These glorious gardens, laid out in the early part of the 19th century, fully embrace the romanticism of the era. The fashion at the time called for the flamboyant and ornate, something these gardens have in full measure, thus it is not surprising to learn the garden is one of Bedfordshire's foremost tourist attractions.
At the centre of the garden lies an ornate Swiss Cottage with a decorative thatched roof, this sets the tone for what is to come. Every pace you take leads you towards some fresh delight, be it magnificent banks of rhododendrons, azaleas, rose arbours, or tiny miniature buildings. Hidden away is one of the garden highlights, a beautiful fairytale grotto with a magnificent fernery, this can only be described as a dreamy fantasia of brilliant light and shade.
The classical proportions of the garden allow for formal walks between vibrant flower beds. There are many well established old English plants and shrubs including sweetly scented rambling roses. In all parts of the Swiss Garden much use is made of picturesque garden statutory, and urns overflowing with seasonal blooms are placed to good effect. There is also much that is exotic, with plants from all corners of the earth.
Visitors can wander amongst charming network of streams, ponds and tiny islands highlighted by graceful small bridges. In the lovely lakeside and woodland areas there are places for enjoying an outdoor picnic.
At whatever season you visit these gardens are a brilliant splash of colour. Bright daffodils nod in the early spring, later come gentle bluebells, and the year finishes with a flourish of glowing berries and leaves in shades of orange, red and purple.
The garden is entered through Old Warnden Park, where there is a mansion house built in 1876 by the Shuttleworth family, and the garden, as we see it today is the romantic creation of the 3rd Lord Ongley.
Visitors may take tea on the mansion lawn or enjoy a meal in the lovely restaurant as part of their visit.
The Swiss Garden is open from April to October and from November to March.
a Picturesque Village in the county of Bedfordshire
(0.7 miles, 1.1 km)Old Warden is a sleepy Bedfordshire village with pretty honey-coloured thatched cottages and a wealth of other interesting buildings...
a Historic Market Town in the county of Bedfordshire
(6.7 miles, 10.7 km, direction NW)Bedford is the historic County town of Bedfordshire with a beautiful riverside setting on the great River Ouse. John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's has strong associations with this town...
in the county of Hertfordshire
(7.9 miles, 12.8 km, direction E)Ashwell embodies some of the finest domestic architecture in England, here in this well preserved village, at a glance you get a pleasurable insight as to what England was like in the 16th and 17th-centuries...
a Historic Market Town in the county of Bedfordshire
(8.0 miles, 12.9 km, direction SW)The lovely town of Ampthill lies sheltered by hills in the sandstone belt of Bedfordshire...
in the county of Hertfordshire
(8.9 miles, 14.3 km, direction SE)The town lies close to the River Beane, in a spot where the river flows through some lovely water meadows and tranquil English countryside...
All towns in Bedfordshire
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