Beyond the towns and villages of Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire lies an extraordinary collection of landscapes, historic estates and gardens - places where architecture and nature come together in equal measure.
From ancient woodland and sweeping parkland to carefully composed formal gardens, these are places that invite you to slow down and spend a little longer outdoors. Whether you are planning a peaceful walk, a family picnic or a full day’s exploring, here are ten of our favourite green escapes – all within easy reach.
Hertfordshire
Ashridge House
Originally founded as a 13th-century monastery and later used as a royal residence by Elizabeth I, this remarkable Gothic Revival house stands within 190 acres of gardens designed by Humphry Repton.
Explore the Italian Garden, Rose Garden and Monks’ Garden before following grand terraces and broad avenues lined with rare and exotic trees. Beyond them, sweeping lawns open up around the house and into the wider landscape.
Plan your visit:
Near Berkhamsted.
Gardens only: adult £13; free for children under 12.
ashridgehouse.org.uk
Woodland in May at Ashridge Estate – image courtesy of the National Trust, photograph by Chris Lacey
Ashridge Estate
Stretching across 5,000 acres along the ridge of the Chiltern Hills, the Ashridge Estate brings together lush meadows, rolling chalk downland and ancient oak and beech woodland.
Best known for its spring carpets of bluebells, the estate changes character throughout the year, from high summer on Ivinghoe Beacon to rich autumn colour beneath the trees. Its network of paths offers countless opportunities to lose yourself among woodland, open landscape and wildlife, including the estate’s resident fallow deer.
Plan your visit:
Near Berkhamsted.
Free entry and parking. Climbing the monument is free for National Trust members, or £3 for adults and £1.50 for children.
nationaltrust.org.uk
“Some landscapes impress at first sight. Others reveal themselves slowly.”
“Cultivated garden gives way to ancient parkland.”
Hatfield House
The childhood home of Elizabeth I, this handsome Jacobean estate is surrounded by gardens whose origins reach back to the early 17th century.
Formal planting and a pleached lime walk give way to ancient Royal parkland, with miles of marked routes passing through oak woodland and beside the river. The contrast between cultivated garden and less formal landscape makes it particularly rewarding to explore on foot.
Plan your visit:
Hatfield.
Park and gardens only: adult £17, child £9.
hatfield-house.co.uk
Knebworth House
Known for its distinctive Gothic silhouette, its appearances on screen and, rather more loudly, the landmark Oasis concerts of 1996, Knebworth is surrounded by gardens with a character of their own.
The Edwardian garden was originally laid out by Sir Edwin Lutyens and includes structured herb gardens, a rose garden and the wonderfully eccentric topiary wilderness. Beyond it lies the open deer park, while younger visitors have an adventure playground and dinosaur trail to discover.
Plan your visit:
Knebworth.
Park and gardens only: adult £14.50, child £14.50; children under three free.
knebworthhouse.com
Knebworth House – image courtesy of Knebworth House
Buckinghamshire
Ascott
What began as a half-timbered Jacobean farmhouse was gradually transformed by the Rothschild family into an intimate country residence, surrounded by 30 acres of formal and informal gardens.
Among the highlights are a remarkable topiary sundial, the Venus Fountain and a peaceful waterlily pond. The arboretum contains a collection of rare trees, while longer views extend out over the Vale of Aylesbury.
Plan your visit:
Wing, near Leighton Buzzard.
Gardens only: adult £12.95, child £6.50; free for National Trust members.
nationaltrust.org.uk
The Dutch Garden at Ascott – image courtesy of the National Trust, photograph by Andrew Butler
The north-west front at Ascott – image courtesy of the National Trust, photograph by Andrew Butler
The topiary sundial at Ascott – image courtesy of the National Trust, photograph by Andrew Butler
Formal without feeling forbidding; eccentric without ever becoming theatrical.
Bletchley Park
World-famous as the top-secret home of the Second World War codebreakers, Bletchley Park is centred around an idiosyncratic Victorian mansion and a collection of buildings whose understated appearance belies their historic significance.
The grounds provide a quieter counterpoint to the exhibitions inside. Follow the path around the ornamental lake, now a haven for birds, or wander between open lawns, mature trees and shaded routes connecting the principal buildings across the estate.
Plan your visit:
Milton Keynes.
Adult £28.75; ages 12–17 £15; ages 8–11 £7.50. Tickets convert into a free annual pass for return visits.
bletchleypark.org.uk
Waddesdon Manor
Built for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in the style of a 19th-century French Renaissance château, Waddesdon combines architectural theatre with an equally elaborate landscape.
Close to the house, the formal parterre is planted with changing seasonal displays, alongside classical fountains and the historic aviary. Further out, the Windmill Hill and Winter Garden routes lead through woodland glades, past contemporary sculpture and towards far-reaching views across the surrounding countryside.
Plan your visit:
Waddesdon, near Aylesbury.
Grounds only: adult £14, child £7; free for children under five and National Trust members.
waddesdon.org.uk
Ferns along a footpath at Waddesdon – image courtesy of the National Trust, photograph by Hugh Mothersole
The Parterre at Waddesdon Manor – image courtesy of the National Trust, photograph by Hugh Mothersole
Stowe Gardens
The grand landscape
Widely regarded as one of Britain’s great landscape gardens, Stowe unfolds across 250 acres of serpentine lakes, open valleys and carefully composed views.
More than 40 temples and monuments are dispersed through wildflower meadows, tree-lined avenues and lakeside walks. Set aside several hours: part of Stowe’s pleasure lies in allowing its structures and vistas to reveal themselves gradually.
Plan your visit:
Stowe, near Buckingham.
Park only: adult £14, child £7.50; free for National Trust and RHS members.
nationaltrust.org.uk
Bedfordshire
Dunstable Downs & Whipsnade Estate
At the highest point in Bedfordshire, this dramatic chalk escarpment commands some of the most extensive views in the region.
Long walking routes cross sweeping chalk grassland and follow the ridge above the Vale of Aylesbury. Managed by the National Trust, the Downs are also an important habitat for wildlife; look out for butterflies and birds of prey as you follow the trails.
Plan your visit:
Dunstable.
Free entry. Parking costs £3.50; free for National Trust members.
nationaltrust.org.uk
Oxfordshire
Blenheim Palace
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, Blenheim sits within one of Britain’s most recognisable designed landscapes.
Its 2,000 acres of parkland were shaped by Lancelot “Capability” Brown and are dominated by the Great Lake and its waterfall. Closer to the palace are formal gardens, water terraces and a vast hedge maze; further afield, longer walks trace the lakeshore and open countryside.
Plan your visit:
Woodstock.
Park and gardens only: adult £31, child £15; children under three free.
blenheimpalace.com
A garden for lingering, a woodland path for wandering, or a view worth climbing for.
Opening days, admission prices and access arrangements may change throughout the season, so it is worth checking with each destination before travelling.
Lead image © Nash Partnership