Top 10 Gardens to Visit in 2027
From Australia’s spectacular spring gardens and subtropical valleys in Cornwall to the water gardens that inspired Monet, 2027 promises an extraordinary year for garden lovers.
Brightwater Holidays’ new collection brings together some of the finest gardens in Britain and across the world. Alongside celebrated horticultural landmarks, many tours offer expert insight, carefully curated itineraries and access to gardens that can be difficult to experience independently.
If you are searching for inspiration for your next garden holiday, here are ten remarkable gardens to put on your 2027 wish list.
1. Highgrove Gardens, Gloucestershire
The private gardens surrounding the country home of His Majesty The King are among the most fascinating in Britain.
Developed over several decades according to organic and sustainable principles, Highgrove is formed from a series of distinctive garden areas. Wildflower meadows, formal planting, productive spaces and imaginative garden features combine to create a deeply personal landscape.
The gardens change continually with the seasons, but their close relationship with nature remains constant. A visit also provides a rare opportunity to discover the environmental ideas and gardening philosophy that have shaped Highgrove.
Visit Highgrove on Brightwater’s Highgrove and the Cotswolds tour, which also features Hidcote, Kiftsgate Court, Rodmarton Manor and Painswick Rococo Garden.
2. RHS Garden Bridgewater, Greater Manchester
One of the most ambitious horticultural projects undertaken in Europe, RHS Garden Bridgewater has transformed the historic grounds of Worsley New Hall into a world-class garden.
Its centrepiece is the vast Weston Walled Garden, where contemporary planting and productive horticulture breathe new life into the estate’s surviving walls. The wider grounds feature woodland, water, living plant collections and areas dedicated to experimentation, education and community gardening.
With an overall masterplan created by leading landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith, Bridgewater combines the heritage of its setting with bold contemporary ideas. As the planting continues to mature, every visit offers something new.
Discover it on RHS Garden Bridgewater and Gardens of the North West, with 2027 departures also visiting Trentham, Dunham Massey, Tatton Park and Arley Hall.
3. Trebah Garden, Cornwall
Cornwall’s mild climate allows an astonishing variety of plants to flourish, and Trebah is one of the county’s finest subtropical gardens.
This beautiful valley garden descends towards the Helford River through a landscape filled with mature trees, giant rhubarb, tree ferns and great Asiatic shrubs. In spring, rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias bring vibrant colour to the valley, while winding paths reveal new viewpoints at every turn.
The combination of lush planting, sheltering woodland and glimpses of water gives Trebah an atmosphere unlike almost anywhere else in Britain.
Trebah features on Brightwater’s Spring Gardens of Cornwall tour, alongside Glendurgan, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, the Eden Project, Knightshayes and Killerton.
4. Tresco Abbey Garden, Isles of Scilly
Just 28 miles from the Cornish coast, the island of Tresco enjoys a remarkably mild climate. This has allowed plants from Mediterranean regions and the southern hemisphere to thrive within the extraordinary Abbey Garden.
Built among the remains of a Benedictine abbey, the garden rises in a series of sheltered terraces filled with exotic plants. Succulents, proteas, palms and colourful species from around the world create a landscape that feels wonderfully removed from mainland Britain.
The setting is just as memorable as the planting, with sea views, island light and unexpected sculptural details adding to the sense of discovery.
Visit Tresco Abbey Garden on Great Gardens of Cornwall in the Company of Mike Nelhams, a special 2027 tour that also visits the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Caerhays Castle and the Tregothnan Estate.
5. Inverewe Garden, Wester Ross
Inverewe is one of the great horticultural surprises of Scotland. Set amid the rugged scenery of Wester Ross, it supports an extraordinary collection of exotic plants thanks to the warming influence of the North Atlantic Drift.
Mature trees and shrubs create a luxuriant landscape of winding paths, sheltered corners and unexpected views across Loch Ewe. Plants from around the world flourish against a backdrop of mountains, water and dramatic Highland scenery.
The contrast between the garden’s rich planting and its wild coastal setting makes Inverewe an unforgettable place to explore.
It is a highlight of Brightwater’s Gardens of Wester Ross tour, which also includes Dunvegan Castle and an exclusive private visit to Attadale Gardens.
6. Monet’s Garden at Giverny, France
Few gardens are as closely connected to an artist as Claude Monet’s garden at Giverny.
Monet spent years developing the garden as a living composition. In the flower-filled Clos Normand, plants are arranged with a painter’s eye for colour, texture and changing light. Across the road, the famous water garden contains the lily pond, weeping willows and Japanese-inspired bridge immortalised in his paintings.
Walking through Giverny creates the remarkable sensation of stepping inside Monet’s art. Familiar scenes come alive as reflections shift across the water and flowers spill over pathways in carefully orchestrated abundance.
Experience Giverny on The Genius of Monet, which also includes the Musée de l’Orangerie and Château de Chantilly.
7. The Generalife, Granada
Set beside the Alhambra, the Generalife offers one of Europe’s most enchanting combinations of architecture, water and planting.
Created as a place of retreat for Granada’s Nasrid rulers, its intimate courtyards, shaded walkways and flowing fountains demonstrate the sophistication of Moorish garden design. Water provides movement, sound and cooling freshness, while clipped greenery and seasonal planting frame views towards the Alhambra, Granada and the Sierra Nevada.
The result is both serene and theatrical—a garden designed for contemplation but filled with dramatic vistas and intricate detail.
Visit the Generalife and Alhambra on Brightwater’s Architecture and Gardens of Andalucía tour.
8. Monte Palace Tropical Garden, Madeira
Madeira’s volcanic landscape and subtropical climate have created ideal conditions for some of Europe’s most exuberant gardens.
High above Funchal, Monte Palace Tropical Garden surrounds a château-like building in a lush hillside setting. Tropical and subtropical plants flourish among lakes, pathways and shaded garden spaces, with magnificent views across the island’s capital and coastline.
The journey to the garden is part of the experience. A cable-car ride from Funchal climbs towards Monte, revealing sweeping views over the harbour and bay before visitors enter this wonderfully verdant retreat.
Monte Palace features on Brightwater’s Gardens of Madeira tour, together with the Madeira Botanical Garden, Palheiro Gardens and a gentle levada walk.
9. Else Kientzler Botanical Garden, Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, and Else Kientzler Botanical Garden offers a colourful introduction to its remarkable plant life.
The garden brings together an extensive collection of tropical plants within a lush landscape of palms, flowering species and richly planted pathways. It provides a chance to appreciate the extraordinary forms, colours and textures produced by a climate where vegetation grows with exceptional vigour.
The wider tour places these cultivated collections within Costa Rica’s spectacular natural environment, from cloud forest and tropical reserves to the landscapes surrounding Arenal Volcano.
Visit Else Kientzler Botanical Garden on Brightwater’s Gardens of Costa Rica tour.
10. Australia’s Iconic Gardens
Australia offers a wonderfully distinctive garden experience, where bold planting, dramatic landscapes and a deep connection to place come together in memorable ways.
From carefully designed public gardens to spectacular seasonal displays, Australia’s gardens showcase an extraordinary variety of plants, colours and settings. Native flora, formal design, heritage gardens and contemporary horticulture all contribute to a journey that feels both expansive and richly rewarding.
In 2027, Australia will be especially exciting for garden lovers, with the WAFA World Flower Show bringing an added international focus to the country’s horticultural scene. For anyone looking for a once-in-a-lifetime garden holiday, this is a standout choice.
Discover Australia’s gardens on Brightwater’s Australia’s Gardens in Bloom: Iconic Gardens & WAFA 2027 tour.
Discover the world through its gardens
The best garden holidays offer far more than beautiful planting. They reveal the history, culture and character of a destination through the landscapes people have created and cared for.
From royal gardens and artistic masterpieces to tropical botanical collections, Brightwater’s 2027 tours offer countless opportunities to discover somewhere extraordinary. Explore the complete collection of Brightwater garden holidays for 2027 and start planning your next horticultural adventure.
