12 free gardens to visit this summer

Swerve the big-name gardens and put these dynamic alternatives on your must-visit list this year. Chosen by our garden writer Camilla Phelps, they offer plenty of fresh inspiration to bring back to your own plot

To walk around a midwinter garden on a fine day when everything has shrunk down to its essential elements is like walking around a gallery. You can take your time, see things with fresh eyes and be ch

On the face of it, there is a wonderful simplicity to the gardens at Brodsworth Hall in winter. Dig deeper though, and there’s a meticulous honouring of the past, paired with a drive for new developme

Giant leeks and pumpkins the size of a small car can give impression that there is something slightly comical about competitive fruit and vegetable growing. But those who take part in this cherished B

A change is as good as a rest, so the saying goes. As well as a relaxing break, travelling to a new destination can spark creativity, and if your holiday takes in a lovely garden or a beautiful landsc

A confluence of styles and eras, Eltham Palace & Gardens in London is part art deco mansion and part medieval hall, with lavish interiors to admire. Outdoors, cross London’s oldest working bridge into