*** Special Offer: For a £5 discount onHistoric Houses membership use code STEW05 ***
Historic Houses, the non-profit organisation representing more than 1,600 privately owned historic houses, castles and gardens in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Island has since 1984 run a Garden of the Year competition. It is sponsored by Christie’s auction house.
Wollerton Old Hall Garden
In 2024 the winner was Inverary Castle Garden in Scotland and in 2023 it was Glenarm Walled Garden in Northern Ireland.
However all eight gardens short-listed for the Garden of the Year2025 are in England.
Voting by the public to choose the winner has a closing date August 31st, 2025, so you have time this summer to visit a few of them and cast your vote here.
More than 300 of the Historic Houses properties are free-to-visit for members – see below for details of how to join – and that includes all of the eight gardens on this year’s short-list. So join up, start visiting and then vote!
Arundel Castle Gardens, West Sussex
The gardens and surrounding landscape cover 38 acres and, as one wanders around, there are panoramic views across the South Downs and along the River Arun. There is a wide variety of plants on display throughout the opening period from Spring to Autumn, including those in the herbaceous and tropical borders, in the organic walled garden and in the English Rose Garden. The wildflower meadows provide a vibrant contrast to the formal parts of the gardens.
Lowther Castle Gardens
Hestercombe Gardens, Somerset
The 50 acres of gardens provide a history lesson in garden design. The Georgian Landscape Gardens date back to the 1750s, followed by the Victorian Shrubbery. Next the Edwardian Formal Gardens, designed by Sir Edwin Luytens, show how garden design developed in the early 1900s. The gardens are open throughout the year.
Hole Park, Kent
The gardens surround a Georgian house which overlooks the scenic High Weald area. Designed after World War I initially as an Edwardian gentleman’s garden, it has developed through the efforts of four generations of the Barham family. Many attractive features including herbaceous borders, Yew topiary, a walled garden, pools and large sweeping lawned areas. The gardens are open from April to October.
Iford Manor Gardens, Wiltshire
Like other short-listed competitors, the gardens at Hole Park have evolved over the years through the dedicated work of private gardeners, including in this case the architect Harold Peta and members of the Cartwright-Hignett family. A Georgian terraced garden was developed in the early 1900s to include Mediterranean and Japanese influences including streamlets, colonnades and statues, with major restoration taking place over the last 60 years. The gardens are open from April to September.
The castle itself dates back to the start of the 19th Century, but in 1957 it was largely demolished, although the stark outer walls remained. The gardens within this ruined structure provide an initial striking aspect for visitors. But there is much more to see in the grounds in front of the castle with a curious mixture of formal 17th Century, Victorian and Edwardian garden styles. The gardens are open throughout the year.
Penshurst Place and Gardens, Kent
These gardens probably have the oldest pedigree of all the eight short-listed gardens, with records going back to 1346 and with the current formal structure dating back to the 1560s. The eleven distinct garden “rooms” have water features and statues to enhance the herbaceous borders and box hedging. There is long pink peony border, a Union Flag garden, designed to look like its name, and a Jubilee Walk with a host of colourful blooms. The gardens are open from Spring to Autumn.
The centuries old walled garden has always been an impressive feature with its with red-brick walls and tall yew hedges. The castle itself forms a dramatic back-drop. However a radical development of the land leading up to the walled gardens and the castle was opened in June 2024 and this includes a gardened amphitheatre in front of the stylish refreshment room, with a small streamlet flowing down. The gardens are open from March to October.
Raby Castle: Gardened Amphitheatre
Wollerton Old Hall Garden, Shropshire
The three acres of gardens surround the 16th Century timber-framed hall. There are a series of 14 linked gardens with hints of the Art & Crafts style. Carefully managed planting means that there are highlights to view throughout the garden’s opening period from April to September, including anemones, snowdrops and hellebores through to roses, dahlias and delphiniums.
Opening Times
Although there is some indication above as to when the gardens are open, always check on a property’s website before visiting, as opening times can vary, for example by special events being held.
If you intend to visit more than a couple of the Historic Houses properties, then taking up annual membership may save you money. Individual membership is £68 a year and joint membership £128 a year. However if you enter code STEW05 you will get a £5 discount when you join via the Historic Houses website. This applies to new members and if you wish to give annual membership as a gift.
To access these special rates, Under 'Rate Preference' select 'Senior Discount'Click on 'Special Rates' select 'Senior Rate'.• See discounts also at Best Western, Marriott, Radisson, Ramada andAccor
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• For a £5 discount on new membership, use code STEW05 on the Historic Houses website.
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Historic Houses: Garden of the Year Competition 2025
*** Special Offer: For a £5 discount on Historic Houses membership use code STEW05 ***
Historic Houses, the non-profit organisation representing more than 1,600 privately owned historic houses, castles and gardens in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Island has since 1984 run a Garden of the Year competition. It is sponsored by Christie’s auction house.
In 2024 the winner was Inverary Castle Garden in Scotland and in 2023 it was Glenarm Walled Garden in Northern Ireland.
However all eight gardens short-listed for the Garden of the Year 2025 are in England.
Voting by the public to choose the winner has a closing date August 31st, 2025, so you have time this summer to visit a few of them and cast your vote here.
More than 300 of the Historic Houses properties are free-to-visit for members – see below for details of how to join – and that includes all of the eight gardens on this year’s short-list. So join up, start visiting and then vote!
Arundel Castle Gardens, West Sussex
The gardens and surrounding landscape cover 38 acres and, as one wanders around, there are panoramic views across the South Downs and along the River Arun. There is a wide variety of plants on display throughout the opening period from Spring to Autumn, including those in the herbaceous and tropical borders, in the organic walled garden and in the English Rose Garden. The wildflower meadows provide a vibrant contrast to the formal parts of the gardens.
Hestercombe Gardens, Somerset
The 50 acres of gardens provide a history lesson in garden design. The Georgian Landscape Gardens date back to the 1750s, followed by the Victorian Shrubbery. Next the Edwardian Formal Gardens, designed by Sir Edwin Luytens, show how garden design developed in the early 1900s. The gardens are open throughout the year.
Hole Park, Kent
The gardens surround a Georgian house which overlooks the scenic High Weald area. Designed after World War I initially as an Edwardian gentleman’s garden, it has developed through the efforts of four generations of the Barham family. Many attractive features including herbaceous borders, Yew topiary, a walled garden, pools and large sweeping lawned areas. The gardens are open from April to October.
Iford Manor Gardens, Wiltshire
Like other short-listed competitors, the gardens at Hole Park have evolved over the years through the dedicated work of private gardeners, including in this case the architect Harold Peta and members of the Cartwright-Hignett family. A Georgian terraced garden was developed in the early 1900s to include Mediterranean and Japanese influences including streamlets, colonnades and statues, with major restoration taking place over the last 60 years. The gardens are open from April to September.
Lowther Castle Gardens, Cumbria
The castle itself dates back to the start of the 19th Century, but in 1957 it was largely demolished, although the stark outer walls remained. The gardens within this ruined structure provide an initial striking aspect for visitors. But there is much more to see in the grounds in front of the castle with a curious mixture of formal 17th Century, Victorian and Edwardian garden styles. The gardens are open throughout the year.
Penshurst Place and Gardens, Kent
These gardens probably have the oldest pedigree of all the eight short-listed gardens, with records going back to 1346 and with the current formal structure dating back to the 1560s. The eleven distinct garden “rooms” have water features and statues to enhance the herbaceous borders and box hedging. There is long pink peony border, a Union Flag garden, designed to look like its name, and a Jubilee Walk with a host of colourful blooms. The gardens are open from Spring to Autumn.
Raby Castle, Park, and Gardens, Co. Durham
The centuries old walled garden has always been an impressive feature with its with red-brick walls and tall yew hedges. The castle itself forms a dramatic back-drop. However a radical development of the land leading up to the walled gardens and the castle was opened in June 2024 and this includes a gardened amphitheatre in front of the stylish refreshment room, with a small streamlet flowing down. The gardens are open from March to October.
Wollerton Old Hall Garden, Shropshire
The three acres of gardens surround the 16th Century timber-framed hall. There are a series of 14 linked gardens with hints of the Art & Crafts style. Carefully managed planting means that there are highlights to view throughout the garden’s opening period from April to September, including anemones, snowdrops and hellebores through to roses, dahlias and delphiniums.
Opening Times
Although there is some indication above as to when the gardens are open, always check on a property’s website before visiting, as opening times can vary, for example by special events being held.
If you intend to visit more than a couple of the Historic Houses properties, then taking up annual membership may save you money. Individual membership is £68 a year and joint membership £128 a year. However if you enter code STEW05 you will get a £5 discount when you join via the Historic Houses website. This applies to new members and if you wish to give annual membership as a gift.
We have reviewed many free-to-visit Historic Houses properties on this website. See also Historic Houses versus National Trust – Which to join?
POSTED 30th JUNE 2025 by STEVE HANSON. The photographs were taken by BARBARA HANSON.