Coastal Gardens to explore in 2026

With their often fabulous views and windy, climatic challenges, coastal gardens provide a particularly enticing destination for the garden visitor. From Cornwall to Northern Ireland the National Garden Scheme has a collection of inspiring coastal gardens to visit in 2026.

At the most southerly tip of Cornwall the charming Chygurno is a delightful creek side garden overlooking Lamorna Cove that opens in April and July.

Tremichele on The Lizard in Cornwall is a 1 acre coastal garden overlooking the Atlantic and the Lizard Lighthouse with a productive kitchen garden, raised beds and fruit trees. It open By Arrangement only from April to July for groups up to 15.

Also in Cornwall, Malibu in Polzeath Cornwall  is just yards away from the Coast Path, with stunning views over the beach and headland. There’s a sheltered compact garden to the rear and a general interest front garden with an interesting mix of features, different rockeries and a strong focus on succulents, ferns and herbaceous plants. A greenhouse with many plants make this a rounded garden experience.

In Anglesey The Old School, is a garden created from ‘brambly wilderness’ with views over the Menai Strait opens only By Arrangement from March to June for groups of 15+.

Lepe House with it’s 14 acres looking over the Solent in Hampshire also opens in 2026 for by arrangement visits.

Visitor favourite, the award-winning Driftwood in East Sussex also opens By Arrangement in 2026. Listed by the English Garden magazine on the list of  ‘Britain’s most extraordinary coastal gardens every garden lover should visit’, they said ‘The landscape has been inspired by the Mediterranean and is a masterclass in sustainability… If you’re searching for inspiration for a contemporary coastal planting scheme, it offers it in abundance.’

Coastal Group Gardens

Group gardens are wonderful value for money and we have an arcade of delights opening for the National Garden Scheme in 2026.

KENT

Pegwell & West Cliff Gardens, Ramsgate are three distinctly different gardens all found on the west side of Ramsgate town. These coastal properties enjoy the microclimate allowing echiums, bougainvillea, oleander, canna, succulents and aeoniums to thrive throughout the entire year. 31 has houseplants which connect the house to the garden plus a unique water feature and over 200 pots.

Priory Villa has over 150 roses, a stunning greenhouse and interesting sculptures. Victoria Lodge has lots of history, beautiful seating areas and Koi Carp. All three gardens have tree ferns. They open on 5 July.

Also in the town, Ramsgate Gardens offer three beautiful and varied gardens and open on 6 September.

For the biggest haul of gardens opening together, Whitstable is the plaice to be! In fact so many gardens open in the town that they have been split over two different groups and dates. Whitstable Town Gardens on 7 June offer an eclectic mix of gardens by the sea.

Not strictly coastal but just tucked away from the sea behind Ham Marshes is the equally enchanting Faversham Open Gardens and Garden Market Day – a community-led event showcasing over 25 small and larger town gardens – opening on Sunday 28 June. It’s a wonderful atmosphere with so much to see and to be inspired by!

Around the Kent coast you’ll come to Deal Town Gardens, four gardens that include a tropical themed walled garden and a vibrant cottage garden, they open on 28 June.

EAST SUSSEX

In East Sussex visit fourteen beautiful gardens across Seaford on four dates including 101 Clementine Avenue which enjoys Downland and sea views with cottage, coastal and drought tolerant planting. Discover more about the Seaford Gardens here.