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

Bridge Cottage, Amport, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 8AY

This 2 acre garden is a haven for wildlife, developed over 24 yrs by the current owners. A lake is edged with glorious herbaceous borders. A trout stream with water voles and kingfishers. Organic vegetable garden, fruit cage, small mixed orchard and arboretum with unusual trees. Superb plant sale. Treasure hunt for children.

Open Sunday 25th & Monday 26th May

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Muddy Patches, West Street, Abbotsbury, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 4JT

A beautiful village garden set in the glorious Dorset countryside with amazing views of the rolling hills and the historic St Catherine’s Chapel. Enjoy a stroll around the gardens and see the amazing range of native and tropical plants, explore our wildlife area, visit the fairies in their garden or enjoy a delicious lunch, cake or ice cream.

Open Sat 24th & Sun 25th May

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Goren Farm, Broadhayes, Stockland, Honiton, Devon, EX14 9EN

Fifty acres of natural species-rich wildflower meadows. Easy access footpaths. Dozens of varieties of wild flowers and grasses. Thousands of orchids from early June and butterflies in July and a nature trail with species information signs and picnic tables.

Open multiple dates in May & June. Admission by donation. Café open serving cream teas and light refreshments

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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.
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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

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 Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April, 28 and 29 June and 23 and 24 August 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