Vote for Garden of the Year
The Garden of the Year Award, sponsored by Christie's, recognises the importance of some of the country’s most spectacular gardens with outstanding horticultural and public appeal.
Inveraray Castle wins the 2024 Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award, sponsored by Christie’s, in a public vote.
Voting for the 2024 Garden of the Year Award is now closed.
Read about the six shortlisted gardens for this year’s award below.
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Read about the 2024 nominees
Chelsea Physic Garden, London
Sitting on the Thames Embankment and sheltered by high walls, Chelsea Physic Garden is one of the oldest and most respected botanic gardens in Europe.
Founded in 1673 by The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London for its apprentices to study medicinal plants and their uses, it became one of the most important centres of botany and plant exchange in the world. Chelsea Physic Garden’s plant collection is unique in being the only botanic garden collection focused on medicinal, herbal, and useful plants.
Today, as a public attraction open 11 months of the year, it continues to foster the core principles of discovery, learning and wellbeing through public programmes, community engagement, and dedication to plant science.
Holker Hall & Gardens, Cumbria
Situated in Cumbria, Holker Hall boasts a 23-acre garden that combines beauty, history, and art.
The Cavendish family, custodians for generations, played a pivotal role in shaping these gardens around the historic sixteenth century stately home. Themed spaces like the Summer Garden reflect a blend of tradition and innovation. The family's custodianship extends to naturalistic settings such as the Oak Lawn and Woodland Garden. Water features like the Cascade, Fountain and Lily Pool enhance the visual and auditory elements, connecting the gardens. The wildflower meadow offers seasonal changes and views into the deer park and Cumbrian fells, emphasizing biodiversity and sustainable land management.
These gardens are a convergence of beauty, history, and a commitment to heritage preservation around a unique plant collection.
Hever Castle & Gardens, Kent
The Hever Castle grounds were laid out between 1904 and 1908 by Joseph Cheal and Son, turning marshland into today’s spectacular gardens. The Guthrie family bought Hever Castle in 1983. Faith Guthrie's passion for gardens has seen many changes made to the 125-acre estate.
Marvel at the floral display along Pompeiian Wall and classical statuary in the Italian Garden, designed to house William Waldorf Astor’s collection; admire the giant topiary chess set and inhale the fragrance of over 5,000 roses in the quintessential English Rose Garden. The Loggia, overlooking the 38-acre lake, is the perfect spot to relax with its fountain inspired by the one in Trevi before exploring water features around the gardens including Half Moon Pond, the Cascade, Golden Stairs, Grottoes with ferns and hostas, and Two Sisters’ Pond. The Tudor Garden, Blue Corner or Diana’s Walk provide colour and interest throughout the year.
Picton Castle Gardens, Pembrokeshire
Picton Castle Gardens is owned and managed by a charity - the Picton Castle Trust. Since its establishment the Trust has undertaken a long-term programme of conservation and restoration of the gardens and castle.
Within the 50 acres of gardens is a formal Walled Garden (designed as a pleasure garden), two ice houses, eighteenth century cascades, and a Dew Pond. Much of the shape of the garden today was laid down in the mid-late eighteenth century, and the garden is a mix of formal and woodland gardens.
Picton is a rare garden and a plant-lovers paradise. It is a place of peace and steeped in the history of the area. From rare rhododendrons that start blooming in January, to banana trees that can grow outside, there is an eclectic range of plants and vistas.
Inveraray Castle & Gardens, Argyll
The gardens at Inveraray Castle are home to the Duke and Duchess of Argyll who have spent joyous times with family and friends over the years. They enjoy the changing of the seasons and the ability to present and share the gardens with their 85,000 guests who come to visit the Castle every year.
The garden covers sixteen acres, of which around two acres are formal lawns and flowerbeds, the remainder being park and woodland. Extending to 180 hectares they form one of the most important designed landscapes in Scotland.
The gardens have reflected the times, and each Duke has taken a keen interest in ensuring that the legacy evolves throughout the years with many different species of plantation and horticulture.
Ushaw Historic House, Chapel & Gardens, Co Durham
Ushaw is a former Catholic Seminary which re-opened for tourism and the local community in 2014. Immediately surrounding the house are 38 acres of formal gardens, woodland, walled gardens, and sports fields.
Since 2017, volunteers have been bringing the derelict gardens back to life. Known for its Rhododendrons, Ushaw’s gardens had become dominated by them at the expense of other features. From 2017 to 2021 the gardeners achieved the renovation without the aid of any decent machinery; everything was moved by hand.
The objective is to provide spaces within the gardens for people of all ages and abilities.
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