Coton Manor Garden

Coton Manor Garden sits in the small hamlet of Coton, between Guilsborough and Ravensthorpe in West Northamptonshire, and is a popular visitor attraction for its gardens and bluebell woods. It is a manor garden rather than a sprawling estate, and it is known for the way it uses colour in its planting.

The main draw for gardeners is the herbaceous planting. Borders like these are where you pick up ideas you can take straight home: which perennials sit well together, how heights are layered from front to back, and how colours are repeated to hold a border together. It helps to visit more than once in a year, because a herbaceous garden changes a great deal between late spring and early autumn. Take photos of combinations you like and note the time of year, as that is the detail most people forget.

The bluebell woods are the other big reason to visit, and they are best in spring, when the woodland floor turns blue. Bluebells are short-lived in flower, so check the garden's own updates before setting out if seeing them is the main aim. Paths through woodland can be soft after rain, so sensible footwear is a good idea. As this is a rural spot in the Northamptonshire countryside, plan on travelling by car, and check the official website for current opening days and facilities before you go.