Budget-friendly holiday adventures

Image: Vikki Rimmer

Visiting a National Garden Scheme garden isn’t just for adults – there’s plenty of fun (and homemade cake) to be had during the school and summer holidays at our gardens for children too. And, with children going free at the majority of our gardens, a day out at a National Garden Scheme garden is great way to have a budget-friendly break from digital devices, reconnect with nature and support great causes!

Explore all our family-friendly gardens opening in 2025 by clicking here

A summer selection of gardens to explore

The Grange, Carla Beck Lane, Carleton in Craven, Skipton, Yorkshire BD23 3BU

There are over four acres of wonderfully varied garden set in the grounds of a Victorian house to explore at The Grange. With mature trees and panoramic views towards The Gateway to the Dales this lovely garden has been restored and expanded by the owners over the past 30 years. Bountiful herbaceous borders with many unusual species, rose walk, parterre, mini-meadows and water features make it a great garden to spend time in.

Opens Wednesday 16 July and Wednesday 6 August – children free. Home made teas.
Click here for full details

Welsh Lavender, Cefnperfedd Uchaf, Maesmynis, Builth Wells, Powys LD2 3HU

A wonderful learning experience in fabulous location! Walk in the lavender fields, learn how the distillation process works, and visit the farm shop to try body creams and balms made with lavender oil distilled on the farm. The farm is a bumblebee haven with its wildflower area, orchards and a vegetable garden. Enjoy coffee, tea and light refreshments.

Opens every day Saturday 26 July to Friday 1 August – pre-booking essential – children free.
Click here for full details

Danesfield House, Henley Road, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 2EY

Enjoy a magical experience in the 65 acres of parkland and gardens at Danesfield House. The gardens were completed in 1901 by Robert Hudson, the Sunlight Soap magnate who built the house. Since the house opened as a hotel in 1991, the gardens have been admired by several thousand guests each year. However, in 2009 it was discovered that the gardens contained outstanding examples of pulhamite in both the formal gardens and the waterfall areas. The 100-year-old topiary is also outstanding. Part of the grounds also include an Iron Age fort!

Opens Wednesday 6 August. Pre-booking essential, children go free. For more details click here 

Barnards Farm, Brentwood Road, West Horndon, Essex, CM13 3FY

There’s so much to explore! Climb the Belvedere for the wider view and take the miniature railway train for a woodland adventure. There are summer beds and borders, ponds, lakes and streams, and a walled vegetable plot. There’s also a ‘Japanese garden’, plus sculptures grand and quirky that enhance and delight.

Opens every Thursday in June, July and August as well as Sunday 29 June and Sunday 7 September – children free.
Click here for full details

Annwyn Arboretum, Carmathenshire, SA32 7NY is a 10 acre Arboretum (formerly a 9 hole golf course), planted 40 years ago with an extensive collection of common and unusual trees. These include redwoods, southern beeches, limes, handkerchief tree and Magnolia macrophylla. Beautiful views over the Tywi valley with lots of fun things to explore including a treasure hunt. Some uneven paths, so good footwear recommended.

Opens every Sunday in August, children go free, for details CLICK HERE

Whitlenge Gardens, Worcestershire DY10 4YD

Three acre show garden of professional garden designer includes a large variety of trees and shrubs. Features include a twisted brick pillar pergola, 2½ metre diameter solid oak moongate set into reclaimed brickwork, and a four turreted, mini moated castle folly with vertical wall planter set between two water falls, then walk through giant gunnera leaves into the Fairy Garden.

Opens 28 and 29 June and 23 and 24 August for details click here

21 Chestnut Road, Hampshire, SO42 7RF

A ⅓ acre in a central village location. Behind the hedge awaits the owner designed garden full of colour, scent and full of inspirational ideas for gardening in sun, shade, wet or dry areas. Experience nature inspired formal, naturalistic, and themed areas with statues, fairies, ponds, and a productive fruit and vegetable area. Paintings, plants and bug boxes usually available for sale (% to NGS), children go free.

Opens Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August, for details click here

Laskey Farm, Cheshire, WA4 2TF

A 1½ acre garden including herbaceous and rose borders, vegetable area, a greenhouse, parterre and a maze showcasing grasses and prairie style planting. Interconnected pools for wildlife, specimen koi and terrapins form an unusual water garden which features a swimming pond. There is a tree house plus a number of birds and animals.

Opens Sunday 24 and Monday 25 August and by arrangement to 29 August. For details CLICK HERE

Skool Beanz Children’s Allotment, Somerset BA22 8RB

Skool Beanz is a children’s gardening club run from their very own award winning No-Dig children’s allotment which has a huge dahila bed, vegetable area, fruit trees, rainwater collecting station, ‘Muddy Buddy’ compost heap, quiet wildlife garden with tiny pond, secret den, polytunnel, upcycled sculptures and plenty of seating.

Opens Saturday 6 September, Adults £3 Children free. For details click here

This is just a tiny taster of our gardens – to explore all our family-friendly gardens
CLICK HERE

Read Victoria’s story about finding out about children going free at National Garden Scheme gardens CLICK HERE