Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, located near Romsey, has been featured alongside seven others in a list from Bloom & Wild.
Discussing why they created the list, they said: “Autumn has arrived, bringing fiery foliage, crisp mornings and the perfect excuse for families to explore the outdoors together.
“With searches for ‘things to do autumn’ and ‘autumn activities’ rising by 129%* (according to Google Keyword Tracker), many parents are seeking affordable, wholesome outings to enjoy the colours of the season.”
Why is Sir Harold Hillier Gardens among the UK’s best family days out for autumn?
Discussing why Sir Harold Hillier Gardens made for a great family day out in autumn, Bloom & Wild explained: “This world-renowned arboretum is famous for its extraordinary plant collections.
“Kids will love the treehouse, Hilltop Adventures playground, and the Children’s Education Garden with its dipping ponds and Bamboo Music Classroom.”
One particular seasonal aspect to look out for is Sambucus ebulus, “a species of Elderberry” which “adds to the autumnal theme in the gardens with its deep dark red colour”.
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens spans 180 acres and accommodates over 42,000 trees and shrubs, according to the Hampshire County Council website.
Additionally, it has “an almost unparalleled collection of oaks, camellia, magnolia and rhododendron”.
It is split up into many different sections, including Acer Valley, which is made up of Japanese and other maple trees in the shade of mature oaks.
What do visitors think of Sir Harold Hillier Gardens?
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens have been well-received by visitors, earning a 4.5/5 score on Tripadvisor from 770 reviews.
One wrote: “So glad I was finally able to get here. The weather had taken a turn for the better after a lot of rain.
“Plenty of pathways to wander along and look at the abundance of plants. So peaceful in most of the places even though it was generally busy”.
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Another shared: “There is always something to see here which makes a visit worthwhile.
“At the moment it is the autumn colours that are especially attractive. However, the standout part of our visit was lunch in the Garden Cafe: it was delicious.”
A third commented: “We loved our morning in the beautiful gardens, with the trees glorious in their autumn colours and the sculptures varied and imaginative.”
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