The Best Gardens in Cornwall.

If you love visiting gardens, Cornwall is the best place for a holiday. Our mild climate lets our gardeners’ imaginations run riot, so as well as beautiful native plants, you’ll come across all sorts of subtropical wonders in Cornwall. Here is our guide our favourite Cornish gardens, from a comprehensive list of our favourites, to inspiration on where to take your next garden trip in Cornwall.

The Best Gardens to Visit in Cornwall.

Trewidden Gardens.

If you’re in Cornwall in the spring, you’re in for a treat at Trewidden. This 19th-century garden is one of West Cornwall’s early bloomers, with a magnificent collection of magnolias and camellias. It’s just west of Penzance and like nearby Trengwainton Gardens (National Trust) is part of the historic Bolitho estate.

The paths through the 15-acre garden are easy-going and clear, taking you through trees and ferns – towards one of the loveliest little tea rooms in Penzance.

Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens.

On the other side of Penzance, Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens is set on a sheltered hillside overlooking Mount’s Bay. Follow the paths upwards, looking out for art installations along the way. Thanks to its sunny location, much of Tremenheere’s planting is subtropical, creating a beautiful and exotic-feeling oasis.

At the entrance to the Gardens, pause a while at Tremenheere Kitchen (we especially recommend the brunch or Sunday lunch) and don’t miss the RHS Gold medal-winning nursery, Surreal Succulents.

Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden.

If you enjoyed the sculpture at Tremenheere, cross the peninsula to St Ives and the Tate-managed Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. The artist moved to St Ives in the 1940s and made Trewyn Studio her permanent home. Hepworth designed the planting to interact with her sculptures, which are displayed in situ in the gardens.

Look out for Trewyn Gardens near the museum, one of St Ives’ best-kept secrets. This pretty little public garden makes a lovely, peaceful spot for your picnic lunch or take-out coffee.

St Michael’s Mount Gardens.

Our final West Cornwall garden is a rare find: a spectacular subtropical garden planted on vertical terraces. Originally created in the 1870s, the formal gardens at St Michael’s Mount were designed to be viewed from above, looking downwards (pause on the castle terrace for the full effect). Built into the side of the island, the granite acts as a radiator for the gardens, helping the exotic plants thrive.

The gardens belong to the St Aubyn family rather than the National Trust, and in order to preserve the fragile paths, opening hours are restricted. Please check the website before booking your island visit.

Pencarrow House and Gardens.

Pencarrow House and Gardens (near Bodmin) belong to another branch of the St Aubyn family, the Molesworth-St Aubyns, which has owned this beautiful 50-acre estate for almost 500 years. The house is fascinating; however, it’s the gardens that we really love. There’s a choice of circular walks through the varied gardens, including wheelchair-accessible paths. Kids are free and dogs are welcome.

Highlights to look out for include the remains of an Iron Age fort and the family’s old ice house. Wander through woodlands and formal gardens before arriving at the Peacock Cafe.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

One of Cornwall’s best-known gardens, Heligan, is as famous for its story as it is for its glorious planting. The 200-acre estate near St Austell fell into disrepair after its gardening staff were tragically lost to the First World War. Heligan was uncovered in the 1990s, and the painstaking tasks of restoring the magnificent estate began.

Today, there are kitchen gardens, pleasure gardens, a home farm, a “jungle” and woodlands to explore, along with a full events’ programme. One not to miss.

The Eden Project.

The Eden Project is much more than a garden (discover our full itinerary here); however, plants and their stories are at the heart of this world-class attraction. Heligan’s sister attraction is also just outside St Austell, sited in the dramatic setting of a formef clay pit. Take the path or road train downwards, passing through seasonal, native and subtropical planting on your way, before arriving at those iconic biomes.

Eden does everything well, and there are excellent cafes, take-aways and shops as well as a full and varied events programme. There’s plenty to occupy younger visitors, and you can always lure the teens here with the zip wire…

Trebah Garden.

Now it’s over to the lush and tranquil landscape of the Fal and Helford and the subtropical beauty of Trebah Garden. This sunny spot near Falmouth is one of our favourite places for a stroll (especially as it’s so dog friendly). Paths wind down towards Trebah’s private little beach where you can pick up a delicious ice cream.

Trebah is known and loved for its catering as well as its planting and we always call into Trebah Kitchen for one of their delicious lunches.

Glendurgan Gardens.

We struggled to pick one of Cornwall’s many National Trust gardens, but finally opted for Glendurgan Garden, a near-neighbour of Trebah. Like Trebah, Glendurgan is in a sheltered valley that wends its way down to a charming little cove. What makes Glendurgan unique (and a real family favourite) is its cherry laurel maze, originally planted two hundred years ago and fiendishly tricky.

Keep your National Trust pass handy for Trelissick (Truro), Trengwainton (Penzance) and Godolphin (Helston) gardens, as well as the wooded estate at Lanhydrock (Bodmin), the orchards at Trerice (Newquay) and the fabulous trails at Penrose (Helston again).

Tresco Abbey Gardens.

Tresco is one of the “off islands” in Scilly, usually reached by boat from St Mary’s. This stunning garden was originally planted in the 19th century, using the ruins of a Benedictine Abbey as its backdrop. There are over 2,000 specimens of southern hemisphere plants at Tresco, which thrive in Scilly’s mild climate.

Wander the paths, looking out for red squirrels and golden plovers on your way. There’s a shop and cafe in the gardens, as well as the unique Valhalla Collection of 30 ships’ figureheads.

Need some Garden Inspiration?

If the above didn’t satisfy your green thumb, then don’t worry, below we have provided our full range of garden inspirations for your holiday in Cornwall.

Discover more about the National Trust Gardens in Cornwall, to gardens that are free to enter!

National Trust Gardens in Cornwall.

There’s a varied collection of National Trust properties in Cornwall, including some absolutely glorious gardens. From the (enviably organised) kitchen gardens of Trengwainton near Penzance to the fragrant bluebell woods at Godolphin near Helston, there are so many different types of gardens to choose from.

Families love a trip to Glendurgan with its traditional maze and River Fal beach. The other Fal-side garden, Trelissick, has sweeping views and plenty of paths to explore. Penrose Estate (again near Helston) is another perfect place for a stroll or a cycle ride. Discover gardening on the edge with a walk around the near-vertical terraced gardens of St Michael’s Mount.

Naturally, Cornwall’s National Trust stately homes also have exquisite gardens and extensive parkland. Wander around the knot garden and orchard at Trerice or hire a bike to explore the sprawling Lanhydrock Estate. Further up Cornwall, Antony has a Repton-designed garden and an outdoor sculpture collection.

Find out more by visiting National Trust Cornwall Gardens & Parks and our Cornish Escapes guides to both the National Trust in Cornwall and its locations.

National Trust Properties in Cornwall.

The Great Gardens of Cornwall is a group of independent gardens, established 30 years ago to share visitor initiatives and best practice. It‘s made up from the most incredibly diverse group of gardens you can imagine, from the mighty Eden Project to the unique tea-growing estate at Tregothnan.

We always enjoy a sunny afternoon at Trebah near Falmouth, a subtropical garden that’s brilliantly dog and family-friendly. The Lost Gardens of Heligan is quite rightly one of the most popular days out in Cornwall, and we also love the lesser-known gardens like lovely Trewidden near Penzance. 

Planting and art combine to great effect at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens (also Penzance), where you can also pick up a plant from Chelsea Gold-winning nursery Surreal Succulents. If you’re an admirer of succulents, visit them in situ at the Minack Theatre gardens (book a Theatre & Garden ticket via the Minack website).

For the full list of members and how to visit them, take a look at The Great Gardens of Cornwall website.

Secret Gardens in Cornwall.

If you love to explore new places and discover hidden gems, try some of these gorgeous gardens. Tanglewood Wild Gardens is a wildlife haven of natural gardens and woods near Penzance, set around four ponds. There’s more than a sprinkle of magic here for younger visitors… 

Explore the 30 acres and spectacular plant collection at Pinetum Gardens in St Austell or try the historic gardens at Enys near Penryn, where the estate is currently being painstakingly restored.

The gardens at Pencarrow House near Bodmin are one of the best places to walk your dog, and are free for under sixteens to visit. If you’re wanting to escape the bustle for a while, the elegant Japanese Garden at St Mawgan is a beautifully tranquil place to pause and take a breath.

To see some truly original gardens, keep an eye on the National Gardens Scheme website. Owners open their own private gardens to raise money for charity, and last year there were over 70 private gardens to visit in Cornwall under this excellent scheme.

Free to Enter Gardens in Cornwall.

We’re also lucky to have a selection of free-to-visit gardens in Cornwall, such as the lovely Fox Rosehill Gardens in Falmouth. The Fox family gave the garden to the town after the Second World War, and its exotic planting is thanks to Falmouth sea captains who brought specimens home to donate. Victoria Gardens in Truro were planted to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. It’s a proper, traditional British park, complete with bandstand, benches and fountain.

Morrab Gardens in Penzance also has a bandstand and a fountain (look out for newts), as well as spectacular subtropical plants. Just across the road, Penlee Park is a tree-filled oasis in the town, with a great playground and bookable tennis courts. If you’re in high-season Newquay, escape the busy beaches for a stroll around Trenance Gardens with their pretty planting and boating lake.

Our own favourite free garden is Trewyn Garden in St Ives, a sheltered little park near the Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Gardens (not free, but definitely another to add to your list!). Buy a picnic lunch in St Ives then head up the path by Barclays Bank to the tranquil subtropical gardens.