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Cotswolds Gardens in the Cotswolds

There are three main gardens to visit in the Cotswolds: Hidcote Manor Garden and Kiftsgate Court Garden in the north Cotswolds, near Chipping Campden and the smaller Painswick Rococo Garden in the southern Cotswolds north of Stroud. If you visit in January or February, make sure to go to the Rococo Garden to see the snowdrops which bloom only at that time of year. If you visit in May, make sure to visit Kiftsgate to see the bluebells which bloom only at that time of year. If you have time to visit only one garden, go to Hidcote. It is the best, but the others are lovely too if you have time.

Hidcote Manor Garden

Hidcote Manor Garden is a manor house and gardens run by the National Trust. The early 20th century gardens, designed as a series of outdoor rooms, are the best in the Cotswolds. There is a good "ha-ha" - a ditch constructed in such a way that it keeps the animals in their field, but you do not see a fence or wall, so it does not spoil the view in the garden. There are walking/hiking trails that start from the car park. Have a picnic on the grounds - there is a pretty picnic area near the car park - or go to the tea room. Hidcote is located near the market town of Chipping Campden and Kiftsgate Court Garden is nearby.

The Hidcote gardens were created by the American horticulturist Major Lawrence Johnston using plants he found on his trips to other countries. The garden was started in 1907, after Johnston's mother purchased the estate, and he spent over 40 years working on it. It became his life's work and was one of England's most influential 20th century gardens. Johnson gave his house and garden to the National Trust in 1948 and it was opened to the public in 1949. He died ten years later and is buried next to his mother in the churchyard at nearby Mickleton.

Location: England - Gloucestershire - Chipping Campden
Website: Hidcote Manor Garden

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Hidcote Manor Garden.

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Kiftsgate Court Garden

Kiftsgate gets fewer tourists than the nearby Hidcote Manor Garden. The garden is very different from Hidcote even though they are only a few miles apart. Go in May to see the wonderful Bluebell Walk. There is a good tea room.

Location: England - Gloucestershire - Chipping Campden
Kiftsgate is close to the more popular Hidcote Manor Garden. Both can easily be visited on the same day.
Website: Kiftsgate Court Garden

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Kiftsgate Court Garden.

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Painswick Rococo Garden

Painswick Rococo Garden was created in the mid-18th century to be an outdoor space for entertaining at the Painswick House. The garden has interesting buildings, a large kitchen garden, a fish pond, a maze, pathways through woods, flower displays and a beautiful stone plunge pool (I think it is magical - there is something special about it). Rococo Garden is known for its spectacular display of snowdrops in January and February, but is interesting at other times of year too.

Painswick House was built in the mid-18th century and the garden was created not long after. The style was called Rococo garden design, during the Georgian period when gardens were created as a frivolous place for entertaining. A descendant of the original owner still lives in the house. The Painswick Rococo Garden Trust runs the gardens.

From mid-January to mid-March the Rococo Garden displays one of the largest collections of snowdrops in the UK. The snowdrop grove dates from the mid-19th century. Before the garden was open to the public in 1984, the owners of Painswick House opened the garden one Sunday in winter so Painswick residents could see the snowdrops and pick a few.

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Snowdrops in the winter.
Location: England - Gloucestershire - Painswick
Rococo Garden usually closes for the winter, opening in mid-January for the snowdrops display.
There is a large parking area.
They have a nice tea room on site.
Website: Painswick Rococo Garden

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From a February 2015 visit to see the snowdrops.
 

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