Kelmscott Manor and Gardens, near Lechlade

The Garden is worth visiting if combined with a visit to the Manor house, containing many of William Morris's most iconic designs inspired by the scenery and plants he found at Kelmscott. The house also limited displays furniture from each of his London homes, paintings, ceramics, textiles designed by Morris, his family and associates. Kelmscott Manor was used as a place for the family to escape from the hustle and bustle of London and Morris described it as 'heaven on Earth'

After William's death in 1896, his wife, Jane, purchased the house and daughter, May, lived at the Manor until 1938. Overtime the gardens were lost but has now been recreated using black and white photos from the period and many of the plants which William loved and from which many of his designs came.

The front garden is laid out from the drawing of the frontispiece of Morris's most famous book 'News from Nowhere' while the back garden is dominated by a large Mulberry tree which has been here since 1921. There is also a small orchard with various apple trees and a large meadow at the back of the manor. Within the estate are the original farm barns and a dovecote as well as a stream. The River Thames is only a few minutes' walk from the Manor gates.

Kelmscott Manor and Garden Opening Times - Visit website

Visit other beautiful gardens in the Cotswolds