Take 5: Homes with Glorious Gardens | 2025
By late May, gardens across the country are coming into their own. The sun is lingering longer, the lawns have had their first trims, and flowers are starting to steal the show. With Chelsea Flower Show in full swing, there’s inspiration everywhere you look - it’s impossible not to think about getting outdoors and making something of your own
Gardens are gloriously individual. No two are the same, and nor should they be. It’s all about making the most of whatever outdoor space you have. Whether yours is carefully curated or a little more unruly, now’s the moment to lean into the season. Deadhead, tidy, top up the pots, add some colour to your flowerbeds, or even hang a few baskets.
Once things are looking suitably presentable, it’s time to entertain. Al fresco season is well under way. Whether it’s a spring lunch, an impromptu spritz in the orchard, or a pizza oven working overtime, it’s time to open the garden gate. As the show gardens at Chelsea remind us, outdoor spaces are no longer afterthoughts - they’re extensions of how we live, and increasingly, how we host.
So, whether you’re showing off your herbaceous handiwork or simply enjoying a seat among the salvia, now is the time. With this in mind, we’ve picked five properties are more than ready to host:
Darmsden Hall
Darmsden, Suffolk
Darmsden Hall in Suffolk is a masterclass in English country planting. There’s 55 acres of landscaped borders, wildflower meadows and formal hedging set against panoramic valley views. From the wraparound terrace to the pool, tennis court and lake, every corner has been designed for beauty and entertaining.
Foxley House
Foxley, Wiltshire
Foxley House offers a walled swimming pool for summer afternoons, a tennis court tucked behind hedges, and borders that spill with colour beneath trees. Beyond the formality, you’ll find paddocks and stables, which are perfect for equestrian enthusiasts.
Dinsdale House
Tysoe, Warwickshire
The gardens at Dinsdale House are rich with English character - south-facing borders edged in box and lavender, and sweeping lawns that frame the view up to Tysoe Windmill. With a sheltered stone terrace, a swimming pool and two paddocks, the setting is as charming as the house itself.
Shropham House
Shropham, Norfolk
At Shropham House, it’s not just the architecture that turns heads. Come May, a full sweep of wisteria cascades down the southern façade. Beyond it lies formal lawns, tree-lined borders, and a summer house that’s designed for entertaining.
Monks Bridge
Butlers Marston, Warwickshire
The gardens at Monks Bridge unfold like private parkland - part parterre, part orchard, part riverside idyll. There’s also a tennis court, a vegetable garden, and even an outdoor gym.