Darling Buds of May
Rightly nicknamed the Garden of England, Kent is best known for its tapestry of stunning vineyards, bloom-filled orchards and stately homes with manicured gardens. For the nature-enthusiasts among us, there is no better place to be than Kent in the springtime.
This May, the distinct natural spaces around us come to life, welcoming the return of migrating birds and vibrant blossoms. From hedge-lined estates to gardens of grandeur and wildflower meadows, here are the best places to enjoy the buds and blooms making their way to Kent this time of year.
Godinton House and Gardens, Ashford
A charming 14th-century estate that’s home to a magnificently restored house and gardens, Godinton is one of Kent’s best kept secrets for outdoor aficionados looking to embrace the British springtime. Predominantly designed by the architect and author Sir Reginald Blomfield in 1896, Godinton’s 12 acres of timeless and tranquil gardens are well-deserving of a day out this May.
Fit with a pond, rose garden and multiple terraces, Godinton’s gardens feature seasonal planting across the formal, walled areas as well as thought-provoking sculptural pieces such as Emily Young’s Tempesta. The Wild Garden is an excellent spot to marvel in all the bright colours of spring and the terraced lawns are great for visitors looking to enjoy the picturesque views of Godinton’s ancient parkland beyond. Across the estate, public footpaths connect to make a circular route of the park, which visitors are welcome to wander through with dogs on short leashes. Best of all, on 10 May the money raised from admissions to Godinton House and Gardens will be donated to The National Garden Scheme, a project which supports nursing and health charities nationwide.
Walmer Castle and Gardens, Deal
Eight acres of award-winning gardens surround this Tudor fortress turned country house, with everything from flower-filled borders, wildflower meadows and a kitchen garden to shady woodland walks, the restored glen garden and a yew cloud hedge in The Broadwalk. The Queen Mother’s Garden is a true focal point of the grounds, designed by the renowned garden designer and historian, Penelope Hobhouse and gifted to the Queen Mother on her 95th birthday. A combination of still water, cool shade and rich planting with an elegant arched pavilion, this is a place of utter tranquility. In late spring, large terracotta pots are filled with brightly-coloured tulips and the hawthorn trees lining the garden’s edge showcase their red blossoms.
For those looking to enjoy a day out with the little ones at Walmer Castle, there is a natural play trail throughout the woods for children to explore. After traversing the grounds to your heart’s content, The Glasshouse Cafe offers a picturesque respite of outdoor seating, with delicious sandwiches, snacks and afternoon teas on the menu.
Doddington Place Gardens, Sittingbourne
Surrounded by wooded countryside in the North Downs countryside, Doddington Place Gardens have welcomed nature-loving visitors for over 50 years in aid of the National Gardens Scheme. Most spectacular in May and June, their woodland garden includes a blooming display of rhododendron and azalea varieties across three acres of deep acid loam kept hydrated by underground springs. Many acid-loving trees also call the woodland gardens their home, neighboured by bulbs and herbaceous plants, with the most recent addition being the delicately scented Wilson Magnolia.
With over 10 acres to explore, Doddington also features a spacious Edwardian rock garden with herbaceous borders, a stunning sunken garden as well as a pond and folly walk. The latter is a spring garden at its best in April and May, underplanted with hundreds of tulips as well as malus, magnolia and betula varieties. Designed by Richard Oldfield as a memorial to his first wife, Alexandra, the folly is a lush, eye-catching respite within Doddington Place Gardens that you won’t want to miss.
Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Cranbrook
Transformed by the prolific poet and writer Vita Sackville-West alongside her husband Harold Nicolson in the 1930s, Sissinghurst Castle Garden is an architectural marvel of colourful and abundant planting reflecting the romance of her life’s writings. Famously the epitome of an English garden, Sissinghurst is renowned for its beauty and diversity, with formal designs and exuberant planting throughout. In the spring, snowdrops and yellow winter aconites soon make way for the pink shoots of golden peonies and classical daffodils.
A path which bypasses the Rose and Cottage Gardens, the Lime Walk is bordered by masses of bulbs that flower in the springtime, creating a stunning tapestry of colour best enjoyed in the months of March, April and May. Even more popular this time of year, Sissinghurst’s orchard of 1,100 fruit trees create a canopy of blossom, with the cherry blossom trees at the east end being an absolute must-see for visitors. A season where the garden comes to life with Vita and Harold’s vision, spring is the very best time to enjoy all that Sissinghurst Castle Garden has to offer.
One of Kent’s most beloved country house gardens, the 16 acres of Hole Park have been cared for by the Barham family for four generations. With far-reaching views over the fields of the Kentish Weald, the gardens are an artful combination of formal design and naturalised planting dappled with vibrant colour across all seasons. In May, Hole Park is adorned with rows of tulips, roses and clematis, with the vineyard garden displaying an impressive array of wisterias for visitors to admire. Typical springtime blooms such as bluebells, camellias and magnolia also carpet the gardens, and in the meadows alongside the architectural spires of Hole Park, delicate wild orchids flower in the spring sunshine.
Hole Park Gardens and tearoom are open daily until 30 June, with events taking place such as their Summer Plant Fair on 1 June, and a History Tour of the estate with Edward Barham on 16 May. With tickets including tea or coffee beforehand, a guided tour of Hole Park’s history and all-day access to the gardens, this personal experience is the best way to explore one of Kent’s most stunning gardens.
Hever Castle and Gardens, Edenbridge
A double-moat 14th-century castle with over 600 years of history, Hever Castle is set within some of Kent’s most breathtaking gardens and grounds. With a quintessential English Rose Garden filled with over 5,000 flowers, a Pompeiian Wall and classical statuary in the Italian Garden, there are plenty of sights to enjoy. Overlooking the 38-acre lake, visitors can marvel at the many grottoes, cascades and fountains, as well as wander further afield to the peaceful woodland. There, visitors will find the Anne Boleyn Walk, where an impressive collection of 100-year-old trees provide shade from the warmth of the sun.
Hever Castle’s curatorial team work tirelessly with specialists to preserve the gardens for future generations, which were originally laid out between 1904 and 1908 by Joseph Cheal and Son. Including features such as the Half Moon Pond, formal Loggia fountain and the recently-built Water Maze, Hever Castle boasts one of Kent’s best landscaped gardens to visit this springtime.
Leeds Castle and Gardens, Maidstone
Leeds Castle is steeped in over 900 years of history where visitors can immerse themselves in the fascinating world of Medieval and Tudor times by walking in the footsteps of strong and visionary women. Renovated in the 1930s by Lady Olive Baillie, Leeds Castle is now home to a wealth of historical gardens and architectural landscapes including Lady Baillie’s Mediterranean Garden Terraces. Like that of a sun-drenched European country, the terraces are filled with colourful plants and succulents, with benches to rest and view the Great Water in the spring sunshine.
You’ll find blooming magnolia in the Oriental Garden and azaleas in The Princess Alexandra Gardens, with The Culpeper Gardens displaying stunning blooms, hedges and herbaceous beds – a favourite of local wildlife. For those who fall in love with Leeds Castle’s seasonal gardens, there is a bookable Wildlife Hide Photography Experience with professional photographer, Andy Green. Including all-day access to their private wildlife hide and guidance on all aspects of photography and editing, those who book are sure to capture picture-perfect moments at Leeds Castle this spring.
Penshurst Place and Gardens, Tonbridge
Located within the idyllic Weald of Kent, this 800-year-old estate is both picturesque and steeped in literary history, with Penshurst Place once being home to one of the Jacobean era’s most renowned writers, Lady Mary Wroth. A noblewoman and poet of the English Renaissance, she was the first woman writer in the country to have published an original work of prose fiction: The Countess of Montgomery’s Urania.
Within its 48 acres of grounds and 11-acres of Grade I listed gardens, spring at Penshurst features arrays of gorgeous daffodils and bluebells that cluster everywhere from the orchard to the garden rooms. From late May to early June, their 100 metre-long peony border will also bloom into colour, unveiling four stunning hues of pink peonies including Monsieur Jules Elie, Albert Crousse, Lady Alexander Duff and Sarah Bernhardt. With new plantings for 2025 including sakura cherry trees within the picnic area and roses across both the long border and remarkable rose garden, there has never been a better time to visit.
Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, Sevenoaks
Renowned for its expansive views across the Weald of Kent and its beautiful historic gardens, Riverhill has been home to the Rogers family since 1840. With over 12 acres to explore, their gardens feature everything from woodland paths, contemporary sculptures and plenty of benches for moments of contemplative quiet.
Manicured to perfection, each of their wooded, walled and rock-filled garden areas are ideal for enjoying the growing warmth of spring, with carpets of bluebells as well as their prized rhododendrons and azaleas being seasonal favourites. Many of these were brought back from the Himalayas by the original plant-hunters and the Wood Garden is the best place at Riverhill to revel in their majesty this May. With a fun and creative programme of drop-in events throughout the season for guests to enjoy – all included in their entry price – it’s worth checking what’s in the diary on their website. Plus, if you head to Riverhill Himalayan Gardens on 7 May, all entrance takings will be donated to the National Garden Scheme.
Goodnestone Park House and Gardens, Dover
Inherited by Brook and Margaret Fitzwalter in 1955, Goodnestone Park’s gardens were in a state of neglect after being requisitioned by the army during the Second World War. With the help of their head gardener and a number of volunteers, the gardens have been renovated and redesigned to feature herbaceous borders, stately trees, a pictorial meadow and a greenhouse nursery for propagating new plants. Sustainable gardening is at the core of the Goodnestone estate, with their team promoting wildlife-friendly practices and sustainable gardening through initiatives such as making their own composts from kitchen waste, avoiding the use of insecticides or fungicides and growing vegetables in the walled garden using ‘no-dig’ methods.
During a day out at Goodnestone Park House and Gardens, visitors can enjoy some quality homemade food at the Old Dairy Cafe before enjoying picturesque views from the parterre and terrace then basking in the serenity of the woodland garden. A true haven for nature lovers, this 15-acre estate also features the Serpentine Walk. A route which was famously enjoyed by the beloved novelist, Jane Austen, visitors can walk in her footsteps through the historic wood pasture and chalk grassland.
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