Avebury Manor Garden

Avebury Manor stands in the middle of Avebury village, next to St James's Church and a short walk from the great neolithic henge and stone circle. That setting is half the appeal: in one visit you can see an early 16th-century manor house, its formal gardens and one of the most important prehistoric sites in Britain. The garden itself is a series of enclosed spaces rather than one big view, and it is a good place to see how walls, topiary and hedges can divide a garden into rooms.

The garden was completely redesigned in the early 20th century by the family of Leopold Jenner, who lived in the house at that time. Today the topiary and formal gardens sit within walls and clipped box hedging, so you move from one room to the next, each with its own feel. Look out for the stone dovecote, put up around the middle of the 16th century, which is one of the oldest features in the grounds.

For gardeners, the lessons are about structure. Box and yew topiary, walls and hedges give shape all year, and the way the garden is split into smaller rooms works well on a smaller plot too. Do be aware that the manor was damaged by flooding in January 2024 and closed for repairs, so check the National Trust website for what is open before you travel. The stone circle is open ground and can be enjoyed whatever the house and garden opening arrangements are.