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Hidcote Manor Garden Review

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Hidcote Manor Garden

Address: Hidcote Bartrim
Phone: 01386/438333
www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Category: Gardens/Arboretums
Location: Hidcote Bartrim

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Fodor's Review:

Laid out around a Cotswold manor house, Hidcote Manor Garden is arguably the most interesting and attractive large garden in Britain. Crowds are correspondingly large at the height of the season, but it's worthwhile anytime. A horticulturist from the United States, Major Lawrence Johnstone, created the garden in 1907 in the Arts and Crafts style. Johnstone was an imaginative gardener and widely traveled plantsman who brought back specimens from all over the world. The formal part of the garden is arranged in "rooms" without roofs, separated by hedges and often with fine topiary work and walls. Besides the variety of plants, what's impressive are the different effects created, from calm open spaces to areas packed with flowers. Look out for one of Johnson's earliest schemes, the red borders of dahlias, poppies, fuschias, lobelias, and roses; the tall hornbeam hedges; and the Bathing Pool garden, where the pool is so wide there's scarcely space to walk. The White Garden was probably the forerunner of the popular white gardens at Sissinghurst and Glyndebourne.

Cost: £7
Open: Late Mar.-Sept., Mon.-Wed. and weekends 10:30-6; Oct., Mon.-Wed. and weekends 10:30-5; last admission 1 hr before closing

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