2-for-1 City Escape Gardens | BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2-for-1 Gardens to Visit near city centres

As we lose hours of sunlight and winter draws in, we can be left feeling that our cities are becoming dull and grey. A perfect antidote to the winter blues is a revitalising walk in nearby green spaces. Here is a selection of 2-for-1 gardens that are just a short distance from urban centres, to help you brighten up even the drabbest winter weekend.

Lyme Park

2-for-1 gardens to visit: Lyme ©National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

Just 45 minutes from the centre of Manchester, Lyme Park boasts 1,400 acres of grand parkland and views across the Cheshire Plain. With a rich history spanning six centuries, there is plenty to explore, from moor to meadow, sunken garden to orangery. Planted with many mature trees, it’s the perfect spot to watch as colours change for autumn. Follow paths up to the cage perched on top of a hill where, on a clear autumn day, you can see seven counties. Despite all that Lyme has to offer, it may be argued that its most recognisable feature remains its lake, where Mr Darcy famously took a dip in the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice.

Disabled access: Partial
Dogs: Permitted on lead
Single visitor discount: No
Refreshments: Light Refreshments

More information about Lyme in our 2-for-1 scheme

Visit the Lyme website for further details

Eltham Palace & Gardens

2-for-1 gardens to visit: Eltham Palace and Gardens

Home to many historical figures including a young Henry VIII and the Courtauld family, Eltham Palace and Gardens is an eccentric combination of centuries. When the Courtaulds came to Eltham they added ornamental planting and shrubberies to the existing mature trees. An Arts and Crafts garden, you can observe medieval features wonderfully woven into the landscape. As you explore the 19 acres of historic gardens, discover herbaceous borders, rock gardens, pools and cascades and keep an eye out for the purpose-built heated home of Mah-Jong, the Courtaulds pet lemur! Stroll along Eltham’s moat on a bright day to see autumn oranges reflected in the water.

Disabled access: Partial
Dogs: Not permitted
Single visitor discount: Yes
Refreshments: No

More information about Eltham Palace & Gardens in our 2-for-1 scheme

Visit the Eltham Palace & Gardens website for further details

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

2-for-1 gardens to visit: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and just 30 minutes from central London, the glasshouses at Kew Gardens are the perfect spot to explore on a blustery autumn day. The Temperate House holds 1,5000 plant varieties from across five continents, while the Princess of Wales Conservatory contains 10 distinct climate zones you can roam between. If you’re looking for complete escapism, then visit the Palm house and travel to the depths of the rainforest. Here, you will be able to discover plants that are endangered or even extinct in the wild. If you work up an appetite, you can visit the Botanical Brasserie, the Orangey, or the Pavilion Bar and Grill.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

2-for-1 gardens to visit: Birmingham Botanical Gardens

John Claudius Loudon, garden designer at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, was a pioneering designer of public open spaces and sought to provide green spaces as an antidote to the rapidly growing industrial cities of Britain. Just 15 minutes from the centre of Birmingham, the Botanical Gardens are a tropical oasis. Discover the different environments of the glasshouses – Arid, Alpine, Mediterranean, and Tropical. Look out for bright red bracts in the sub-tropical house or displays of purple berries at the foot of the Pinetum path. Out on the lawn you will be able to spot a magnificent Acer collection. Make sure to get your 2023 2-for-1 card, with the May 2023 issue of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, so you can return to the gardens and visit their butterfly house, open late May to September.

Disabled access: Full
Dogs: Not permitted
Single visitor discount: No
Refreshments: Yes

More information about Birmingham Botanical Gardens in our 2-for-1 scheme

Visit the Birmingham Botanical Garden website for further details

Gibside

2-for-1 gardens to visit: Gibside

A mere 25 minutes from the centre of Newcastle, these 720 acres of wooded parkland provide the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. When you have finished exploring the 15 miles of meandering paths, you can visit the second-hand bookshop or curl up at the café situated within the park. Enjoy a Sunday stroll or a more energetic cross terrain hike. More than woodland, with grand vistas and walled garden, there is plenty of spectacle within this urban oasis. For wildlife lovers, keep eyes peeled for willow tits, woodpeckers and roe deer.

Disabled access: Full
Dogs: Permitted on leads
Single visitor discount: Yes
Refreshments: Yes

More information about Gibside in our 2-for-1 scheme

Visit the Gibside website for further details

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