Oxfordshire for Gardeners

Oxfordshire has some beautiful gardens, so if you’re staying in the county, it’s well worth visiting some of them. Here are some details of gardens in Oxfordshire which are open to the public.

Blenheim Palace  Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP)

Blenheim Palace is situated in Woodstock, about 8 miles to the north west of Oxford, and is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough. 

The estate covers more than 2,100 acres and the parkland that surrounds Blenheim Palace was landscaped by Capability Brown. The estate’s Formal Gardens include the Water Terraces, the Rose Garden, the Italian Garden and the Secret Garden, and there are a number of walking trails around the grounds.

You can also take a tour of the palace, which was constructed during the early 18th century and is an example of the English Baroque architectural style. Famous for being the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill,  and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, highlights include the stunning State Rooms, Long Library and Great Hall.

Blenheim Palace also has its own Pleasure Gardens, where you’ll find attractions such as a Butterfly House, the Marlborough Maze and a miniature railway.

The estate has an ice cream parlour, a gift shop and two cafes, one within the Palace and one within the Pleasure Gardens, and you can also buy picnic hampers so you can dine al fresco.  

The University of Oxford Botanic Garden (Rose Lane, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 4AZ).

The University of Oxford Botanic Garden is situated in Oxford’s city centre and is the oldest botanic garden in Britain. The centrepiece of the garden is the Walled Garden, which contains a series of borders filled with plants grouped together within their families. 

Outside of the Walled Garden, you’ll find a number of other gardens, including the Water Garden and the Rock Garden. There are also a number of glasshouses, such as the Lily House, the Insectiverous House and the Palm House.

The University of Oxford Botanic Garden is also linked to the Harcourt Arboretum, about 6 miles to the south of Oxford, which is home to many different trees and plants.

Greys Court (Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4PG)

Greys Court is a 16th century mansion in Henley-on Thames, in South Oxfordshire, and is now owned by the National Trust. The house has recently undergone major conservation work and reopened to the public this year.

If you visit Greys Court, you can see the ornamental walled gardens, take a stroll down the wisteria walk and explore the maze. Greys Court also has a tea room and a gift shop, and you can buy flowers and plants from the estate’s plant stall.

Buscot Park Gardens (Buscot Park, Farringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 8BU)

Buscot Park is a country house, situated just outside of the town of Farringdon. Constructed in the late 18th century, it is an example of the neo-classical architectural style.

You can take a tour of the house and see the Farringdon Collection, a collection of art which contains works by a number of artists. Highlights of the collection include a number of  Pre-Raphaelite works, including paintings by Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

Buscot Park’s grounds cover more than 100 acres, so garden-lovers will have plenty to see. The Four Season’s Walled Garden was created by the present Lord Farringdon, who transformed the old kitchen garden into an ornamental garden featuring lilies, roses, Judas trees, cherry trees, fruit and vegetables. This garden also includes statues of the Four Seasons by Frank Forster.

You can also see the Peto Water Garden (named after its designer, Harold Peto), the Swinging Garden and a number of frescoes.

Other Oxfordshire Gardens include Waterperry Gardens, Broughton Castle Gardens and Rousham House Garden.

Image: © Copyright Colin Smith and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Tags: Blenheim Palace, Buscot Park, Greys Court, Oxfordshire, University of Oxford Botanic Garden