National Trust to reopen some public gardens from next week … but stately homes will stay shut

National Trust is opening 29 of its parks and gardens to the public from NEXT WEEK… but which ones are open nearest you?

  • The National Trust said it will be reopening 29 of its public gardens from June 3 
  • But trust houses and shops will stay closed, along with cottages and campsites
  • The Royal Horticultural Society is also set to reopen its four gardens from June 1

Some of Britain’s most treasured public gardens will reopen next week, it was announced yesterday.

The National Trust and Royal Horticultural Society said they will be throwing open the gates of some of their properties to those who buy tickets in advance next week.

Members of both of the organisations will also need to book their visits to the grounds ahead of schedule.

The properties include the grounds of Cliveden (pictured), the Berkshire setting for the Profumo Affair

There is also the stunning Corfe Castle in Dorset (pictured), in the south west of the country

There is also the stunning Corfe Castle in Dorset (pictured), in the south west of the country

The properties include the grounds of Cliveden, the Berkshire setting for the Profumo Affair, in the south east, as well as the stunning Corfe Castle in Dorset.

There is also the Anglo-Saxon royal burial site Sutton Hoo in Suffolk and the rolling grounds of Attingham Park in Shropshire.

Other major sites opening include RHS Wisley in Surrey, as well as Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, and Kew Gardens in London.

In the Midlands region the rolling grounds of Attingham Park in Shropshire will be open to the public

In the Midlands region the rolling grounds of Attingham Park in Shropshire will be open to the public

The National Trust will initially re-open gardens at 29 of its 500-plus heritage properties from June 3.

More sites will open over the coming weeks where social distancing can be observed.

All Trust houses and shops remain closed, along with holiday cottages and campsites. The charity is urging people to limit how many visits they book.

Up north, Beningbrough Hall in North Yorkshire (pictured in March) will also feature in the list

Up north, Beningbrough Hall in North Yorkshire (pictured in March) will also feature in the list

Director-general Hilary McGrady said: ‘We want to provide safe, local, welcoming spaces for people, and wherever possible we will open our gardens and parks, and coast and countryside car parks.

‘The fresh air, bird song, big skies and open spaces people have missed will be there, but things will be very different, particularly at first.

‘We want to thank people for their patience and support while we gradually begin reopening and welcoming our visitors.’

The RHS said it was opening its four gardens from June 1 – Wisley in Surrey; Hyde Hall in Essex; Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire and Rosemoor in Devon.

SITES YOU CAN VISIT 

 South West

Corfe Castle, Dorset

Kingston Lacy, Dorset

Killerton, Devon

Lacock, Wiltshire

Midlands 

Attingham Park, Shropshire

Belton House, Lincolnshire

Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire

Calke Abbey, Derbyshire

Hardwick, Derbyshire

London and South East

Cliveden, Buckinghamshire

Hinton Ampner, Hampshire

Mottisfont, Hampshire

Polesden Lacey, Surrey

Stowe, Buckinghamshire

Scotney Castle, Kent

Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent

Standen House & Garden, W. Sussex

Sheffield Park & Garden, E. Sussex

The Vyne, Hampshire 

 East of England

Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill, Cambridgeshire

Ickworth, Suffolk

Sutton Hoo, Suffolk

Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire

Northern Ireland

Castle Coole, County Fermanagh

Castle Ward, County Down

Downhill Demesne and Hezlett House, County Londonderry

Florence Court, County Fermanagh

Mount Stewart, County Down

Portstewart Strand, Co Londonderry

Rowallane Garden, County Down

The Argory, County Armagh

North

Beningbrough Hall, North Yorkshire

Gibside, Tyne & Wear

Dunham Massey, Greater Manchester

Lyme, Cheshire

Quarry Bank, Cheshire

Wallington, Northumberland