Only 2 miles from the Sandstone Trail, which is one of the finest and most popular middle distance walks in the North West, these extensive ornamental gardens must not be missed.

Dominated by a romantic Gothic Castle surrounded by sweeping lawns you will also find a beautiful temple water garden and rose garden.

Mixed borders along with woodland walks, well planted with rhododendrons and magnolias, provides a lovely mix of colour and height.

And for the children - lakeside walks with a picnic site, children’s play area, farm animals and free flying aviary birds.

This what makes Cholmondeley Castle Gardens a Cheshire Garden of Distinction.

Visit Cholmondeley Castle Gardens

Capesthorne Hall & Gardens, near Macclesfield, has been the family home of the Bromley Davenports since 1726.

The distinctive Jacobean style house with its Georgian Chapel and delightful gardens and lakes is set in over 100 acres of parkland.

The gardens feature colourful herbaceous borders filled with a rich array of perennials. They are notable for the late summer fragrance of rosa gallica, rosa rugosa and old moss roses. Visitors can also enjoy a small rose arbour, rhododendron woods and walks leading to an arboretum.

Our map shows you the exact location of Capesthorne Hall & Gardens and your travel options when visiting Cheshire.

Visit Capesthorne Hall & Gardens

Arley Hall Gardens are amongst the finest in Britain, having been lovingly created by the same family over 250 years.

They are a wonderful example of the idea that the best gardens are living, changing works of art.

Outstanding features are the renowned double herbaceous border, the avenue of giant Ilex columns and the breathtaking array of roses, perennials, flowering shrubs and other plants and trees. 

Visiting Arley by rail, bus and foot will give you a taste of Cheshire’s unique heritage. Alighting the local bus at the quaint village of Great Budworth you will walk past the old village pump, the stocks and the charming Church of St Mary’s and then out across the fields to Arley Hall & Gardens.

Visit Arley Hall & Gardens

Fifteenth century Gawsworth Hall was the home of Mary Fitton, the Dark Lady of Shakespeare's sonnets.

These romantic associations are echoed in the garden's broad lawns, studded with evergreen trees and shrubs - and formal plantings of roses.

To the south, the house looks out over medieval parkland enclosed by a crumbling 16th century wall.

The mounds and terraces are almost certainly all that remains of a sizeable formal Elizabethan pleasure garden.

With a local bus service from Macclesfield, direct to the lovely village of Gawsworth, this makes these gardens very accessible by public transport and a delightful day out for all the family.

Visit Gawsworth Hall Gardens

On the edge of the Peak District, nestling within sweeping moorland, Lyme Park is a magnificent estate.

Its wild remoteness and powerful beauty contrast with one of the most famous country-house images in England – the backdrop to where Darcy meets Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice.

Discover a colourful family history – from rescuing the Black Prince, sailing into exile with the Duke of Windsor, to the writing of the hit series Upstairs Downstairs.

Enjoy hearing visitors play the piano as you discover impressive tapestries, clocks and beautifully furnished rooms, or escape to the park and feel miles from anywhere.

Visit Lyme Park & Gardens

Visit Jodrell Bank and you will see the changing seasons in the 35 acre Arboretum next to the world famous Lovell Radio Telescope.

With over 2,500 varieties of trees and shrubs and a national collection of crab apples, mountain ash and whitebeams, the Arboretum is well worth a visit.

Whilst the gigantic telescope looks up to the stars, down on Earth you can explore the various trails and habitats around the Arboretum.

Above all, and especially if you have taken the pleasant walk from Goostrey Railway Station to Jodrell Bank, enjoy the tranquillity of this Cheshire Garden of Distinction.

You can even join one of the Guided Walk that run throughout the year.

Visit Jodrell Bank Arboretum  

There is something to see all year round at Ness Botanical Gardens and we are not just talking the Four Seasons Cafe with its homemade meals.

Set on the banks of the River Dee, with breathtaking views across to North Wales, these award-winning gardens boast an international reputation with flowers, shrubs and trees, in particular rhododendrons and azaleas and its national collection of sorbus.

The plants are the stars at Ness so is its Laburnum Arch and spectacular herbaceous borders.

With a bus stop right outside the front gate, Ness Gardens is easily accessible by public transport from the Merseyrail line that connects Liverpool with Chester and with its own local station in Neston.

Visit Ness Botanical Gardens

Tatton Park is one of the UK's most impressive historic estate, boasting a stunning neo-classical mansion, 1930s rare breeds farm, its own 1000 acre deer park, the Tudor Old Hall and 50 acres of award-winning gardens.

It also hosts the North's annual RHS Show.

Why not leave the car at home and travel to Tatton Park by Train.

If you are travelling from afar you will surprised how easy it is to visit Cheshire by Train.

Cheshire is a green county and we encourage you to consider travelling by public transport.

Why sit in a traffic jam when you could enjoy Cheshire's lovely scenery as part of your journey?

Visit Tatton Park Gardens 

Plants make Chester Zoo a beautiful place and you will find them used in many different ways.

Plants are used to create themed gardens and naturalistic habitats for the animals, in addition to over 33,000 bedding plants used in traditional ornamental displays.

Chester Zoological Gardens cares for nearly 200 endangered species of plants and holds National Collections of Cacti and Orchids.

There are a number of gardens events, including an annual Orchid Festival and Plant Conservation Day.

Each year, over 1 million people will visit this amazing landscape of rare, exotic and vibrant plants and may come across the occasional tiger, elephant, lion or even bear!

Visit Chester Zoological Gardens

Norton Priory Museum & Gardens is a fantastic day out with its excavated medieval ruins, lovely Walled Garden and extensive woodlands.

The beautiful gardens and grounds are spread out over 38 acres complete with the unique ruins of a 12th century Priory and a fascinating museum.

The woodlands contain picnic areas, a sculpture trail, a recreated medieval herb garden and a sensory garden for our younger visitors.

The glorious Georgian walled garden boasts a rose walk, a national collection of tree quince, herbaceous borders and croquet lawn.

Having won a Gold Award for Green Tourism, travelling here by train and bus can only add to its agenda.

Visit Norton Priory Museum & Gardens