Whether you are a keen gardener or simply love the outdoors, the county of Hampshire, in the south of the U.K., is a great place to explore, as it has some beautiful gardens which are open to the public. Here are details of just a few of them:

Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway (Exbury, Southampton, Hampshire)

Situated within the New Forest, England’s smallest National Park, Exbury Gardens is the perfect place to go for a family day out in Hampshire. The Exbury Estate was purchased by Lionel de Rothschild in 1919, and he created the gardens, which were opened to the public in 1955.

Lionel de Rothschild, who died in 2009, was particularly known for his love of rhododendrons, and the Exbury Gardens contain more than 10,000 of these flowers. Other plants within Exbury Gardens include camellias, magnolias and hydrangeas. The gardens are also home to many rare trees and shrubs.

You can explore the gardens on foot, but you can also take a trip on the Exbury Gardens Steam Railway. The miniature train will take you on a 20-minute trip through the gardens, and the railway follows a one and a quarter mile circular route.

There are two places to stop for something to eat and drink within Exbury Gardens: Mr Eddy’s Restaurant and Tea Rooms, and the Tennis Court Tea Gardens. There is also a gift shop and a plant centre, where you can buy flowers, plants and shrubs.

The gardens are usually open daily between March and November, but check the website for exact times and dates. Admission fees apply.

Furzey Gardens (School Lane, Minstead, Lyndhurst, Hampshire)

Situated in the beautiful New Forest National Park, Furzey Gardens are set around a restored 16th century Cobb Cottage. You can take a tour of the cottage, before exploring the gardens, which were established in 1922.

The gardens contain many different species of plant, including rhododendrons and azaleas, and there are also footbridges, secret paths and peaceful spots in which to sit and relax.

Young children will love the play area, which contains African-style huts, a treehouse and swings, and you can also see a thatching exhibition, and visit the “Will and Em” Fine Art Gallery and the Craft Gallery. There is a coffee shop on site, and you can also buy plants to take home with you.

Furzey Gardens are open daily throughout the year. Admission fees apply.

The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens (Jermyns Lane, Ampfield, Romsey, Hampshire)

The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens cover more than 180 acres of land and were established by Sir Harold Hillier in 1953. Today, they contain more than 42,000 plants, and there is something to see throughout the year.

There are 11 National Plant Collections within the gardens, and they were also included on English Heritage’s Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in 1997.

Highlights include: the Winter Garden, which includes more than 650 different plants; the Gurkha Memorial Garden; the Brentry Woodland area, which contains most of the rhododendron collection; the Bog Garden, where you can see a number of different types of bamboo; and National Collection Glade, where you can see examples of the different plants from the various National Collections in the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens.

Image: Charlesdrakew