1 Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
Has one of the best modern winter garden in the UK, planted in 1998, it takes you past a stunning array of white-stemmed birches, dogwoods, ghostly brambles (Rubus cockburnianus), Mahonias, Christmas box and Viburnums. Wed-Sun, 10.30am-4.30pm, closed December 21-30; £4.20/£2.10; 01223 810080, www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Has one of the best modern winter garden in the UK, planted in 1998, it takes you past a stunning array of white-stemmed birches, dogwoods, ghostly brambles (Rubus cockburnianus), Mahonias, Christmas box and Viburnums. Wed-Sun, 10.30am-4.30pm, closed December 21-30; £4.20/£2.10; 01223 810080, www.nationaltrust.org.uk
2 Regent’s Park, NW1
Regent’s Park, which covers 410 acres and has a lake, formal and wildlife areas, woodland and open parkland. To its west is a winter garden with heathers and shrubs such as Viburnums and Cornus,. 5am-dusk; free; 020 7486 7905, www.royalparks.org.uk
Regent’s Park, which covers 410 acres and has a lake, formal and wildlife areas, woodland and open parkland. To its west is a winter garden with heathers and shrubs such as Viburnums and Cornus,. 5am-dusk; free; 020 7486 7905, www.royalparks.org.uk
3 Thames Barrier Park, E16
The 22 acres of riverside gardens are a delight.. 7am-4.30pm; free; 020 7476 3741,www.thamesbarrierpark.org.uk
The 22 acres of riverside gardens are a delight.. 7am-4.30pm; free; 020 7476 3741,www.thamesbarrierpark.org.uk
4 Bedgebury Pinetum, Kent
This is the most complete collection of conifers in the world, covering 350 acres. 8am-4pm, closed December 25; free, parking £7.50; 01580 879820,www.forestry.gov.uk/bedgebury
This is the most complete collection of conifers in the world, covering 350 acres. 8am-4pm, closed December 25; free, parking £7.50; 01580 879820,www.forestry.gov.uk/bedgebury
5 The Royal Landscape, Surrey
The 1,000-acre Royal Landscape includes the Savill Garden, the Valley Gardens and Virginia Water. The new winter walk at the Savill Garden will be ready next year; 10am-4.30pm, closed December 25 and 26; free in December;01784 435544, www.theroyallandscape.co.uk .
The 1,000-acre Royal Landscape includes the Savill Garden, the Valley Gardens and Virginia Water. The new winter walk at the Savill Garden will be ready next year; 10am-4.30pm, closed December 25 and 26; free in December;01784 435544, www.theroyallandscape.co.uk .
6 Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Hampshire The collection includes 12,000 species and cultivars of trees and shrubs, as well as a colourful winter garden.. 10am-5pm, closed December 25 and 26; £8.25/free; 01794 369317, www. hilliergardens.org.uk
7 Stourhead, Wiltshire
Neoclassical temples around an 18th-century landscape garden and lake are sublime. 9am-dusk; gardens £6.30/£3.40, estate free; 01747 841152,www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Neoclassical temples around an 18th-century landscape garden and lake are sublime. 9am-dusk; gardens £6.30/£3.40, estate free; 01747 841152,www.nationaltrust.org.uk
8 RHS Rosemoor, Devon
The winter garden is full of colour, provided by heathers, conifers, grasses and willows, as well as trees and shrubs chosen for their form and interest at this time of year. 10am-5pm, closed December 25; £6/£2; 01805 624067, www.rhs.org.uk
The winter garden is full of colour, provided by heathers, conifers, grasses and willows, as well as trees and shrubs chosen for their form and interest at this time of year. 10am-5pm, closed December 25; £6/£2; 01805 624067, www.rhs.org.uk
9 Eden Project, Cornwall
Apart from the biomes, there’s plenty to see outside, too: mass plantings of willows, dogwoods and rubus line the slopes of the former clay pit, Times vary, closed December 24 and 25 and January 12 and 13; £15/£5; 01726 811911,www.edenproject.com
Apart from the biomes, there’s plenty to see outside, too: mass plantings of willows, dogwoods and rubus line the slopes of the former clay pit, Times vary, closed December 24 and 25 and January 12 and 13; £15/£5; 01726 811911,www.edenproject.com
10 RHS Hyde Hall, Essex
The winter border and the Lower Ponds are the main focus of interest, but the long views over the surrounding Essex farmland also appeal. 10am-4pm, closed December 25; £5;01245 400256,www.rhs.org.u k
The winter border and the Lower Ponds are the main focus of interest, but the long views over the surrounding Essex farmland also appeal. 10am-4pm, closed December 25; £5;01245 400256,www.rhs.org.u k
11 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London
2010 sees the 250th anniversary of the gardens, adults £13/children free; 020 8332 5655, www.rbgkew.org.uk
2010 sees the 250th anniversary of the gardens, adults £13/children free; 020 8332 5655, www.rbgkew.org.uk
12 Stowe, Buckinghamshire
The landscape gardens around this Robert Adam mansion, currently being restored, drip with classical allusions, including temples, statues and a grotto. With the likes of Capability Brown, Charles Bridgman, William Kent and John Vanbrugh involved, they could not fail to be spectacular. Gardens, Sat and Sun, 10.30am-4pm; £6.20/£3.15; 01494 755568, www.nationaltrust.org.uk . Parkland open daily, dawn-dusk; free
The landscape gardens around this Robert Adam mansion, currently being restored, drip with classical allusions, including temples, statues and a grotto. With the likes of Capability Brown, Charles Bridgman, William Kent and John Vanbrugh involved, they could not fail to be spectacular. Gardens, Sat and Sun, 10.30am-4pm; £6.20/£3.15; 01494 755568, www.nationaltrust.org.uk . Parkland open daily, dawn-dusk; free
13 Trentham Gardens, Staffordshire
The 750 acres of gardens and Capability Brown-designed park have been regenerated in the past five years.The formal Italianate garden, laid out by Sir Charles Barry, architect of the Houses of Parliament, has been revived Tom Stuart-Smith and Piet Oudolf. 10am-4pm, closed December 25; £5/£3.50; 01782 646646,www.trenthamleisure.co.uk
The 750 acres of gardens and Capability Brown-designed park have been regenerated in the past five years.The formal Italianate garden, laid out by Sir Charles Barry, architect of the Houses of Parliament, has been revived Tom Stuart-Smith and Piet Oudolf. 10am-4pm, closed December 25; £5/£3.50; 01782 646646,www.trenthamleisure.co.uk
14 Tatton Park, Cheshire
There’s plenty of choice in the 50 acres of gardens at Tatton Park, from the Edwardian Japanese garden to the pinetum, maze, lakes and fernery, housed in a 19th-century conservatory designed by Joseph Paxton – not to mention the 1,000-acre deer park. Tue-Sun, gardens 11am-4pm, park 11am-5pm, closed December 25; £4/£2 (NT and RHS members free), parking £4.50; 01625 374435,www.tattonpark.org.uk
There’s plenty of choice in the 50 acres of gardens at Tatton Park, from the Edwardian Japanese garden to the pinetum, maze, lakes and fernery, housed in a 19th-century conservatory designed by Joseph Paxton – not to mention the 1,000-acre deer park. Tue-Sun, gardens 11am-4pm, park 11am-5pm, closed December 25; £4/£2 (NT and RHS members free), parking £4.50; 01625 374435,www.tattonpark.org.uk
15 Belsay Hall, Northumberland
The Grade I-listed Victorian and Edwardian gardens include a former quarry with a microclimate that lets exotic trees and shrubs survive outside, and a winter garden featuring mahonias, viburnums, conifers and scented heathers. The yew topiary looks glorious dusted with frost. Thu-Mon, 10am-4pm, closed December 24 and 26 and January 1; £6.40/£3.20; 01661 881636,www.english-heritage.org.uk
The Grade I-listed Victorian and Edwardian gardens include a former quarry with a microclimate that lets exotic trees and shrubs survive outside, and a winter garden featuring mahonias, viburnums, conifers and scented heathers. The yew topiary looks glorious dusted with frost. Thu-Mon, 10am-4pm, closed December 24 and 26 and January 1; £6.40/£3.20; 01661 881636,www.english-heritage.org.uk
