Widely regarded as one of the finest gardens in England
Hidcote Manor Garden is widely regarded as one of the finest gardens in England — a masterpiece of the Arts and Crafts movement created by Lawrence Johnston from 1907 onwards. Johnston divided the garden into a series of distinct outdoor rooms, each enclosed by hedges of yew, hornbeam and beech, and each with its own character, colour palette and planting mood. It was one of the first gardens to be acquired by the National Trust, accepted in 1948.
The garden's influence on British garden design throughout the twentieth century is incalculable. Its structure — the use of hedged enclosures, formal axes and contrasting planting styles — became a template adopted by designers from Margery Fish to Christopher Lloyd. Yet for all its architectural authority, Hidcote never feels rigid. The planting is generous, even exuberant, spilling from borders and climbing walls with an energy that prevents any sense of stiffness.
Visiting Hidcote in May or June is to see it at its glorious peak: the Red Borders alive with tulips giving way to roses, the White Garden immaculate, the bathing pool garden enclosed and serene. The long hedged walk known as the Stilt Garden provides one of the great theatrical moments in English horticulture. It is a garden that rewards the dedicated plantsperson and the casual visitor equally.