The best gardens to visit in Somerset
Somerset is my personal favourite area of the UK (so much so that I’m scheming to move there one day) not least because of the amazing gardens in the region. My personal favourites include Iford Manor, Tyntesfield, Stourhead and Bishop’s Palace, but there are many more wonderful gardens that I’ve visited in Somerset. There’s a variety here, from subtropical to Victorian, plus lots of medieval history to explore.
I’ve taken slight liberties by including gardens just outside the borders of Somerset, but I hope you’ll forgive me, as I can’t bear to leave them off the list. Read on to find out more about gardens to visit in Somerset and their practical information.
Montacute Gardens
The gardens of Montacute House feature well-manicured lawns, vibrant flower beds, and historic rose collections. The setting complements the Elizabethan architecture of the house.
Location: Montacute, Somerset
Price: Entry is £13.00 for adults, £6.50 for children aged 5-15 years, and free for children under 5 years old.
Free for National Trust members and discount with the 2 for 1 Gardens Card.
Montacute House is an Elizabethan Renaissance mansion, known for its impressive architecture. The gardens offer a mix of formal and informal design elements. I particularly like the borders behind the house, which look so beautiful against the architectural style. Lots of tulips bloom here in the spring.
There is also a fountain and formal garden lined with hedges, which offers a beautiful view out into the countryside. The historic roses in the garden add a touch of traditional charm.
Tintinhull Gardens
Tintinhull Gardens showcase a series of interconnected garden rooms with vibrant borders, topiary, and stunning plant collections. It is known for its harmonious design.
Location: Tintinhull, Yeovil, Somerset
Price: Entry is £7.50 for adults, £3.75 for children aged 5-15 years, and free for children under 5 years old.
Free for National Trust members and discount with the 2 for 1 Gardens Card.
Photo by Ray Harrington on Unsplash
The garden rooms are carefully designed to create a sense of flow and unity. Each ‘room’ is named, from Eagle Court with its rose display to the Middle Garden with its herbaceous border, one of the elements that Tintinhull is most famous for. Late summer is a great time to visit and see the dahlias and cosmos come together for a vibrant display. The elegant Tintinhull House, completed in 1682, creates a beautiful backdrop for the lively gardens.
Iford Manor Gardens
Iford Manor Gardens, designed by Harold Peto, are renowned for their Italianate style, featuring terraced gardens, sculptures, and a tranquil cloister.
Location: Iford, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
Price: Entry is £8.00 for adults, £4.00 for children aged 5-16 years, and free for children under 5 years old.
On the 2 for 1 Gardens card.
Yes, admittedly, Iford Manor is not in Somerset! Yet it is so close to the Somerset border that I think it counts, and I always make sure to visit while I’m in Somerset or the southern area of the Cotswolds.
Iford Manor is a Grade I listed building with a rich history. The cloister garden is a highlight, providing a serene and contemplative space. There’s a significant Italian influence, and it always makes me feel as if I’ve stepped back in time to the medieval Tuscan countryside.
Spring is gorgeous at Iford Manor, with its tulips, wisteria, and wild garlic in the woods.
Don’t miss this one — it’s special.
Stourhead
Stourhead is famous for its picturesque landscape garden, classical temples, and a stunning lake. The carefully planned design offers breathtaking views and a sense of tranquility.
Location: Stourton, Warminster, Wiltshire (partially in Somerset)
Price: Entry is £17.50 for adults, £9.00 for children aged 5-16 years, and free for children under 5 years old.
Free for National Trust members and National Art Pass holders.
Stourhead's landscape garden is renowned worldwide and is considered a masterpiece of garden design. It was created with a neoclassical sensibility, meaning that the aim was to create the most pleasing landscape vistas possible. The garden features classical architecture, including the Pantheon and the Temple of Apollo. The large lake at Stourhead is central to the garden's composition and reflects the surrounding landscape.
Stourhead is expansive, and it is a favourite of mine for visiting as a rest stop on road trips towards Cornwall. It provides beautiful scenic walks and the house itself has a wonderful art collection and historic interior design.
Tyntesfield
Tyntesfield's gardens complement the Victorian Gothic Revival mansion. Visitors can explore formal terraces, a rose garden, and a productive kitchen garden amidst the estate's scenic beauty.
Location: Wraxall, Bristol (near Somerset)
Price: Entry is £15.00 for adults, £7.50 for children aged 5-16 years, and free for children under 5 years old.
Free for National Trust members and National Art Pass holders.
Tyntesfield is a Victorian estate featuring a Gothic Revival mansion and extensive gardens. The gardens include a diverse range of plants, from formal rose gardens to productive kitchen gardens. The showstopper is in the spring, when the enormous wisteria drapes over the stone architecture.
Lytes Cary Manor Gardens
Lytes Cary Manor Gardens boast an intimate and peaceful atmosphere. The Arts and Crafts-style garden complements the medieval manor.
Location: Near Charlton Mackrell, Somerton, Somerset
Price: Entry is £10.00 for adults, £6.00 for children aged 5-15 years, and free for children under 5 years old. You can also purchase a joint ticket for Montacute House and Gardens and Lytes Cary Manor for £22.00 for adults and £13.00 for children.
Free for National Trust members.
Lytes Cary Manor is a medieval manor house with a tranquil garden. It was revitalised in the 19th century during the Arts & Crafts era, and the focus on nature, handcraft and a Victorian sensibility enhances its charm. The gardens are known for their intricate layout and historical significance.
The herb garden is an important part of Lytes Cary Manor’s history. In the 16th-century Henry Lyte, a scholar and translator, breathed life into the "Niewe Herball," an influential book on European flora. His legacy blossoms in the manor's flourishing herb garden, where fragrant lavender mingles with vibrant rosemary and ancient apple trees.
Forde Abbey
Forde Abbey's gardens surround a former Cistercian monastery, featuring formal gardens, a walled kitchen garden, and a long herbaceous border. The water features add to the overall charm.
Location: Chard, Somerset
Price: Entry is £13.00 for adults, £7.00 for children aged 5-16 years, and free for children under 5 years old. Discount available with the 2 for 1 Gardens card.
Forde Abbey has a rich history as a Cistercian monastery, dating back to the 12th century. The house is still lived in, so the working estate has a different feel to the museum-like National Trust sites. The famous Mortlake Tapestries are on display inside the house.
The gardens include a stunning walled kitchen garden and a series of formal terraces. One of the most striking features is the small lake and fountains, which frame the house in a picturesque way. Cows graze in the meadows, and there are plenty of offshoot paths to explore, making this garden feel like a bit of a discovery.
Forde Abbey has a naturalistic planting scheme and is not too formal. My favourite bit of all is the tulip spiral, an incredible flowerbed created to bloom each April.
Bishops Palace and Gardens
The gardens of the Bishop's Palace feature stunning flower beds, a well-maintained lawn, and the iconic Wells Cathedral as a backdrop. The medieval palace adds historical significance to the overall setting.
Location: Wells, Somerset
Price: Entry is £17.50 for adults, £8.75 for children aged 5-16 years, and free for children under 5 years old. The ticket is valid for an entire year.
2 for 1 entry is available with the 2 for 1 Gardens card.
The Bishop's Palace is the estate of the Bishop at Wells Cathedral, and has a beautiful moated garden and serene ponds and meadows. The medieval architecture makes for a picturesque backdrop to the beautiful garden, which I think is one of the most peaceful ones I’ve been to. Walking on the walls of the palace offers a view out over the garden, and willow and blossom trees frame bridges over the moat. The pond was filled with swans and cygnets when I visited last spring — it was perfection.
Prior Park Landscape Garden
Prior Park offers a landscaped garden with sweeping views of Bath. The garden features a Palladian bridge, meandering paths, and a serene lake.
Location: Bath, Somerset
Price: Entry is £9.00 for adults, £5.00 for children aged 5-16 years, and free for children under 5 years old.
Free for National Trust members.
Prior Park’s showstopping feature is the Palladian Bridge, one of the very few examples in the world. The beautiful neoclassical architecture is the perfect fit for the landscaped garden which aims to create a perfect vista. You can access the Bath Skyline from here, offering sweeping views over the city and further walks.
Dunster Castle Gardens
Dunster Castle Gardens surround the historic Dunster Castle, offering a mix of formal terraces, subtropical plants, and a peaceful watermill. The gardens provide breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside.
Location: Entry is £17.00 for adults, £8.50 for children aged 5-16 years, and free for children under 5 years old.
Free for National Trust members.
Dunster Castle is a medieval fortress with gardens that date back centuries. The gardens include well-maintained formal terraces and a subtropical garden. Visitors can explore the watermill and enjoy panoramic views of Exmoor National Park from the castle grounds.
The estate has transformed throughout the centuries, evolving from a 11th-century motte and bailey to a 19th-century country house.
Which gardens to visit in Somerset
There are so many wonderful gardens to visit in Somerset, ranging from 19th century creations to deeply historic sites from the Middle Ages. Whether you fancy Arts & Crafts style garden rooms, naturalistic planting, formal gardens, or subtropical terraces, there’s plenty to choose from to keep any garden lover busy.
My personal recommendations are to visit Iford Manor, Tyntesfield, Bishop’s Palace, and Stourhead. These are some of the most incredible gardens I’ve visited anywhere in the UK, and all have beautiful architecture to set against the historical gardens.
I never expected England to be such an ideal place for tulip gardens, but once I discovered the amazing displays (many of them even in free London parks) I realised that there is no need to go to the Netherlands for tulip season if you live in the UK. Whether you’re a local or visiting in April, this guide covers the best tulip gardens in London and nearby in South East England.