful regions.