If you’re looking for a unique afternoon out in the fresh air, the UK’s botanic gardens are hard to beat. These living museums of some of the world’s most unusual and exotic plants offer much more than what they seem to on the surface. They’re the perfect playground for history buffs, science lovers, and those who admire the natural beauty of the world. A visit to the UK’s botanic gardens is the ideal way to temporarily slow life down and breathe with life in bloom all around you. There’s something about strolling through glasshouses and enjoying a picnic on a quiet bench in one of the many botanic gardens UK visitors love.
For our overseas visitors, we’ve compiled a list of the best botanic gardens UK visitors keep coming back to.
Scotland
The Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
Scotland has plenty of botanic gardens to offer, but the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh is truly the jewel in the crown. Set in 72 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and with one of the finest living plant collections in the world, the Royal Botanic Garden is the perfect day out for all the family. It really has a bit of everything – giant Redwood Trees, the famous Rock Garden, and the Chinese Hillside with its diverse collection of plants native to China. The glasshouses here a must where you’ll be strolling through a tropical rainforest one minute, and a desert the next.
Benmore Botanic Garden, Cowal Peninsula
Set in the stunning Cowal Peninsula by Dunoon, Benmore Botanic Garden is mostly celebrated for its impressive collection of towering conifers and colourful rhododendrons. The gardens span 120 acres and feature plants from all over the world including regions such as the Himalayas, China, Japan, and North and South America. Your journey begins by walking through the stunning Redwood Avenue, one of the finest entrances to any botanic garden in the world consisting of 160-year-old giant redwood trees. From there, you will explore the walkways that lead through the exotic plant collections, a tranquil pond, and several scenic viewpoints where you can marvel at the garden’s mountainside location.
England
Kew Gardens, London
Perhaps the most well-known botanic garden, Kew Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage Site housing one of the most diverse living plant collections of any botanic garden in the world. Kew Gardens has everything a plant lover could ever want to see, from carnivorous plants to their collection of humungous water lilies and other aquatic plants, their sprawling grounds are full of surprises. Kew Gardens isn’t just for botanists though. History buffs, scientists, and even casual wanderers will be wowed by the variety of landscapes on offer at Kew.
Ness Botanic Gardens, Wirral Peninsula
Ness Botanic Gardens overlooks the Dee Estuary in Cheshire and offers 64 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens that visitors can explore. Established in 1898, Ness Botanic Gardens houses a wide variety of plant collections from all over the world including rare and exotic plants as well as local species, all carefully chosen to support biodiversity. The garden also serves as an educational centre for nature lovers, families, and garden enthusiasts alike. It’s perfect for a relaxing day out and invites you to slow down, take in the scenery, and connect with the world around you.
Wales
National Botanic Garden, Wales
In the heart of Carmarthenshire, the National Botanic Garden of Wales is a world-class centre of botanical science and conservation. Set in over 500 acres, it consists of formal gardens, natural landscapes, and scientific research to celebrate the biodiversity of plant life. It is also home to the Great Glasshouse, the largest single-span glasshouse in the world, showcases Mediterranean climate plants from across the world. Outside, visitors can enjoy themed gardens, wildflower meadows, lakes, and woodlands. The garden also plays a vital role in pollinator research and conservation of native plant species, making it not just a place of natural beauty, but a hub of environmental education.
Ireland
National Botanic Garden of Ireland, Kilmacurragh
The National Botanic Garden of Ireland is set in Kilmacurragh in County Wicklow. It’s a hidden gem where history and horticulture come together in an 18-century estate offering a more natural and wilder counterpart to the Glasnevin gardens in Dublin. The mild climate and acidic soil of the region allows for the cultivation of rare and exotic plants not easily grown elsewhere in Ireland. Visitors can stroll along the yew tree-lined avenues, see ancient oak trees, and beautiful displays of colourful rhododendrons, magnolias, and conifers. Kilmacurragh is also home to the remains of a former monastery and a once-grand house, adding a sense of history to the place.
Why Visit the UK’s Botanic Gardens?
A visit to one of the UK’s botanic gardens will never get old. As they are essentially living museums, there is always something new to see whether it’s a seasonal display, a new and exotic flower in bloom, or a hidden corner you didn’t spot last time amongst the many acres of landscaped gardens. The botanics are places where you can get lost in the beauty of your surroundings but also support the ongoing sustainability and preservation of some of the world’s most rare and unique plants. The iconic glasshouses that sit at the heart of these botanic gardens are always full of subtropical surprises waiting for you to discover, so get ready for a bloomin’ good time exploring the very best of the UK’s botanic gardens!
Best of Scotland Holidays are here to make the journey that little bit easier for you. We’re a destination management company with other 40 years of experience working in the travel trade industry, and we know a thing or two about the beautiful gardens that are dotted all around the UK and Ireland! Our very own garden tour experiences are designed to give your clients a taste of what the UK and Ireland have to offer when it comes to stunning gardens. These packages have been carefully curated to include only the best from across the region, but if your client has any specific requirements, contact us today and one of our friendly team will be happy to help you craft the perfect customised itinerary for them.
