Celebrated as the Garden of England, Kent combines fertile soil with a dry climate and rich heritage, creating the perfect conditions for some of the finest gardens in England. Where horticultural excellence and historical grandeur go hand-in-hand, making the county an ideal place for garden lovers to explore.

Widely recognised for its celebrated horticulture, the vast number of award-winning gardens showcase cultivated beds, carefully designed walled gardens and unique wild landscapes, inviting locals and tourists to immerse themselves in the beauty of Kent.

If you’re considering exploring one of the county’s celebrated gardens over the month of July, you’re here at the right time; with traditional English borders in full bloom and a number of unique garden designs open to the public, this month provides the perfect opportunity to discover some of Kent’s most spectacular gardens.

Poetic Trails at Sissinghurst

©Chis Davies

Recognised as one of Kent’s most celebrated gardens in Kent, Sissinghurst Castle Gardens welcomes thousands of visitors each year to explore its world-famous gardens. The historical grounds and rustic Elizabethan house were once home to gardener and English poet Vita Sackville-West and diplomat Harold Nicolson, with Vita’s green fingers transforming the castle garden into the epitome of the English garden, with a romantic dreamscape feel.

Following the designed trails, explore some of the 10 garden rooms and diverse borders of perennials and vibrant annuals as they come into bloom over the summer months, boasting a different theme in each walled garden, from the rustic yellow borders, blending flourishing heleniums with burnt orange sunflowers, to the ever-romantic Rosa Mulliganii in the central crossing of the iconic White Garden. 

Making your way through the garden rooms, you will find the Grecian-inspired landscaped garden of ‘Reimagining Delos’, which was only recently finished in April 2026. A unique, Mediterranean garden inspired by Vita and Harold’s trip to the Cyclades during 1935. The garden emulates the senses of Greece, featuring over 6,000 native plants and unique species from the Mediterranean basin; you will feel as if you’re stepping onto a remote Greek island.

Among these cultivated borders, Sissinghurst Castle Gardens have been working to look after a variety of habitats, including preserving the established wildflower meadows and biodiverse lakes across the grounds and surrounding estate, bringing visitors closer to Kent’s natural landscape.

While visiting the castle, you can explore beyond the cultivated gardens and follow the designated walking trails, where you will be led to a number of unfenced lakes on the grounds, with purpose-built ramps for dogs to take a swim. These lakes were originally created in the 16th century to dig out clay which was used to make the bricks for Sissinghurst Castle Tower, with each part of the estate a testament to the castle’s extensive history.

Finish off your exploration with a 40-minute circular walk through the woodland and round to the ancient apple orchard, where you can relax for a picnic or head back to The Granary restaurant, where you can indulge in a number of homemade cakes and cooling refreshments.

The Ancient Ferns of Riverhill

©Riverhill Gardens

The nationally celebrated Riverhill Himalayan Gardens boasts over 12 acres of 19th-century historic gardens. Home to the Rogers family since 1840, John Rogers cultivated his knowledge as a botanist to create the hillside gardens, which have continued to transform across the centuries, but have always retained spectacular views across the Weald of Kent.

The unexpected is often found when discovering the gardens, starting in the Malabar Coffee House in Riverhill. The award-winning, independent coffee shop is the ideal first solace to discover, serving organic, Fairtrade coffee, as well as locally baked cakes and pastries. You can start your exploration at the famous Walled Garden, with sculptural glass terraces, which lead you down to a central water feature. Incorporating contemporary art with the historic gardens, the gently bubbling fountains were designed by renowned British sculptor, Julian Wild. 

Find your way to the Himalayan Hut on the top terrace; made using traditional Kentish hop poles, the hut has wood from a cedar tree that was destroyed in the great storm of 1987. Following on through the garden will lead to the Rose Walk, filling the trail with sweet, fresh smells of blooming roses; you can discover a 170-year-old fig tree, still bearing delicious fruit in the summer months.

Finally, you can reach the Edwardian Rock Garden, newly restored; the area had been neglected for over 60 years but has been transformed into a serene haven, home to a large variety of ancient ferns. Riverhill is working closely with members from the British Pteridological Society to understand what can be done for the ferns, as the species predates the earliest dinosaurs by around one hundred million years and continues to evolve at a rapid rate. The unique microclimate of the garden allows the ferns to thrive, with over 80 varieties to observe, some of them being incredibly rare; these living fossils make Riverhill a truly unique garden to visit in Kent.

After your time exploring Riverhill, you can make your way to The Pheasant Plucker, a short nine-minute drive from the gardens; the cosy country pub is home to a large summer garden, perfect for an evening of wood-fired sourdough pizzas and locally crafted wines.

Coastal Cultivation at Walmer Castle

Set within the Tudor fortress of Walmer Castle and Gardens, explore eight acres of award-winning gardens, which have evolved over more than 300 years. Some areas, once inaccessible for almost a century, are now open to visitors. The garden has been carefully cultivated through the centuries, designed to survive the harsh, salt-laden coastal conditions of Walmer Beach.

Historically, the gardens would have been sheltered from defensive belts of woodland, while the castle’s moat provides a dry microclimate, allowing the harshness of the coastal conditions to not directly affect the gardens, creating a unique environment where decorative perennials meet the vast shoreline.

The gardens at Walmer Castle first began in the 16th and 17th centuries, where a small productive garden was built to introduce some comfort to the castle’s harsh external environment. The garden’s extensive history blossomed from there, being continually improved, with enclosed walls and hedges that helped grow vegetables, fruits and flowers. The kitchen garden is still flourishing today, and in the month of July, fruit and vegetables will be ready to harvest.

While exploring the garden, you can discover a former chalk quarry, now known as the ‘Glen’. The area has now been accessible for a few years after it was lost for over a century. With tangled tree canopies and a fascinating geological background, the gardens offer a wealth of historical intrigue and unrivalled beauty.

You can conclude with a short 15-minute drive to Uptown Farmhouse’s restaurant. A luxury country house hotel with a magical conservatory restaurant amid the blooming grounds, you will be surrounded by 17th-century history and dining under ripe grapevines. Choose from a seasonal à la carte menu; with an open kitchen you can watch each dish be carefully made while taking in the views of the historic estate.

Rare Blooms at Great Comp Garden

Discover one of Kent’s finest gardens, situated in the quaint village of Platt. Great Comp Garden offers eccentric gardens spanning seven acres of exotic perennials and rare trees, which surround a 17th-century manor house. Once home to the prominent suffragist and pioneering female cricket and hockey player, Frances Heron Maxwell, the estate has been occupied since the 13th century, with many noble residents having lived there.

Making your way to the estate, begin your visit with a trip to the Old Dairy Tearoom, where you can savour barista-made coffee and homemade cakes and enjoy a seasonal lunch menu with ingredients locally sourced from Kent suppliers. Before discovering the gardens, with a wealth of perennials, from dahlias and crocosmia to the famous salvias, where curator William Dyson runs his own specialised nursery. Recognised as the UK’s leading salvia expert, he has grown and cultivated this genus of plant for over 20 years at Great Comp Garden.

With an abundance of salvias to explore, the nursery has a particular focus on species from the New World, specifically Mexican salvias. These plants are available to view from June, with long blooming seasons and vivid, bold colours. Alongside the rare blooms, Great Comp Garden is home to an Italian garden and explorable ruins, with a Renaissance-era landscape and classical beds; you can make your way towards an ancient woodland, where you can enjoy birdwatching and discover a remarkable collection of rare trees and shrubs, bamboo and a hive of native wildflowers.

Finish off the day with a leisurely 20-minute drive across the Kentish countryside to The Tickled Trout, a rustic yet modern dining feel with a lawned garden and spacious terrace. Wind down with a menu of locally sourced ingredients, from New Romney lamb to Balfour Winery’s IPA beer-battered fish and chips, with England’s only IPA crafted by winemakers, infusing that extra touch of Kentish excellence into every bite.