There's no denying that spending time surrounded by nature has a soothing effect on both mind and body. And with summer on its way in the northern hemisphere, now is the perfect time to head outdoors and take in some of the planet's most inspirational gardens in the sunshine. From sprawling countryside parks to urban nooks, you can witness some stunning seasonal displays.
Click through the gallery as we reveal the world's most beautiful gardens...
Previously voted the best botanical garden in America, Longwood is over 1,000 acres and mixes architecture with gardening, and a dedication to educating people about the local area. Roughly 30 miles (48km) from Philadelphia, Longwood features both indoor and outdoor gardens, a treehouse perfect for bird watching and even an open-air theatre for performances and events over summer.
While crocuses and trilliums carpet the garden's forest in a riot of colour during spring, summer brings a beautiful display of vibrant pink rose ramblers that decorate the romantic Rose Arbor. The gardens also offer a picnic area, children’s garden and indoor spaces to enjoy. Don't miss the Festival of Fountains, held in the Main Fountain Garden from May through October. The Historic Main Conservatory is also a stunner.
Located in southwest London, Kew has one of the most diverse gardens in the world with over 50,000 living plants and plenty of spots to enjoy a picnic lunch. It's also known for its perfectly preserved and quaint Victorian buildings such as the Temperate House (pictured), the world’s largest Victorian glass structure.
During summer, a wander through the Victoria Gate entrance towards the iconic Palm House (a remarkable indoor rainforest), is a treat for the eyes and nose thanks to the abundance of beautiful roses. Enjoy a scenic walk through the colourful Great Broad Walk Borders with the aromas of fresh flowers, catmint and lavender wafting through the air.
Under an hour by train from Paris, the palace King Louis XIV built in the 17th century is known for its Hall of Mirrors and rooms dripping with gold. But it's also home to one of the most opulent gardens in the world. Aside from the sweeping avenues, fountains the size of a lake and rolling greenery, there are must-see nooks like the little hamlet where Marie Antoinette visited when she wanted a break from the court.
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While there are other gardens around the world that have more colourful displays, Versailles is all about grandeur. There aren’t the riotous flowerbeds of Amsterdam, sure, but every Saturday and Sunday during summer, they hold the Grandes Eaux or musical fountains. It’s almost exactly as it was in the time of Louis XIV, where the gushing water is met with classical music to put on quite a performance. Advanced booking for the musical fountain show is recommended.
The location of Bodnant Garden is unbeatable: 20 minutes away from the Wales Coast Path, where you’re likely to pass the beaches of Colwyn Bay and Llandudno. Set above the river Conwy overlooking Snowdonia, the gardens have something special to see in every season. Roses are the highlight in late summer, and while the Laburnum Arch, a 180-foot (55m) tunnel that blossoms into golden yellow flowers is at its best in late spring/early summer, it's still pretty to walk through year-round.
Worth a visit any time of year, this traditional Japanese garden is one of the oldest in Tokyo and was completed during the Edo period (1603-1868). There are elements of Chinese and Japanese landscape design, and it’s an easy-to-reach oasis in the middle of the noise and modernity of the city. With the Tokyo Dome – a massive stadium – looming in the background, it’s almost like having a foot in two different worlds.
Most people visit during two periods: spring, to watch the 60-year-old cherry trees come to life with fluffy pink petals, and autumn, to watch the maples turn a burnt orange hue. In spring, there are also azaleas, wisterias and lotuses, while Japanese irises and rice grow during summer. The garden was originally designed for samurai lords to stroll about and forget their stresses, and it remains a mini oasis in the modern world.
Also known as the Edward James Gardens, these gardens are hauntingly beautiful and almost dream-like. Located in Xilitla, it's off the beaten track, and one for visitors who'd like to see the lesser-known parts of Mexico. Edward James was a British writer who lived during the 1940s and built these gardens from a coffee plantation. A supporter of surrealist art, James made the sculptures as well as tended to the orchids – some of which are very rare – amid the jungle.
Reflecting its name – Las Pozas means 'the pools' – there are naturally forming water pools across the property and over 30 sculptures. The orchids are a draw, but the real joy comes from just wandering through and admiring the eccentric layout of the gardens. Tampico is the nearest airport to fly into, and James’ old residence, Posada El Castillo, has been converted into a guesthouse.
Set in Prospect Park, the 52-acre garden allows visitors a chance to see a natural side to the Big Apple beyond Central Park. Hailed as a great 'date place', there are tours of local pond life and nature walks, plus the gardens are known to organise 'cherry watch', a map of when the blossom starts to bloom during spring. At the heart of the community in Brooklyn, an extensive education programme is designed to teach residents how to look after trees in the neighbourhood and rewards the greenest areas.
Aside from the cherry blossom, there's a unique vibrant tulip display every year, and the garden also has early azaleas, primroses and violets. The Cranford Rose Garden is a great spot in summer, home to one of North America's largest collections of rose bushes. The roses dramatically climb over arches and lattices creating a stunning display.
Set in West Sussex, this 11th-century castle has undergone various transformations but still retains some of its medieval features. In and around the romantic architectural elements are bursts of colour and carefully tended gardens. Inside, there’s some impressive artwork too from the likes of Canaletto and Van Dyck.
One of the UK’s largest tulip displays is in the grounds of Arundel Castle, with 70,000 bulbs showcasing unusual varieties including one that smells like oranges and another that has white fringing. A special section to look out for is the 'stumpery', which features ancient upturned tree roots, where gardeners have chosen to place some of the most delicate and tiny tulips. Don't miss a summer stroll through the English rose collection, which is easy on the nose as well as the eyes with its heady scent.
A traditional Japanese garden may be the last thing you’d expect to see in Washington Park, but this green space is considered one of the most authentic outside of Japan. It was originally designed by Takuma Tono in 1967 and was given an extension in 2017 by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, who added a new urban garden with pagoda-style roofs.
There are eight garden spaces to explore, including the contemporary Natural Garden and the Strolling Pond Garden, featuring two ponds connected by a stream and the famous Moon Bridge. Hour-length tours are available four times a day on Wednesday-Monday, but you must book in advance.
While a desert garden sounds like an impossibility, there is something rather magical about greenery that survives harsh landscapes. The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is set in Papago Park and was founded in 1939 by a group of local citizens who wanted to protect and conserve the desert wildlife.
Here, it’s all about that rare glimpse of floral delights such as Mexican poppies and desert lupine. But there are plenty of trails set up so you don't miss any of the desert wildflowers or blooming cacti. Don't miss the Plant and People of the Sonoran Desert loop trail, which takes in some special sights. There are even bird-spotting tours with trained guides, if that's your thing.
The original structure on this over 300-year-old plantation was burned down during the Civil War, but it was rebuilt in the late 1800s. Today there are magnificent green spaces, with the gardens comprised of both organised, manicured beds and wilder swampland begging to be explored.
The crown jewels of the gardens are the azaleas, which are still in bloom in early summer, joined by a colourful variety of seasonal lilies and roses. Apart from the gardens, there’s also a marsh boat tour and a pretty area called Cypress Lake (pictured), surrounded by cypress trees over 100 years old.
With the Dallas skyline stretching into the distance, you can temporarily turn your back on the city to get lost in one of the top arboretums in the world. They're passionate about food here too, and aside from the kitchen which is all about growing and eating sustainable, locally grown food, the garden offers three free tastings made with seasonal produce and cooking demonstrations on select days.
The Summer at the Arboretum, which is on until early August, showcases 70,000 new plantings, including monstera, elephant ears, bougainvillea and more tropical flora. Other attractions here include the Margaret Elizabeth Jonsson Color Garden, home to stunning banana and tapioca plants and Nancy's Garden, blanketed by pretty pastel-toned flowers.
These Scottish gardens were designed for people to enjoy the views across Loch Carron, and the drive to get here – along the North Coast 500 route – is also stunning. Warm winds from the Gulf Stream also mean that more fragile plants than you might expect can survive the Scottish weather in this remote part of the northwestern Highlands.
While the snowdrops are worth a visit in winter, in spring and summer it’s all about the rhododendrons. You'll find over 100 different species here, along with a water garden with wooden bridges and sculptures, a scenic waterfall and Japanese gardens. There’s also a cafe which gets many of its supplies from the kitchen gardens too.
One of the largest flower gardens in the world, what makes Keukenhof’s attractions unique – aside from the eye-popping colour and breadth of the flower displays – is that it's only open around 60 days of the year, usually from mid-March to early May. The grounds also have 10 miles (16km) of hiking trails and a children's maze.
There is no tulip display in spring quite like it, having begun as a humble flower show in 1949 to present Dutch tulip hybrids to exporters. In autumn it takes three months to plant the seven million bulbs, with a staggering 800 different varieties of tulip. For the duration of the 10 days before it closes, Keukenhof, which celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2024, is also home to the world’s largest display of lilies.
There’s never a bad time of year to visit this beautiful collection of five themed gardens, which started as a passion project for Robert and Jennie Butchart in 1904. The Japanese Garden, pictured here in autumn, is an acre in size and home to 500 rhododendrons and azaleas, 74 Japanese maple trees and 656 feet (200m) of gentle streams.
Aside from the huge swathes of colour and blossom, great attention has been paid to the timing of the flowers, from daffodils to snowdrops, and tulips to crocuses. There are more than 900 varieties of plants grown for the summer gardens alone, with a welcome display of colourful delphiniums setting the stage for the Rose Garden. Don't miss the Summer Firework Saturdays, held until the end of August, where aerial and ground displays choreographed to music will blow you away.