Upton House & Gardens

The garden at Upton is full of surprise. From the house you see a broad lawn with huge cedars sloping gently away, and nothing more. Walk to the edge, though, and an extensive terraced garden opens up below, unseen from the house and unexpected on a first visit. It is one of the best examples of a garden that hides its main event.

Make your way down through the terraces, which hold herbaceous borders, a kitchen garden and the National Collection of Aster, then continue into the small valley where a large lake grows water lilies. Look out for the bog garden, made on the site of medieval fish ponds around a natural spring. Gardeners will get the most from the terraces, where productive and ornamental planting sit side by side, and from the aster collection, which shows just how many varieties there are to choose from for late colour.

Inside, the house is presented more like an art gallery, with an important collection of paintings and porcelain gathered by Lord Bearsted, plus 1930s interiors including an Art Deco bathroom. That makes Upton a good choice for a mixed group where not everyone is a gardener. The terraces mean steps and slopes, so pace yourself, and remember the climb back up to the house at the end. Comfortable shoes make the round trip much easier.