Two famous gardens in the UK are the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (a UNESCO World Heritage site in London) and The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall, known for its vast, restored Victorian pleasure grounds and sub-tropical jungle. Both are renowned for their biodiversity, historical significance, and popularity with visitors.
Arguably, one of the most famous gardens around the world is the Gardens of Versailles, located on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles in Versailles, France. Located a short train ride from Paris, the Gardens of Versailles are known for their grandeur, beauty and historical significance.
Of the 25.8 million total gardens in Britain, 20.6 million are domestic gardens (front and/or back), accounting for 502,757 hectares. The mapping found that: The average domestic garden is 244m2 – that's nine tenths of a tennis court.
The College Garden at Westminster Abbey in London is thought to have been in use for more than 900 years, making it the oldest garden in England. The garden was once used by the great medieval monastery established in the 11th century.
There are estimates of around 1,500 to 2,300 garden centres and retail nurseries in the UK, with sources like the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) pointing towards the 1,500 figure for centres and nurseries, while Savills cited 2,300 in 2023 for centres specifically, highlighting the industry's growth as destinations offering more than just plants.
Letchworth Garden City is the world's first Garden City, created as a solution to the squalor and poverty of urban life in Britain in the late 19th Century.
Kent is known as the Garden of England, with a mix of countryside, coastlines, and vibrant cities, all within easy reach of London. Based in the South-East of England, Kent is known for its history, beautiful landscapes, and local wines.
Hamilton Gardens is a garden unlike any other. A unique collection of stunning gardens from around world, Hamilton Gardens in the Waikato explores the context, history, relationships and meaning of gardens throughout time and across the world.
Bangalore has numerous nicknames, including the 'Garden city of India'. According to tradition, the city owes this name to Krishna Raja Wodeyar, the 24th maharaja of the Kingdom of Mysore.
A Garden City is a holistically planned new settlement which enhances the natural environment and offers high-quality affordable housing and locally accessible work in beautiful, healthy and sociable communities.
The Englischer Garten is a large public park in the centre of Munich, Bavaria, stretching from the city centre to the northeastern city limits. It was created in 1789 by Sir Benjamin Thompson, later Count Rumford, for Prince Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria.
Over 30 Garden Cities were eventually developed in England, starting with Letchworth in 1903 and Welwyn in 1920. It is important to note that the Garden Cities were complete urban economies on municipally owned land. They were never about housing alone.
The prestigious Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show has become a must-see event, world famous for its stunning displays, vibrant colors and innovative designs.
How many registered parks and gardens are there? There are over 1,700 entries for registered parks and gardens on the National Heritage List for England.
In 2024, nearly six in ten UK adults (55%) said that they participate in gardening as a hobby. This is equivalent to 18.1 million UK adults who said that they gardened on a regular basis in 2024, highlighting the widespread appeal of gardening as a leisure activity across the UK.
