9 of the best gardens to visit in Suffolk
It doesn’t matter if you’re a Suffolk local or you’re planning your first visit: there’s no denying that Suffolk is not short of spectacular gardens to visit.
Every one of the gardens in Suffolk has so much to offer throughout the spring and summer, but many are also open during the autumn and winter months too, when you can enjoy the stunning colours and crisp frosted grass.
Complete your day out with a tour of one of the glorious historic houses that many of the gardens surround, and enjoy time out in one of the on-site cafes.
The countless beautiful gardens and woodland parks in the county offer something to see for anyone spending their summer in Suffolk.
Here, we take a walk through some of the best gardens to visit in Suffolk.
Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds
Nestled in the heart of Bury St Edmunds, the Abbey Gardens offer a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle.
The original Botanic gardens were created in 1831, but were updated in 1937 to celebrate the coronation of King George VI.
As well as taking in the ruins of the Abbey of St Edmund, visitors can also wander through the Appleby Rose Garden, enjoy a moment of tranquillity in the peaceful Water Garden, engage all their senses in the Sensory Garden and visit the world’s first Internet bench.
Don’t forget to stop by the aviary, where you can see beautiful budgies, canaries, teal ducks, zebra finches and diamond ducks.
Location: Bury St Edmunds
Open: Free entry year-round. Opening times vary depending on the season – check current opening hours here.
Parking: Limited parking on Angel Hill, although this can get full at peak times. The nearest large pay & display car park is Ram Meadow, which is a two-minute walk away.
Somerleyton Hall
Somerleyton Hall Gardens give you the chance to step back in time and explore what has been considered one of the finest gardens in East Anglia since the 17th century.
Somerleyton is recorded as being a homestead since the time of the Vikings, and the first house was built in Tudor times. It has undergone various iterations and renovations since then, with the pleasure gardens being added along the way. The Hall and gardens as you see them today were the result of a Victorian baronet, Sir Samuel Morton Peto, investing his fortune in resurrecting the estate in the 1840s.
See the great equatorial sundial set in the Nesfield Parterre, the centrepiece of the garden. Get lost in the glorious yew hedge maze, spend some time admiring the sunken White Garden and take in the towering trees as you wander through the Arboretum.
Location: Somerleyton, around 6 miles north of Lowestoft
Open: Year-round on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays. Also open on Wednesdays in June, July and August. Somerleyton Hall House is not currently open to the public.
Parking: Free car park on site
Kentwell Hall
What makes Kentwell Hall gardens unique is the influence over time of many different owners, each adding their own mark to the already elaborate gardens.
See the 16th century moat and buildings and enjoy the 17th century walled garden and Lime Avenue approach, before wandering through the sunken garden, vast lawns and ice house which date from the 18th century. Then, glory in the majesty of the 19th century cedar trees and finally stroll around the 20th century shrubbery.
Kentwell Hall also runs historical recreation events throughout the year: plan your visit accordingly and you’ll find yourself immersed in the day-to-day goings-on of Tudor times.
Location: Long Melford, north of Sudbury
Open: Intermittently throughout the year. Check current opening times here. Book in advance to save £2 on the ticket price.
Parking: Free car park on site
Ickworth House
Ickworth House’s Italianate rotunda is arguably one of Suffolk’s most distinctive architectural sights.
Surrounding the stunning building, you’ll find mazes, pathways, formal gardens and pleasure grounds: a slice of Suffolk countryside that’s perfect for a casual stroll, a focused walk, or a picnic. You can even hire a bike onsite and spend a day exploring the estate on two wheels.
Ickworth House was originally envisaged by the 4th Earl of Bristol, who started the project in 1795 as a place to house the art and treasures that he had collected whilst travelling around Europe. Sadly, he died before it could be completed, and his son, the 1st Marquess, took over.
Ickworth Park’s garden was the first of its kind in the UK. Designed by the 1st Marquess, it was inspired by the gardens of the Mediterranean that he had visited during his Grand Tour of Europe. On his return, he decided to create a pleasure garden that could be enjoyed by his family and friends.
The gardens still remain much as they were in the Marquess’ day, with the addition of the gothic-style Stumpery, which was created from the stumps of trees that were uprooted during WWII when fields were given over to growing food.
Wander through Lady Geraldine’s Walk, see the Temple Garden, and time your visit between February and May to see the famous daffodils in bloom.
For days when the weather is less than pleasant, you can explore the treasures held inside the house, which make up one of the most important collections of 18th-century silver in Europe.
Location: Horringer, just outside Bury St Edmunds
Open: Year-round, excluding 24th-25th December. Some areas may close early due to adverse weather.
Parking: Free car park on site. Cycle hire available from the car park.
Helmingham Hall Gardens
Surrounding the ancient Hall, built in the early 1500s, Helmingham Hall Gardens features stunning walled gardens which are thought to actually predate the Hall itself.
While away the hours wandering through the breathtaking gardens, stroll through the orchard and the apple walk (visit in May to see them adorned in beautiful blossom) and explore bridges, tunnels, walkways and borders filled with roses, shrubs, herbs and a plethora of flowers.
During your visit, don’t miss the chance to visit the wildlife that call Helmingham Estate home. Spend some time spotting bumble bees, butterflies, and beetles; keep your eyes peeled for kingfishers, barn owls and mandarin ducks; and don’t forget to stop by the deer park and say hello to the red and fallow deer.
Location: Helmingham, near Stowmarket
Open: May – September each year; Monday-Thursday and Sunday. Bookings not required. The hall itself is not open to the public.
Parking: Free car park on site
Glemham Hall
Glemhall Hall is an early Rennaissance house that sits surrounded by 300 acres of parkland. Ancient oak trees, some of which are more than 600 years old, stand side by side with cedars, beech and Irish yews.
The gardens are accessible to those who visit the hall for a House Tour, where you will have plenty of opportunity to enjoy them. Stroll around the lily pond in the walled rose garden and admire the classical urns and traditional English symmetry, then take in the contrast in the herbaceous garden with its wildflowers, sculptures and greenhouse.
Location: Little Glemham, around 7 miles from the Suffolk coast
Open: Monday – Friday
Parking: Free car park on site
Christchurch Park
Right in the heart of Ipswich, you’ll find Christchurch Park, 33 hectares of picturesque gardens.
Opened in 1895, it was the first public park of its kind in the town.
Take some time away in the peaceful arboretum, and see how many of the 100-plus species of birds you can spot. See the wilderness pond, wet meadow, butterfly garden and wildlife reserve, or challenge family and friends to a game of tennis, bowls or croquet.
Young visitors can play to their hearts’ content in the children’s orchard and playground.
Christchurch Mansion sits at the centre of the garden, and is free to visit. Dating back to 1548, it now serves as an art gallery and museum and includes works by Thomas Gainsborough and John Constable.
Location: Ipswich
Open: Free entry year-round
Parking: Free roadside parking. Disabled car park at the Bolton Lane entrance and additional limited disabled parking at the Henley Road entrance.
The Place for Plants
The Place for Plants is a plant centre, garden and cafe located in the south of the county, close to the Essex border.
The garden was originally created at the turn of the 20th century, and is now home to plenty of trees that are over 100 years old.
With its displays of snowdrops, magnolias, rhododendrons and camellias, the garden is at its most spectacular in spring, but still has plenty to see throughout the summer, including rambling roses and hydrangeas.
See how many species of wildlife you can spot in the wildflower meadow, before sitting down to relax in the cafe and paying a visit to the plant centre to take home your own selection of Suffolk plants and seeds.
Location: East Bergholt, north of Colchester
Open: 28th March to 31st October; 10am-5pm. Closed Easter Sunday
Parking: Free car park on site
Melford Hall
Fans of Peter Rabbit and friends won’t want to miss a visit to Melford Hall: a cousin of the Hyde Parker family who still live there, Beatrix Potter (along with a varying menagerie of animals) was a frequent guest at the Hall.
Melford Hall’s landscaped gardens are the perfect place to spend a summer’s day: the surrounding woodland is home to a wealth of wildlife species including deer, small birds and insects.
Don’t miss the walled gardens, admirable topiary, herbaceous borders and espaliered fruit trees.
Location: Long Melford, north of Sudbury
Open: April – October; Wednesday-Sunday. Check current opening times here.
Parking: Free car park on site
It’s easy to see why any Suffolk holiday wouldn’t be complete without a visit to one of the county’s stunning gardens. There’s so much to see and do, whether you’re a history buff or are looking for a little inspiration for your own garden.
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