Spring is on the way, and that means it's time to get out and enjoy the beautiful tulip displays popping up all over the country. The National Garden Scheme, the charity that raises money by providing unique access to private gardens, recommends these 36 amazing spaces showcasing incredible tulips that you can go visit.
From grand country estates to cozy urban oases, these horticultural gems are the perfect spots to wander and soak in the vibrant colours of the season. Whether you're a tulip aficionado or just someone who loves appreciating beautiful gardens, this list will reveal some incredible gardens to visit that aren't always open to the public.
Gardens to visit with beautiful tulips
A list of 36 amazing gardens to visit with tulips around the UK, arranged by county.
Bedfordshire
Townsend Farmhouse
A tree lined driveway with young specimen trees and mature broad leaves rising above swathes of spring bulbs. The garden is planted for year-round interest with hyacinths, tulips, fritillaria, early flowering lilacs and viburnums providing texture and scent in late spring.
Opens as part of the Steppingley Village Gardens on Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 April and Sunday 24 & Monday 25 May. ngs.org.uk
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Cambridgeshire
The Chaucer Road Group
Chaucer Road Gardens are fine examples of large Edwardian gardens tucked away on the south side of Cambridge. They are all very different in size and character, some with glimpses of a bygone age. There are magnificent old trees, fine lawns, ponds and a water meadow with river frontage and rare breed sheep. Planting is varied, sometimes unusual, and in constant flux.
Opens Sunday 3 and Monday 4 May. ngs.org.uk
Netherhall Manor
An elegant English garden, touched with antiquity, and for those fond of old fashioned plants, a veritable joy. In spring, see our Tudor primroses, daffodils and hellebores as well as crown imperials and English florist tulips. Throughout summer there is a showing of Victorian pelargoniums, calceolaria and heliotropes.
Opens Sunday 5 April & Sunday 3 May. ngs.org.uk
Trinity Hall, Wychfield Site
A beautiful, large garden that complements the interesting and varied architecture. The Edwardian Wychfield House and its gardens contrast with the recent, contemporary development located off Storey's Way. Majestic trees, tulips and spring flowers on the cherry mound, shady, under-storey, woodland planting and established lawns work together to provide an inspiring garden. Tours at 12 and 1pm.
Opens with majestic trees, tulips and spring flowers on Sunday 12 April. ngs.org.uk
Carmartenshire
Gelli Uchaf
This 1½ acre garden complements our C17 Longhouse and 11 acre smallholding. In the garden trees and shrubs are underplanted with thousands of snowdrops, crocus, cyclamen, and daffodils, together with many rhododendrons, skimmias, clematis, rambling roses and hydrangeas. There are several wildflower hay meadows, wildlife ponds, stream and shepherd's hut to explore beyond the main garden.
Opens with pre-booking essential Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April. ngs.org.uk
Cheshire
Manley Knoll
Arts & Crafts garden created in the early 1900s. Covering 6 acres, divided into different rooms encompassing parterres, clipped yew hedging, ornamental ponds and herbaceous borders. Banks of rhododendron and azaleas frame a far-reaching view of the Cheshire Plain. Also a magical folly garden with waterfall and woodland walks.
Opens on Sunday 17 May. ngs.org.uk
Derbyshire
The Paddock
Half an acre garden incorporating small formal garden, stream and koi filled pond. Stone path over bridge, up some steps, past small copse, across the stream at the top and back down again. Past herbaceous border towards a pergola where cream teas can be enjoyed.
Opens Sunday 12 April & Sunday 12 July and By Arrangement April – September. ngs.org.uk
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Dorset
The Old Rectory, Litton Cheney
Steep paths lead to beguiling 4 acres of natural woodland with many springs, streams, 2 pools, one a natural swimming pool planted with native plants. Formal front garden, designed by Arne Maynard, with pleached crabtree border, topiary and soft planting including tulips, peonies, roses and verbascums. Walled garden with informal planting, kitchen garden, orchard with spring blossom and 350 rose bushes for a cut flower business.
Opens Sunday 26 and Wednesday 29 April. ngs.org.uk
Essex
Furzelea
Country garden of just under an acre designed, planted and maintained by the owners over time to showcase the seasons with colour, scent, and form. Paths lead through archways and box hedging to lawns and flower beds amassed with seasonal planting of shrubs, roses, and herbaceous perennials, bulbs and dahlias. Tulips, salvias and grasses of particular interest along with many unusual plants.
Opens with wonderful displays of tulips on Sunday 3 May. ngs.org.uk
Ulting Wick
Listed black barns provide backdrop for vibrant and exuberant planting in eight acres. Snowdrops, narcissus, tulips, flowing innovative spring planting, herbaceous borders, pond, mature weeping willows, kitchen garden, dramatic late summer beds with zingy, tender, exotic plant combinations. Drought tolerant perennial and mini annual wildflower meadows.
A paradise for tulip lovers, opens Sunday 19 April and Friday 24 April. ngs.org.uk
Gloucestershire
Charlton Down House
Extensive country house gardens in 180 acre equestrian estate. Formal terraces, perennial borders, walled topiary garden, enclosed cut flower garden and large glasshouse and tulip displays in spring.
Opens on Thursday 30 April. ngs.org.uk
Daylesford House
Magnificent landscape grounds created in 1790 for Warren Hastings, greatly restored and enhanced by present owners under organic regime. Lakeside and woodland walks within natural wildflower meadows. Large formal walled garden, centred around orchid, peach and working glasshouses. Trellised rose garden. Collection of citrus within period orangery. Secret garden, pavilion, formal pools. Photos not allowed.
Opens Wednesday 15 April. ngs.org.uk
The Gate
Compact cottage style garden planted with a colourful display of tulips in spring, and with perennials, annuals and climbers in the walled courtyard of a former coaching inn. Also a separate, productive, walled kitchen garden with espaliers and other fruit trees.
Opens Sunday 26 April. ngs.org.uk
Gwent
Glebe House
Borders bursting with spring colour including camassia, narcissi, smyrnium and alliums. South facing terrace with wisteria and honeysuckle, decorative vegetable garden and orchard densely underplanted with succession of bulbs. Some topiary and formal hedging in 1½ acre garden in wonderful setting of Usk valley AONB.
Opens Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 May. ngs.org.uk
High Glanau Manor
Listed Arts and Crafts garden laid out by H Avray Tipping 100 years ago. Original features inc impressive stone terraces with far-reaching views over the Vale of Usk to Blorenge, Skirrid, Sugar Loaf and Brecon Beacons. Pergola, herbaceous borders, Edwardian glasshouse, rhododendrons, azaleas, tulips, orchard with wildflowers. Originally open for the National Garden Scheme in 1927.
Opens on Sunday 26 April. ngs.org.uk
Hampshire
Lord Wandsworth College
Lord Wandsworth College is set in 1200 acres of rolling farmland and wooded valleys. The main college campus is set around formal lawns with mature paper bark maples, cedar trees, cherry trees, and magnolias. The herbaceous borders are planted with an array of tulips, daffodils, and alliums. A South African inspired border runs the full length of the new Science Centre.
Opens on Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 April. ngs.org.uk
Terstan
A garden for all seasons, developed over 55 yrs into a profusely planted, contemporary cottage garden in peaceful surroundings. There is a constantly changing display in pots, starting with tulips and continuing with many unusual plants.
Opens on Sunday 19 April. ngs.org.uk
Kent
Hurst House
A Victorian walled garden under restoration since 2021, with restored 1902 Thomas Messenger vinery and glasshouse, a beautiful formal garden with far-reaching views, filled with perennials, roses and other unusual plants, an orchard and ponds. The wildflower meadow is an ongoing project and a native woodland was planted in 2022 with a Woodland Trust grant.
Opens on Saturday 23 May. ngs.org.uk
Whitstable Joy Lane Gardens
Enjoy a day visiting a dozen or so eclectic gardens along Joy Lane and neighbourhood by the sea. From Arts & Crafts villas to mid century bungalows, some productive, others wildlife friendly, large or compact, we garden on heavy clay, are prone to northerly winds and hope to inspire those new to gardening with our ingenuity and style.
A dozen eclectic gardens by the sea open Sunday 10 May. ngs.org.uk
Monmouthshire
The Monmouth Gardens Group
Five very different town gardens open under the banner of Monmouth Gardens. The Nelson Garden dates back to Roman times, and as the name suggests has links with Lord Nelson. St Johns, in Glendower St is a charming walled garden which has undergone extensive restoration with a sunken central lawn and deep herbaceous borders. Entrance to both these gardens is via Chippenham Fields. Cornwall House has a beautiful walled garden and productive kitchen garden dating from the seventeenth century. North Parade House is a hidden gem with a surprisingly large and secluded walled garden with mature specimen trees, herbaceous borders and a kitchen garden. The Gables is a terraced garden surrounding a beautiful Arts and Crafts house. The garden leads down to the River Monnow and has beautiful herbaceous borders.
Opens on Sunday 17 May. ngs.org.uk
Norfolk
Wretham Lodge
A 10 acre garden surrounding former Georgian rectory. In spring masses of species tulips, hellebores, fritillaries, daffodils and narcissi; bluebell walk and small woodland walk. Topiary pyramids and yew hedging lead to double herbaceous borders. Shrub borders and rose beds (home of the Wretham Rose). Traditionally maintained walled garden with fruit, vegetables and perennials.
Opens Sunday 26 April. ngs.org.uk
Northamptonshire
The Old Bakery
Originally designed in 2000 and changes made in 2025, the garden now features terraces and practical spaces for both enjoyment and relaxation. Planting ranges from exotic to unusual, especially planting for shady areas. A nineteenth century gazebo houses a unique collection of marble busts of the four Queen-Empresses, with roses and clematis named after them.
Opens Sunday 12 April as part of the Flore Gardens group. ngs.org.uk
Oxfordshire
Broughton Grange
An impressive 25 acres of gardens and light woodland in an attractive Oxfordshire setting. The centrepiece is a large terraced walled garden created by Tom Stuart-Smith in 2001. Vision has been used to blend the gardens into the countryside. Good early displays of bulbs followed by outstanding herbaceous planting in summer. Formal and informal areas combine to make this a special site inc newly laid arboretum with many ongoing projects.
Opens with spectacular tulip displays on Sunday 26 April. ngs.org.uk
Shropshire
The Bramleys
A large country garden extending to two acres with a variety of trees and shrubs, herbaceous borders and a woodland with the Cound Brook flowing through. A courtyard oasis welcomes you as you enter the garden with far-reaching views over open countryside.
Opens on Sunday 3 May. ngs.org.uk
Leicestershire
Westbrooke House
Westbrooke House is a late Victorian property built in 1887. The gardens comprise 6 acres in total and are approached through a tree lined driveway of mature limes and giant redwoods. Key features are walled flower garden, walled kitchen garden, fernery, lower garden, wildlife pond, spring garden, lawns, woodland paths and a meadow with a wildflower area, ha-ha and hornbeam avenue.
Opens on Sunday 26 April. ngs.org.uk
Somerset
Watcombe
A mature Edwardian garden with colour-themed, informally planted herbaceous borders. Strong framework separating several different areas; pergola with varied wisteria, unusual topiary, box hedging, lime walk, pleached hornbeams, cordon fruit trees, 2 small formal ponds and growing collection of clematis. Many unusual trees and shrubs. Small vegetable plot.
Opens on Sunday 12 April, Sunday 17 May & Sunday 7 June. ngs.org.uk
Surrey and London
51 The Chase
Charles, past Chairman of Society of Garden Designers, and Rupert, Chairman of NGS and Garden Museum have created the garden over 40 years. Spectacular in spring when 2500 tulips bloom among camellias, irises and tree peonies. Scented front garden. Rupert's geodetic dome shelters seedlings, succulents and the subtropical. Roses, brugmansia, hibiscus and dahlias later in the season.
London. Opens on Tuesday 14 and Sunday 19 April. ngs.org.uk
11 West Hill
A hidden gem tucked away. A beautiful country cottage style garden set in half an acre, designed by Sam Aldridge of Eden Restored. The garden flows through pathways, lawn, vegetable and play areas. Flower beds showcase outstanding tulips, and informal seating areas throughout the garden allow you to absorb the wonderful garden, whilst observing our ex battery chickens and rescue rabbits.
Surrey. A hidden gem that opens on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April. ngs.org.uk
Sussex
47 Denmans Lane
This beautiful and tranquil one-acre garden was described by Sussex Life as ‘a garden where plants star’. Created by the owners over the past 20 years, it is planted for interest throughout the year. Spring bulbs are followed by azaleas, rhododendrons, roses, and herbaceous perennials. The garden also has ponds, vegetable and fruit gardens. An extensive choice of plants and home-made jams for sale.
Sussex. Opens on Sunday 22 March and Sunday 5, Monday 6 April, Sunday 3 May and Monday 4 May. ngs.org.uk
The Old Rectory, Warbleton
Nestled in the High Weald AONB, The Old Rectory garden was re-imagined by renowned designer Arne Maynard. His vision blends formal elements like yew and beech topiary, a knot garden, and herbaceous borders with wild flowers and rambling roses. A stream separates the formal garden from an orchard interplanted with roses and wild flowers. Over 10,000 tulips bloom in spring.
East Sussex. Opens on Thursday 23 April, pre-booking essential. ngs.org.uk
The Oast
A one-acre garden in an idyllic High Weald setting with a beautiful view. Year-round interest, with highlights in spring and late summer into autumn. In April, over 4000 tulips and other spring bulbs bloom, while later in summer, dahlias, salvias, grasses, and asters are interplanted with colourful annuals.
East Sussex. Opens on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April. ngs.org.uk
Penns in the Rocks
A large garden with a spectacular outcrop of rocks, 140 million yrs old. The grounds including a lake, temples, and woods. Daffodils, bluebells, azaleas, and magnolias. An old walled garden with herbaceous borders, roses, and shrubs. A 1928 pool and pond gardens.
East Sussex. Opens Sunday 29 March and Sunday 17 May. ngs.org.uk
Manor of Dean
Traditional English garden with extensive views of the South Downs. Herbaceous borders, early spring bulbs, bluebell woodland walk, walled kitchen garden with fruit, vegetables and cutting flowers.
West Sussex. Opens on Sunday 26 April. ngs.org.uk
The Old Vicarage
A truly creative garden, nurtured over 35 years to become a visitor favourite. Spanning three-and-a-half acres, it features formal topiary, seasonal borders, a contemporary water sculpture, an Italianate gazebo, specimen and mature trees, a Japanese garden with waterfall and tea house, a large copse with a stream, a stumpery and treehouse, and a kitchen garden with fruit trees.
Sussex. Opens with pre-booking on Thursday 2, Thursday 9 April, Thursday 16, Thursday 23 and Thursday 30 April. ngs.org.uk
Yorkshire
Saltmarshe Hall
Sits in 17 acres. Parkland, woodland and five acres of ornamental gardens created by previous owners. Their design has been adhered to by subsequent gardeners. Victorian-style pond, high walls with borders planted for all year interest. Mature shrubs and trees. Vegetables and herbs grown for chef. Orchard. Lime avenue. Enjoy a pre-booked afternoon tea in the River Garden with its white floral palette.
Yorkshire. Five acres of ornamental gardens opens on Monday 4 May. ngs.org.uk
Scape Lodge
A contemporary country garden at 1000ft in the Pennines on a steeply sloping site with far-reaching views. Gravel paths lead between mixed borders on many levels. Colour-themed informal planting sits comfortably in the landscape and gives year-round interest. Steps lead to a terraced kitchen and cutting garden. Gazebo, pond, shade garden, large collection of pots and tender plants.
West Yorkshire. Opens on Sunday 3 and Sunday 10 May. ngs.org.uk
