- Nymans in Mid Sussex ranks as the third-best public garden in the UK
- Two more Mid Sussex gardens are found in the top 20
- Sheffield Park and Garden ranks ninth in the UK, and Borde Hill rounds out the top 20
New research has revealed that a Mid Sussex public garden ranks as one of the UK’s very best to visit this spring.
The study, by outdoor living experts White Stores, analysed 240 gardens listed by the Royal Horticultural Society and compiled their Google ratings, annual rainfall, average temperature, hours of sunlight per year, number of facilities and variety of on-site attractions to give each garden a rating out of 100 and crown the top 10.
Nymans garden in Mid Sussex has won the third spot with an overall rating of 87 out of 100 based on a number of factors. It is the second most reviewed garden in the top five, with 6,798 reviews, averaging an impressive Google review rating of 4.7. Nymans is described on the RHS website as “a delight for all seasons with its rare and unusual plant collections”.
Among the many plants on show, it has other key features including a Mediterranean garden, herbaceous border, wildflower meadow, arboretum, and rock garden. For families, Nymans offers an easy day out with the must have amenities; toilets, refreshments and a children’s play area.
Annual rainfall is relatively low, with less than 1,000 mm per year (976mm). Much less than the UK’s average annual rainfall of 1,149mm. This part of Mid Sussex is also likely to be sunnier than the average UK garden, with 2,688 hours of sunlight annually, compared to the average 2,558.
Mid Sussex is home to another garden in the top ten, Sheffield Park and Garden, which ranks ninth best in the country. With an equally impressive Google rating review of 4.7 from an impressive 5,806 happy visitors and an overall score of 84.7 out of 100, Sheffield Park and Garden has a great number of amenities, least of all their lake views.
Borde Hill, another Mid Sussex garden to rank high amongst the national selection, in 20th place overall, boasts its own high score of 81.54/100. Thanks to its 4.6 Google review rating, lower than average annual rainfall and higher than average daylight, it only falls behind Nymans garden for its slightly lower Google review rating.
The RHS website notes that it is “a Grade II-listed garden and features one private collection of over 70 specimens of champion trees”.
The highest-ranking public garden in the UK can be found in Norfolk. The East Ruston Old Vicarage has an overall rating of 86.6 out of 100 total points. Winning favour with a 4.8 Google rating, the garden offers an array of attractions, earning more points towards its total score – visitors will find sculptures, sub-tropical gardens and a glasshouse which is open to the public, among others.
The second-best public garden in the UK is the Sir Harold Hillier Botanical Gardens which is the first of seven gardens in the South East that appear in the UK top ten. Located in Hampshire, this spot is just fractions of a point off first place.
The top five is completed by Trebah Garden in Cornwall in fourth place, with a total score of 85.78 out of 1000, and fifth place Syon Park in Hounslow which scored 85.45.
The 10 Best Public Gardens in the UK
Rank | Garden | Area | Region | Rating out of 100 |
1 | East Ruston Old Vicarage | Norfolk | East | 87.4 |
2 | Sir Harold Hillier Gardens | Hampshire and the Isle of Wight | South East | 87.2 |
3 | Nymans | Surrey, East and West Sussex | South East | 87 |
4 | Trebah Garden | Cornwall and Isles of Scilly | South West | 85.8 |
5 | Syon Park | Outer London | London | 85.5 |
6 | Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway | Hampshire and the Isle of Wight | South East | 85.2 |
7 | Walmer Castle and Gardens | Kent | South East | 84.8 |
8 | Springfields Designer Outlet and Festival Gardens | Lincolnshire | East Midlands | 84.7 |
9 | Sheffield Park and Garden | Surrey, East and West Sussex | South East | 84.7 |
10 | Penshurst Place and Gardens | Kent | South East | 83.2 |
The analysis also ranked the UK’s regions by the number of gardens available, with the South East coming out on top, thanks to 37 gardens in the region appearing on the RHS’ official list.
The second best region for sniffing the flowers is the South West, following just behind with 36 gardens, while third is Scotland with 32 gardens.
At the other end of the scale, the three lowest ranking regions for gardens to visit are the North East with five gardens, Northern Ireland with five gardens and London with only three.
Number of Gardens per Region
Region | No. of Gardens |
South East | 37 |
South West | 36 |
Scotland | 32 |
East | 21 |
North West | 16 |
East Midlands | 14 |
Yorkshire and the Humber | 14 |
Wales | 13 |
West Midlands | 10 |
North East | 5 |
Northern Ireland | 5 |
London | 3 |
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Commenting on the data, Rob Mead, Buying Director at White Stores said:
“Not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden of their own to enjoy, but the UK is well known for its public gardens. There are hundreds dotted around the UK so anyone can enjoy a day out among the flowers.
“These gardens offer more than a great day out for a family of all ages, and they’re great inspiration for people looking to decorate their own outdoor spaces.”
The study was conducted by White Stores, the UK’s largest garden furniture specialists, at the forefront of the industry since 2005, bringing exclusive and innovative designs to customers as well as top-level customer service.
Image: Daffodils at Borde Hill
