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10 Beautiful Gardens to Visit Within an Hour’s Drive of Combermere Abbey (Cheshire & Shropshire)
Estate – 13.05.26
10 Beautiful Gardens to Visit Within an Hour’s Drive of Combermere Abbey (Cheshire & Shropshire)
Staying at Combermere Abbey places you at the heart of one of the most beautiful garden landscapes in the UK, on the Cheshire–Shropshire border. Within easy driving distance, you’ll find some of the best gardens in Cheshire, Shropshire and North West England, from open gardens and National Trust properties to historic estates and hidden private landscapes.
Whether you’re planning a romantic countryside break, a garden-focused staycation, or simply looking for things to do near Combermere Abbey, these gardens offer the perfect way to spend time outdoors, explore the region’s powerful horticultural heritage and be inspired.
1. Combermere Abbey Walled Gardens (On-site)
Distance: On the estate
Open: 11th June 2026
Cost: Entry fee applies
Website: https://combermereabbey.co.uk/abbey-estate-tours/garden-open-days/
Within the Abbey grounds, the estate opens its gates to garden lovers to explore the Combermere Gardens for their Summer Garden Open Day on 11th June 2026. Guests will explore the beautifully restored six-acre Victorian garden, with its unique features; the Pleasure Garden with its collection of 19th century trees and the Garden Wood leading directly to the Mere edge. Perched on the borders of Cheshire and Shropshire, its rescue from abandonment is a unique opportunity to explore a space that is usually closed to non-residential visitors.
Wander through the world-famous fruit tree maze, discover seasonal planting in full flourish, and experience restored garden spaces that reflect both centuries of heritage and ongoing horticultural care.
Peaceful, immersive, and quietly spectacular, these gardens offer a rare glimpse into the social history of Combermere Abbey, a highlight of the estate and a truly special summer visit.
2. Arley Hall & Gardens
Distance: Approx. 50 minutes
Open: Seasonal opening times
Cost: Entry fee applies
Website: https://www.arleyhallandgardens.com
Famous for its double herbaceous borders, Arley Hall & Gardens is one of the most well-known NGS gardens in Cheshire. The formal gardens are beautifully maintained, offering structure, colour, and seasonal planting at its finest.
A highlight for anyone searching for historic gardens near Cheshire.
3. Dorothy Clive Garden (NGS)
Distance: Approx. 35 minutes
Open: Seasonal opening
Cost: Entry fee applies
Website: https://www.dorothyclivegarden.co.uk
Set within a former quarry, the Dorothy Clive Garden is a romantic hillside garden filled with woodland planting, waterfalls, and colourful seasonal borders. Created for the wife of an earlier owner who was disabled.
A perfect example of a restored landscape garden in Shropshire, ideal for spring and summer visits.
4. Wollerton Old Hall Garden
Distance: Approx. 30 minutes
Open: Open on specified days only
Cost: Entry fee applies
Website: https://www.wollertonoldhallgarden.com
Often described as one of the finest private gardens in England, Wollerton Old Hall Garden is known for its structure, colour, and meticulous design. Wollerton has won several awards for its creators, Leslie and John Jenkins.
Open on specific days during the season and with a lovely café. It remains one of the North Shropshire’s most wonderful garden experiences.
5. Rode Hall & Gardens
Distance: Approx. 40 minutes
Open: Wednesdays and Bank Holidays.
Cost: Entry fee applies
Website: https://www.rodehall.co.uk
A traditional English estate garden, Rode Hall is best known for its gardens created by late own Lady Baker-Wilbraham and its fabulous monthly market featuring food producers from the surrounding counties. There is a wonderful tea room.
A strong example of a working historic garden in Cheshire.
6. Cholmondeley Castle Gardens
Distance: Approx. 25 minutes
Open: Selected seasonal openings
Cost: Entry fee applies
Website: https://www.visitcholmondeleycastle.com
Set within vast parkland, Cholmondeley Castle Gardens offer sweeping lawns, lakes, and beautifully maintained rose gardens.
One of the most impressive, landscaped gardens in Cheshire, perfect for a summer day trip.
7. Norton Priory Museum & Gardens
Distance: Approx. 1 hour
Open: Year-round
Cost: Entry fee applies
Website: https://nortonpriory.org
A unique blend of history and horticulture, Norton Priory features medieval ruins surrounded by modern landscaped gardens.
One of the most historically significant gardens in North West England.
8. Eaton Hall Gardens (Limited Access)
Distance: Approx. 50 minutes
Open: 17th May & 14th June 2026
Cost: Entry fee applies (raising funds for local charities)
Rarely open to the public, Eaton Hall Gardens offer a glimpse into one of the most private estate gardens in Cheshire.
When accessible, it is one of the most exclusive garden visits in the region.
9. Dunham Massey (National Trust)
Distance: Approx. 1 hour
Open: Daily (seasonal variations)
Cost: National Trust members free / standard admission applies
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cheshire-greater-manchester/dunham-massey
A historic deer park and formal garden set within a vast National Trust estate, Dunham Massey offers wide avenues, reflective waterways, and seasonal planting that shifts quietly throughout the year.
In spring, the gardens soften with blossom and bulbs, while autumn brings rich colour beneath ancient trees. It is a place defined by space, calm, and a slower pace.
Rarely open to the public, Eaton Hall Gardens offer a glimpse into one of the most private estate gardens in Cheshire.
When accessible, it is one of the most exclusive garden visits in the region.
10. Biddulph Grange Garden (National Trust)
Distance: Approx. 45 minutes
Open: Daily
Cost: National Trust members free / standard admission applies
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/shropshire-staffordshire/biddulph-grange-garden
A truly distinctive National Trust Garden, Biddulph Grange takes you through a series of themed landscapes, from Italian terraces to Chinese-inspired planting.
It reflects a time of curiosity and exploration, where gardening was as much about storytelling as it was about planting.
NGS : It is worth checking out those local gardens open via the National Garden Scheme. https://ngs.org.uk/ which highlight private gardens not generally on the radar. The proceeds go to support their 4 chosen charities each year.
Edible Flowers in English Country Gardens
Across Shropshire and Cheshire in kitchen gardens and walled gardens near Combermere Abbey, edible flowers are an often-overlooked seasonal highlight.
Nasturtiums bring a peppery freshness to salads, while borage adds a light cucumber flavour. Violas and pansies offer delicate sweetness and colour, and calendula introduces subtle earthiness and vibrancy to dishes. Lavender, used sparingly, adds fragrance and depth to both sweet and savoury cooking.
In traditional English kitchen gardens, edible flowers are part of a long-standing connection between beauty and practicality, where gardens are designed not only to be admired, but to be enjoyed on the plate as well.
A Place to Stay, As It Should Be
Make a wonderful overnight trip and benefit from seeing more than one garden. Come book a one-night (or more) in one of our lovely self-catering cottages. After a day spent exploring gardens across Cheshire and Shropshire, there is a natural sense of returning to Combermereto unwind and enjoy the evening with a visit to one of our local gastro pubs and restaurants.
The estate offers a choice of places to stay; each designed with the same considered approach. The Courtyard Cottages, once Victorian stables, are fully equipped and dog-friendly, making them ideal for either one night stays or longer, more relaxed stays. Set within the heart of the estate, they offer comfort, privacy, and a sense of home that allows you to settle in quickly.
Within the Abbey itself, The North Wing offers something truly special. An experience from start to finish. An adult-only space with its own private entrance and concierge service, it combines the ease of a luxury B&B and so much more, with the character and history of the house. Mornings begin slowly, evenings draw in gently, and throughout the day, light moves across rooms that look out over the mere.
However you choose to stay, it is less about filling time and more about allowing it to unfold.
Discover a stay at Combermere: https://combermereabbey.co.uk/accommodation/
