The English county of Cheshire is home to some of the most beautiful gardens in the country, making it the perfect place for gardeners and garden-lovers to take a holiday. Here are details of just some of the gardens in Cheshire which are open to the public.

Arley Hall and Gardens (Arley, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 6NA)

There are 8 acres of formal gardens to explore at Arley Hall, as well as a woodland garden and arboretum, so it’s the perfect place to visit on a day-trip if you’re staying in Cheshire. 

Highlights of the gardens include: the Pleach Lime Avenue, which was planted in the 1850s; the Flag Garden, in which you’ll find roses and lavender; the Fish Garden, which was planted during the 1920s; the Victorian Vinery, where you’ll find fig trees, olives and ginger plants; and The Grove, Arley Hall’s arboretum.

You can also take a tour of the stunning Arley Hall and enjoy a meal in the Tudor Barn Restaurant. Arley Hall also has a gift shop, and you can buy a range of plants and flowers from the on-site nursery.

Tatton Park (Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN)

The gardens at Cheshire’s Tatton Park cover more than 50 acres, and the first formal garden on the estate, now known as Charlotte’s Lawn, was laid out in 1814.

Highlights of Tatton Park’s gardens include the Rose Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Walled Kitchen Garden, and the Glasshouses, and you can buy a range of plants and produce from the Garden Shop.

There are also plenty of other things to see and do at Tatton Park, so it’s a great place to go for a family day out. You can take tours of the Regency-style Mansion and the Tudor Old Hall, see pigs, donkeys, goats, sheep and other animals at the Farm, or take part in a range of outdoor activities in the estate’s parkland. There are also a range of gift shops and a self-service restaurant at Tatton Park.

Norton Priory Museum and Gardens (Tudor Road, Manor Park, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 1SX).

Norton Priory, in the Cheshire town of Runcorn, was home to Augustinian canons in the Middle Ages and later became the residence of the Brooke family. Today, you can explore the priory ruins, see a range of artefacts in the museum and take a stroll in the grounds, which cover 38 acres.

Garden-lovers can explore the 3.5 acre Walled Garden, which is home to the National Collection of Tree Quince, as well as a rose walk, a fruit garden, a vegetable garden and an orchard. You can also see the priory’s Herb Garden and explore the woodland Sculpture Trail.

Other gardens in Cheshire include Lyme Park Gardens in Disley, Dunge Valley Rhododendrun Gardens near Kettleshulme, and Cholmondeley Castle Gardens.

Another essential destination for gardeners visiting Cheshire is Bridgemere Nursery and Garden World, near Nantwich, which claims to be the largest garden centre in Britain.  It has more than 6 acres of show gardens, and you can also buy flowers, plants and a range of other garden-related products there.

Image:  © Copyright David Tranter and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence