The most beautiful parks and gardens United Kingdom

Hyde Park, London's green lung, is the largest and best known park in the capital. It is also the favourite of Londoners who come here to jog or simply walk, especially on Sundays. Unlike many French parks, you can do almost anything in Hyde Park: cycling, rollerblading, rowing, horse riding, picnicking... Historically, it was Henri VIII who acquired this land from the monks of Westminster Abbey in 1536. It will serve as a hunting ground until James I accedes to the throne and authorizes access to it. The site had several uses: an important gathering place under Charles II, it hosted the Universal Exhibition in 1851 and was transformed into a potato field during the Second World War. In winter it hosts the Winter Wonderland, a Christmas village, and in summer we like to come for a picnic like the real English.

Diana Memorial Fountain. Open from April to August from 10am to 8pm, in September from 10am to 7pm, from March to October from 10am to 6pm and from November to February from 10am to 4pm. The memorial is generally closed once a year, at the end of October-early November, for maintenance purposes. The memorial was inaugurated on July 6, 2004. It represents a fountain with contemporary forms whose design, created by the American architect Kathryn Gustafson, is a metaphor that reflects Diana's life with two waves separating, one of which forms a waterfall, eddies, bubbles and eventually joins the other in a quiet pool. Water is constantly renewed, drawn directly from the city's drinking water reserves.

Marble Arch. At the northern corner of Hyde Park, Marble Arch is a vast white Carrara marble monument built in 1928 by architect John Nash. Marble Arch is inspired by Constantine's Arc de Triomphe in Rome. It was originally located in the Mall and served as a doorway to Buckingham Palace, but was moved in 1851 during the extensive development of Buckingham Palace by Queen Victoria to its present location.

Speaker's Corner. Speakers' Corner is a public area where it is possible to speak freely. At this place, everyone is allowed to speak as long as what they say is not in violation of the law. The police rarely intervene, usually when listeners complain or when the language is really vulgar. This is where fundamentalists of all stripes come to shout out their convictions. The comments are most often political or religious.

Created in 1862 by Osgood Mackenzie, this garden is a festival of colors on 20 hectares which will delight the amateurs of the kind. It is in itself a feat, because it was born on desert land, where nothing (or so little) was supposed to grow. It is a garden both surprising by its location and of an almost unequalled richness... Passion obliges! One can admire rhododendrons from the Himalayas, eucalyptus from Tasmania and a vast collection of plants from New Zealand, Chile and South Africa. These rare varieties from all over the world thrive in a microclimate provided by the Gulf Stream. In addition, you can see Scotland's iconic wildlife: red squirrels, deer, otters, seals and golden eagles. With a bit of luck, the sea eagle will also be there! This subtropical garden is not to be missed.

Inverawe House: 5 minutes walk from the Visitor Centre, this house is a museum space that will plunge you into the middle of the ^20th century, with objects to touch and experiments to conduct. Very interactive, it has won awards for its original and playful approach.

Sawyer Gallery: The site hosts artists in residence, it is also a place of contemporary art and therefore exhibitions, with new items every year, and also meetings with the creators.

To eat: Inverawe Garden also has a restaurant and a café(Bothy café). Everything is fresh and local, imported "from field to fork": a good excuse to stay a little longer in this corner of paradise!

This botanical garden is a perfect outing in good weather and rainy weather, as you can enjoy a tropical climate in the greenhouses. Lovers of plants or neophytes, everyone will find, in the rarity, multiplicity and beauty of the specimens presented material to be amazed. It is still one of the most beautiful collections in the world! Guided tours are available and explanatory panels provide a wealth of fascinating information, both on amazing natural phenomena and on conservation work.

Glasshouses are a visit in the tour. Their access is not free, unlike the rest of the park, but they are worth discovering. There are 10 of them, each corresponding to a climatic zone and specific species. 10 rooms, 10 climates (hot!), 10 floristic universes! We discover with happiness, a splendid garden of water lilies, an incredible collection of orchids, carnivorous plants, succulent plants... The design of the premises is also interesting, since the greenhouses were built between 1834, in a pre-Victorian style, and 1967, with a more classical and wise simplicity.

Exhibitions are also presented in free access, in the building that hosts you. You will be able to discover photo exhibitions, artists' exhibitions and interactive playgrounds working to raise awareness of the environment. Finally, the Garden offers regular thematic activities throughout the year.

St James's Park is London's central park, with its 23 hectares and lake dotted with ducks, geese and pelicans. It's London's oldest royal park, surrounded by three palaces: Westminster, St James's and Buckingham. Close to this royal attraction, it's an ideal spot for a relaxing break or country picnic amid lush vegetation, pelicans and squirrels. The vegetation is lush, sun loungers are available for a fee in summer, and classical music concerts are held regularly.

Created in 1433, this hilltop park offers panoramic views over the Thames, the Docklands and the City. Punctuated by historic buildings such as the Royal Observatory, where the Greenwich meridian runs and which serves as a reference point for calculating time around the world, it has always maintained a strong attachment to royalty. It was badly damaged during the Second World War. Today, it has been restored to its original form and is a must-see for visitors to Greenwich. Greenery, calm and pleasure.

The garden. Kensington Gardens adjoins Hyde Park to create a complex more than 7.5 km long. The garden was originally the Kensington Palace garden chosen by William III and Mary II for their London home. But it was Queen Caroline, George II's wife, who, in 1728, gave the garden its present form by creating Lake Serpentine. It remained closed for much of the 18th century and gradually reopened for high society. It was after a series of improvements commissioned by Queen Victoria that the Italian gardens and the Prince Albert Memorial were created.

Peter Pan. The character invented by James Matthew Barrie is present in the form of a sculpture that all children will think of greeting each other with the promise that they will never grow up.

Albert Memorial. Located south of Kensington Gardens, this memorial is commissioned by Queen Victoria to commemorate the memory of her beloved husband Prince Albert of Saxony Coburg-Gotha. It is based on Sir George Gilbert Scott's plans in the neo-Gothic style. Prince Albert is depicted sitting surrounded by allegorical sculptures: four groups depict Victorian industrial arts and sciences (agriculture, commerce, technology and industry) and four groups illustrate the four continents (Europe, Asia, Africa and America), each continent being adorned with an animal (the bull for Europe, the elephant for Asia, the camel for Africa and the buffalo for the Americas).

This immense 166-hectare park was designed by John Nash in 1811. Nicknamed "the jewel in the crown", Henry VIII used it as a hunting ground until 1646. It was John Nash who modified its appearance, creating sumptuous terraces, a lake and a canal, lined with villas, of which only 8 were finally built out of the 56 planned. In the early ^20th century, Queen Mary's Gardens was added. Regent's Park features over 400 varieties of roses, fountains and sculptures... You'll find a sports course, one of the largest outdoor sports facilities in London, with a soccer pitch and a cricket pitch, among others. Also within the park is London Zoo, home to a collection of 755 species of animals, making it one of the largest collections in the UK... To the west, the dome and minarets of London's central mosque can be seen on the horizon. Primrose Hill, just to the north of Regent's Park and a little higher up, offers a beautiful view of the whole of London. The park is also crossed by the charming Regent's Canal, which you can wander up and down. One of London's most pleasant parks, it's the perfect place for a picnic when the weather's right. As soon as the weather warms up, the English come out to stroll and laze in the sun. Regent's Park is also home to the famous Open Air Theatre, which presents classic plays in a bucolic, original and poetic setting.

Not every capital city in the world can boast of having a volcano right in the city centre. Edinburgh has two. While Castle Rock is less impressive and has been covered by the castle, Arthur's Seat is a 251-metre giant that gives a real highland flavour to anyone who climbs it. The origin of its name is a mystery and many like to think that it is linked to the legendary Celtic king, although this remains unlikely. At its feet, the vast plateau that ends in 46-metre cliffs facing Queen's Drive is called Salisbury Crags. Together they form Holyrood Park, a 260-hectare park created in 1541 by James V on the grounds of a former royal hunting reserve. The most direct route to conquer Arthur's Seat is on its eastern slope, but the most popular trail is probably the Radical Road trail from the west, a few steps from Holyrood Palace. Built on the initiative of the writer Walter Scott, this small construction site was intended to give work to idle weavers and to make walkers appreciate the natural and heritage heritage heritage of the site. Along the way, one can see St. Margaret's Loch, an artificial lake where geese and ducks paddle, and the ruins of St. Antony's Chapel. Once up there, the view is spectacular. At one glance, one embraces Old Town, New Town, the Firth of Forth and the Lothian. Allow about 2 hours for the hike, good shoes and enough to cover yourself.

An exceptional garden. You could easily spend the whole day visiting it, with over 50,000 species of living plants. Every season brings its own surprises, and of course it's at its most beautiful in spring and summer. A Unesco World Heritage Site since 2003, it offers a breathtaking botanical world tour. The palm grove lets you discover tropical and humid environments. The Princess of Wales Conservatory takes you on a discovery of arid zones and all kinds of cacti and succulents. The Mediterranean garden presents all the varieties of plants and flowers found in southern Europe and southern France. The temperate house is another greenhouse, featuring all manner of exotic and tropical plants. Queen Charlotte's cottage recreates a ^17th-century garden at a time when cultivated plants were mainly used for their medicinal virtues. The bamboo garden, the pagoda and the Japanese house are all references to Asia and its exotic plants. And that's not all: there are dozens more places to discover, including a lake, an azalea garden, a rhododendron garden and a rose garden. To the northeast of the garden, Kew Palace rounds off this magnificent excursion in style. And let's not forget the sublime Temperate House, the world's largest Victorian glasshouse, which reopened in 2018 after 5 years of renovation.

London's largest royal park, with almost 1,000 ha and a unique view of the River Thames from Richmond Hill. Set amidst hills, woods and ponds, it's a haven of peace for all visitors. It's a far cry from the hustle and bustle of central London. The park is a protected area, formerly used as a royal hunting ground by King Charles ^I. Deer and stags still roam freely here, crossing the paths of golfers, joggers and even horse riders.

This garden stretches between the Stour River and the Westgate Towers. The walk is pleasant.

Don't miss Primrose Hill which, as its name suggests, is a hill in the northward extension of Regent's Park. It's a trendy little park where local Londoners like to come for picnics, but Primrose Hill above all offers one of the best views of London. Don't hesitate to take a stroll through the pretty streets of Primrose Hill, via Regent's Park Road and Chalcot Crescent. A real gem. Many celebrities live behind these superb colorful facades, including Kate Moss and Jude Law.

To visit Dunollie is to visit 3 sites. First, Dunollie Castle: its ruins, with a last renovation completed in 2019, offer a superb panoramic view on the Oban bay. Then the house-museum: a house from 1745 where each room has been renovated and fitted out to display old objects (^19th century) testifying to the daily life of its occupants. From the kitchen to the children's rooms, we discover everything about the life of a family in the 1800s. The museum also tells the story of the MacDougall clan and, through their epic story, traces the history of Scotland. Then, the park: its course invites to better understand the various invasions which marked the history of Scotland. It is also an opportunity to learn more about the civilization and mythology of the Vikings.

Regularly during the school vacations, the site offers practical and manual workshops of 1 hour for children (£5), which can be an excellent idea to familiarize them with English. There is also the possibility to follow a guided tour at no extra cost or to organize specific visits: adapted to children, focusing on the discovery of the gardens, taking a closer look at the old textiles..

You can have lunch, a picnic or a snack on the spot, thanks to The Kettle café and its menu, made of home-made products, very tasty and at mini prices.

This estate offers many attractions, especially if you love nature and have a soft spot for landscape art. It has been the learning site of the Heritage Gardening School since 1960, which allows it to present topiary art in all its forms and inspirations, from the most classical to the most modern, including a rose garden, a rock garden and a walled garden. The site is also a wonderful nature reserve: you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Galloway hills and the Dee valley, and you can observe ospreys, peregrine falcons, wading birds, geese... The star of the place is quite different: it is the bats! Indeed, they are at home here, in a protected area. Eight species of bats live here and can be observed during guided walks.

Manor House : The baronial mansion is also a highlight of the visit. Threave House has been partially restored as a museum, bringing back to life the decor of what was a Victorian hunting lodge. Guided tours are available for more information.

Walking tour: If you want to extend your stay in this beautiful estate, be aware that several walking tours, from 1h30 to 2h, are available on site or downloadable on the Internet. Snacks: Threave's Terrace Café, renovated in winter 2018, is a destination in its own right, with homemade cakes and dishes and no new, ultra-designed interior crafted with recycled materials. Or stop in the center of the garden at Stables café.

A member of the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, this garden is home to rare and magnificent species, just like its southern neighbours: Logan and Dawyck gardens. On its 121 hectares of protected land, you can admire some 300 species of rhododendrons, gigantic giant redwoods and some trees that are more than 150 years old. Bhutan, Chile and Tasmania have real small enclaves of their flora here, and there is also a coffee shop on site.

The Water of Leith Walkway is over 13 km long, between Balerno in the west and Leith Harbour in the east. This Garden of Eden is a real luxury for such a big city. Ideal for escaping the hustle and bustle of the streets, it crosses the lush green Dean Gardens along the river. You will see some of the statues from 6 Times, a project by the artist Antony Gormley, who designed the Angel of the North in Newcastle. Between Miller Row and Saunders Street is St Bernard's Well, a small neo-classical temple dedicated to the health goddess Hygieia.

Located between Hyde Park and Saint James, Green Park once had various infrastructures: several lodges, a library, an ice house and two huge "temples" called respectively the Temple of Peace and the Temple of Concord. All of them were destroyed in the 19th century. Hugh's Temple of Peace was erected in 1749 to mark the end of the Austrian War of Succession, it was demolished during a fireworks display. The Concorde temple, which dates back to 1814, was built on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Hanoverian dynasty. In 1668 and under Charles II Green Park was home to deer. It was then called Upper St James' s Park. Before Charles II who made it a royal park, Green Park was only a marshy ground to bury the lepers of the Saint James Hospital. In 1746, it was named after its current name, The Green Park. At the beginning of the 18th century, several facilities made it even more pleasant. The Tyburn swimming pool was built, and in the 1720s a reservoir was installed to provide water for St. James Palace and the Buckingham house. This reservoir has been called the Queen's Basin, and is becoming a popular place for its beautiful walk. The park was opened to the general public in 1826. The Ranger's Lodge, Queen's Library, Queen's Basin and Tyburn Basin were all demolished in 1855. During the Second World War, it was used as a vegetable garden for the inhabitants. It is one of London's eight royal parks.

The Glasgow Botanic Gardens are a popular meeting place for local residents and a popular meeting place in the West End. On the banks of the Kelvin River, many people come here for pleasant walks, jogging, or even a picnic. There are plants from all over the world, including orchids and begonias, but especially the Kibble Palace. These huge 1873 Victorian greenhouses are among the largest in the kingdom and cover 2,137 m². A brochure will allow you to optimize your visit.

This park has a different appearance from other London parks. Very calm, it extends all the way along, and the further north you go, the more intense the vegetation becomes. So that at the park's limits, a small forest populated by rabbits, squirrels and ducks awaits us. Holland Park has also taken the liberty of making some eccentricities: modern sculptures scattered throughout the park and the Kyoto Garden, a small Japanese style garden. Holland Park has become one of the most expensive areas in London.

These magnificent 80-hectare gardens, dating back to the Victorian era, were long neglected before being restored. Today, they have been restored to their former beauty and are more charming than ever. Among the trees and plants from all over the world, you'll discover different atmospheres, including a tropical jungle and a "lost valley" where flowers surround lakes and ponds... It's a veritable jewel box of greenery populated by plant sculptures.