Pictures of Hidcote Manor Garden

a Garden or Park in the town of Hidcote Bartrim, in the county of Gloucestershire

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About Hidcote Manor Garden

Lawrence Johnston, an American officer purchased this estate in 1907 when it was little more than a wilderness site on the windswept Cotswold scarp. Here, with skill and patience Johnston transformed the inhospitable site into a series of beautiful gardens, which have been called the most beautiful gardens to come out of the 20th-century.

When Johnston began, he had little by way of raw materials to work with; A cedar of Lebanon, a cluster of fine beech trees, barren fields, and a slow trickling valley stream were all that he had to inspire him. However, he had spent his early years in France, where he was born in Paris of an English mother and an American father. It is therefore fair to assume that he was much influenced by French garden style.

At the time of their inception the gardens were thought to be highly original, they are laid between protective hedges and these were often unorthodox-red leaved beech was mixed with green, and golden-leaved was mixed with green yew, thus creating a riot of beautiful colours to be used as a backdrop for tender unusual plants from all over the world.

The gardens diverse away from a central focal point, each compartment has a special quality such as a garden containing plants of red foliage and flowers. There are so many rare and exotic plants at Hidcote, including those that have been nurtured by unusual methods; rhododendrons, camellia's, and magnolia's which originally failed to flourish in the limestone soil, were grown in beds of sawdust.

Vita Sackville-West, described Hidcote as "almost impossible to describe" and called the gardens a "jungle of beauty" this remains true today, so too does her hope that visitors would call at Hidcote in their thousands - they do!

The value of Hidcote gardens as a gardeners dream and a paradise for all would-be gardeners cannot be understated. That this beautiful setting which was one man's dream and entirely his endeavour is all the more inspiring. Lawrence Johnston spent most of his life devoted to Hidcote Manor, even after handing it to the National Trust in 1948 when he went to live almost entirely in France, he still found time to collect and grow sub-tropical plants not suitable for the Cotswold soil, which he would later transport back to Hidcote.

At Hidcote everywhere you look there is beauty, the garden "rooms" range from the wild magnificence of the Woodland Garden to the serene circular pool surrounded by white Iceberg roses, this gives the impression of one dramatic circular room. Other features are the Theatre lawn, fine steps, garden statutory, a Gazebo, stunning borders and the glorious Long walk.

To visit Hidcote Manor Garden is to experience a combination of perfection and pleasure, it is one of life's "must see" places, which no one should miss.

Lawrence Johnston died in France in 1958. He is lovingly remembered at Hidcote, but strangely only a few of the plants in the gardens bear his name.
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Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Hidcote Manor Garden

Kiftsgate Court Garden	(0.2 miles, 0.3 km)	Pictures
Batsford Park Arboretum	(5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction S)	Pictures
Broadway Tower and Animal Park	(5.8 miles, 9.3 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Middle Littleton Tithe Barn	(6.2 miles, 10.0 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Harvard House	(6.9 miles, 11.2 km, direction N)	Pictures
Anne Hathaway's Cottage	(7.4 miles, 11.9 km, direction N)	Pictures
Hall's Croft	(7.5 miles, 12.0 km, direction N)	Pictures
Nash's House & New Place	(7.6 miles, 12.3 km, direction N)	Pictures
Snowshill Manor	(7.8 miles, 12.5 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Shakespeare's Birthplace	(8.2 miles, 13.2 km, direction N)	Pictures

All attractions in Gloucestershire
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Recommended towns near Hidcote Manor Garden

Mickleton in the county of Gloucestershire (1.3 miles, 2.1 km, direction NW)
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Ebrington in the county of Gloucestershire (1.6 miles, 2.6 km, direction S)
The village of Ebrington shines like a jewel in a golden crown, its narrow lanes and tiny streets are aglow with beautiful mellow Cotswold stone houses and cottages.
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Ilmington in the county of Warwickshire (2.0 miles, 3.3 km, direction E)
Ilmington is a sprawling village, and mostly has all the Cotswold hallmarks.
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Chipping Campden in the county of Gloucestershire (2.5 miles, 4.1 km, direction SW)
Immediately appealing, this is certainly one of the most picturesque small towns in the northern reaches of the Cotswolds
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Broadway in the county of Worcestershire (5.8 miles, 9.4 km, direction SW)
The village of Broadway in the Cotswolds richly deserves the prestige of being the "show village of England"
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Welford-on-Avon in the county of Warwickshire (6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction N)
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Bourton-on-the-Hill in the county of Gloucestershire (6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction S)
Highly picturesque, but tiny, the village has only one public house - The Horse and Groom, which serves Real Ale, a good selection of wines and tasty food.
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Snowshill in the county of Gloucestershire (7.6 miles, 12.2 km, direction SW)
For anyone looking for a peaceful retreat in which to spend a few idyllic days in glorious countryside, could do no better that visit the picturesque village of Snowshill, high on the Cotswold escarpment above Broadway and the old town of Evesham.
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Stratford-upon-Avon in the county of Warwickshire (7.6 miles, 12.3 km, direction N)
Stratford Upon Avon is a beautiful historic market town in the County of Warwickshire. Famous as the birthplace of the legendry playwright William Shakespeare
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Evesham in the county of Worcestershire (8.8 miles, 14.2 km, direction W)
Particularly beautiful in the early spring when it is a mass of blossom, Evesham stands proudly on the river Avon right at the...
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Nearby travel help

Honeybourne Station	(4.3 miles, 6.8 km, direction W)
Moreton-in-Marsh Station	(6.2 miles, 10.0 km, direction S)
M40 Junction 14	(13.3 miles, 21.5 km, direction NE)
M40 Junction 15	(13.3 miles, 21.5 km, direction NE)
Birmingham International Airport	(25.7 miles, 41.3 km, direction N)
East Midlands Airport	(54.6 miles, 87.8 km, direction N)
Hidcote Manor Garden to London	(79.7 miles, 128.3 km, direction SE)

Accommodation & Hotels near Hidcote Manor Garden

Hotel Name
Cotswold House Hotel	(2.8 miles, 4.5 km, direction SW)
The Kings Arms	(2.8 miles, 4.6 km, direction SW)
Noel Arms Classic	(2.9 miles, 4.6 km, direction SW)
Red Lion Inn	(2.9 miles, 4.7 km, direction SW)
Lower Brook House	(4.1 miles, 6.6 km, direction S)
The Fox & Goose Inn	(4.2 miles, 6.8 km, direction E)
Peace Haven Holiday Lets	(4.5 miles, 7.2 km, direction NW)
The Crown Inn	(5.0 miles, 8.1 km, direction S)
The White Bear, Nr Stratford Upon Avon	(5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction E)
Falcon Inn, Nr Stratford Upon Avon	(5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction E)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts