Finest gardens in Britain

Thenford Arboretum: 70 acres of spectacular autumn brilliance

The Japanese Garden at Cowden: An iconic Oriental garden in the heart of Clackmannanshire

Described in 1925 as the most important Japanese garden in the West, the Japanese Garden at Cowden in Clackmannanshire — the ancestral home of Sara Stewart — fell into decline and was eventually closed in 1955. Now, it has been magnificently restored, as Caroline Donald explains. Photographs by Clive Nichols.

The Gardens of Greywalls: A Scottish masterpiece bearing the imprint of Lutyens and Jekyll

'Within a mashie-niblick' of the 18th green at Muirfield Golf Club lies a garden of great beauty and history, as James Truscott explains.

Birkhall: The home of The Prince of Wales on the Balmoral estate, Aberdeenshire

Alan Titchmarsh explores the garden of Birkhall, The Prince of Wales's Scottish home on the Balmoral estate.

Low Crag, Cumbria: A garden in perfect harmony within one of Britain's most beautiful places

The garden of Low Crag, Cumbria —  home of Mr and Mrs Chris Dodd — demonstrates a thoughtful approach to gardening that has brought about a great increase in the population of birds and animal life in this two-acre plot. George Plumptre explains more; pictures by Val Corbett for Country Life.

The gardens at Everdon Hall: How an abandoned walled garden was turned into a secluded oasis of outdoor beauty

The gardens at Everdon Hall, Northamptonshire — the home of Charles and Caroline Coaker —show off a clean, green structure balanced by romantic billowy planting. Non Morris takes a look at this beautifully judged garden; photographs by Val Corbett for Country Life.

The exotic brilliance of Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, a Cornwall gem with 'one of the best views in England'

Created over 25 years, Tremenheere's 20-acre hillside garden brilliantly succeeds in its makers’ aim of providing a haven far away from cares and worry, discovers James Alexander-Sinclair. Photographs by Mimi Connolly.

Jason Goodwin: 'The very idea of stripes on a lawn made my German friend shudder'

Centrepiece of a classic English country garden, or bourgeois construct of the machine age? Our columnist Jason Goodwin takes aim at the lawn.

The Duchess of Cornwall's gardens at Raymill, by Monty Don

Secreted in an idyllic spot by a charming mill leat, the 12-acre garden surrounding The Duchess of Cornwall’s treasured home is a precious refuge. Writer and broadcaster Monty Don takes a look, with photographs by Jason Ingram.

Seven of the best greenhouses in Britain

Some people swear by a hardwood frame, others prefer aluminium. Whether you use yours for potting on or plating up, there’s a greenhouse for every gardener. Non Morris talks to garden luminaries about their preferences. Photographs by Andrew Sydenham for Country Life.

Mansard House: The spectacular garden that doubles as a plant laboratory for a Chelsea gold medallist

Catharine Howard visits the gardens of Mansard House in Bardwell, Suffolk, the home of award-winning garden designer Tom Hoblyn and his wife Mary, who use it as their plant laboratory. Photographs by Richard Bloom.

The gardens at Kestle Barton: A landscape of creeks and fields married to an award-winning gallery

Caroline Donald visits the garden at Kestle Barton Gallery, near Helford, Cornwall, a garden that marries an award-winning art gallery with a landscape of creeks and fields. Photographs by Mark Bolton.

Folly Farm gardens, Berkshire: A masterclass in maintaining an historic garden

After decades of thoughtful restoration, the gardens at Folly Farm in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, blend historic and contemporary planting, finds Tiffany Daneff. Pictures by Jason Ingram.

Charles Quest-Ritson: The dismal mistake made by the RHS's judges with the 'best in show' award at Chelsea

'A jumble of rewilding and beaver dams' won the 2022 RHS Chelsea Flower Show best in show, and Charles despairs both of the judges and his own attempts to pick a winner.

The real highlights from the 2022 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, from gold medallists and sculptures to celebrities and musicians... and even a few pretty flowers

If you can't make it to the 2022 RHS Chelsea Flower Show — or even if you can — here's our look at some of the most striking things you'll find at the gardens of the Royal Hospital. Pictures by Andrew Sydenham for Country Life.

The gardens at Ready Token, Gloucestershire: The new, gentler blueprint for rewilding that's yielding spectacular results

Retaining the Arts-and-Crafts elements of a 1920s garden, the owners have added a sympathetic new terrace, as well as returning the surrounding fields to meadow, finds George Plumptre. Photos by Mimi Connolly.

How Country Life helped change the face of modern gardening

George Plumptre examines how Country Life championed the marriage of formal design with natural planting, changing the garden forever.

How Alitex are celebrating sixty years at the Chelsea Flower Show — and seventy years in business

This year, luxury British greenhouse manufacturer Alitex will mark two major milestones in its long history with an edible oasis that will include a Botanical cocktail bar.

Coton Manor Garden: The symphony of colour where flamingos mix with flowers, voted Britain's best garden

Flamingos may draw the crowds, but it is the brilliant flower borders that keep people coming back to Coton Manor Garden, the wonderful space at the home of Ian and Susie Pasley-Tyler, says Tiffany Daneff. Photos by Clive Nichols.

The greatest rhododendron garden in Britain? A visit to Ramster, the 'woodland garden that looks as if it's existed since time began'

In its centenary year, Ramster’s reputation continues to grow, together with its magnificent woodland garden, says Charles Quest-Ritson.