8 of the best outdoor design trips in the UK

Sep 6, 2020

3 min read

Updated: Nov 14, 2020

Gardens & parks are now the perfect COVID friendly spots to meet friends, enjoy some culture and make the most of the sun before winter. We have rounded up some of the best outdoor design trips from across the UK for you to enjoy.

1. Hauser & Wirth, Somerset

Hauser & Wirth art gallery & gardens in Somerset

Swiss art specialists Hauser & Wirth have galleries across the world, from New York to Hong Kong to Gstaad. Their Somerset space combines a pioneering world-class gallery and multi-purpose arts center, hosting innovative exhibitions both inside & outside. The garden was designed by internationally renowned landscape architect Piet Oudolf and houses the Radić Pavilion designed by Smiljan Radić.

The gardens host a changing programme of outdoor sculptures and are free to visit.

2. Down House, Kent

Down House, the home & gardens of Charles Darwin in Kent

Down House is an English Heritage property that is the former home of Charles Darwin. The gardens are home to Darwin's 'outdoor laboratory' when he spent time working on experiments that helped develop his ground-breaking theories. The garden has a bountiful vegetable garden, Darwin's 'thinking path' and fragrant flower beds.

English Heritage are currently asking visitors to book time slots to visit the garden.

3. Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Yorkshire

Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a contemporary sculpture park near Leeds inYorkshire

Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) is an open-air gallery showing work by British & international artists, located near Wakefield to the south of Leeds. YSP, set in the 500 acre parkland of Bretton Hall, boasts one of the largest open-air displays of Henry Moore bronzes and pieces by other artists including Barbara Hepworth. As well as their permanent collection they have a changing exhibition program that has included artists such as Anthony Gormley & Damien Hirst.

The park is currently asking visitors to book tickets online before visiting.

4. Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden, Cornwall

Part of the Tate St Ives, Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden is her home & gardens in Cornwall

The Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden forms part of the Tate St Ives in Cornwall. It is the home and studios Hepworth lived and worked in for most of her life, with husband and artist Ben Nicholson. Most of the bronze sculptures are in the original positions in which Hepworth placed them and she designed the garden herself with help from her composer friend Priaulx Rainier.

Visitors currently need to book tickets online for a time slot, via the Tate website.

5. New Art Centre, Wiltshire

New Art Centre is a private sculpture garden located in Roche Court near Salisbury in Wiltshire

Roche Court is a private sculpture park located in over 20 acres of park and garden, just outside Salisbury. The park is home to more than 100 works by contemporary sculptors from Britain and abroad. The New Art Centre has an impressive permanent collection, including work by Anthony Gormley & Phillip King, as well as a changing exhibition program.

The centre is free to visit but appointments must be booked in advance via email or phone.

6. Kew Gardens, London

Dating back to 1759, Kew Gardens are a UNESCO World Heritage site, spread over 330 acres of South West London

As one of the best know gardens in the UK, no list would be complete without the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. The gardens date back to 1759 and are an UNESCO World Heritage site. Spread over 330 acres of South West London the gardens are home to 50,000 living plants. Key attractions include the Great Pagoda, the recently restored Temperate House, the Treetop Walkway and much more.

Tickets can be purchase online from Kew's website, and for those who can't make it in person to the gardens Kew are currently offering virtual tours that can be enjoyed from the comfort of your sofa.

7. Wakehurst, West Sussex

Wakehurst in West Sussex is part of the Kew Gardens family and home to the Millenium Seed Bank

Also part of the Kew family, Wakehurst is a 500 acre house and gardens in the heart of Sussex. Wakehurst's gardens boast a wild botanic garden, Kew's Millennium Seed Bank, a Wetlands Walk & Nature Reserve and much more.

As with Kew, tickets can be purchased online via the website, and the virtual tour also includes Wakehurst's Winter Gardens.

8. Portmeirion, North Wales

Portmeirion is a tourist village and gardens located in Gwynedd on the coast of North Wales. It was designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925-1975, mirroring the style of an Italian village with the gardens and architecture evoking the atmosphere of the Mediterranean.

The village boasts two hotels, a group of holiday cottages, shops, spa and many places to eat including an Italian style Gelateria. The gardens can also be visited for a day and full information is available on their website.