Northern England Japanese style gardens open to the public
The UK has a number of publicly accessible Japanese style gardens shown in the listing below.
It includes some of historic interest and value as well as very recently constructed gardens. The gardens vary greatly in both size and standard. Many of the gardens are sited in public spaces or parks and some unfortunately have been subject to damage and lack of maintenance.
Appreciation of these gardens is to a large extent subjective and this particular selection is not intended to identify ‘the best’ gardens, merely to reflect the wide range of gardens and their different styles that are open to the public.
To add further detail to each garden, if known the date of construction, date of any restorations and brief descriptions are also given.
Images of the gardens may not be recent and have been supplied by JGS members unless otherwise stated.
Click on the name of the garden for website and when appears grey for more information and pictures if available.
Valley Gardens Harrogate Japanese Garden
Located in The Valley Gardens in Harrogate North Yorkshire, a Japanese Garden existed from about 1930. During subsequent decades the garden, although retaining its name, gradually lost its identity. Restored in 2017 by the Friends of Valley Gardens and the JGS the garden is now a popular destination for the many visitors to Harrogate. The garden is a large stroll type garden incorporating many garden features previously lost.
See JGS restorations page for more information.
Horsforth Hall Park - Leeds
Description: Situated in Hall Park in Horsforth a suburb of north west Leeds, this walled garden was previously tennis courts. Built in the early 1980s and containing many typical features found in Japanese gardens with a vermillion bridge, pond and rock arrangements. Extensive renovations occurred in 2009.
Images taken in 2018
Grantley Hall
Date of construction: Early 20th Century
Date of restoration: 2020/2021
Pre-booking essential and
entry is for guests and diners only
Description: The Japanese garden at Grantley Hall is located in the grounds of this luxury country hotel near Ripon. The hall and gardens were extensively renovated in 2020 and now provide a tranquil haven for guests and diners only. The garden features massive rocks with a pond, waterfall and Japanese artefacts.
Grantley Hall website
Images were taken in 2021
Tatton Park Cheshire
Description: Located in Tatton Park, Cheshire and owned by the National Trust this is one of the best Japanese style gardens in the UK.
Guided tours of the Japanese garden can be booked on Wednesdays and Saturdays from April to October. Ring of the day of your visit after 10am on:
Tel: 01625 374439
Walkden Gardens
Located in Walkden Gardens, owned and managed by Trafford Borough Council. Walkden Gardens are laid out as a series of garden ‘rooms’ separated by high hedges in the style of Hidcote Manor in Gloucestershire. The rooms contain different themes and styles of garden and made it an ideal site for a Japanese garden. The Japanese garden is subdivided into three sections: an entrance area, a woodland garden and an open karesansui, or dry-water garden. Members of the JGS continue to maintain and develop this garden on a monthly basis.
See JGS gardens page for more information.
Calderstones Park - Liverpool
The Japanese Garden was created as an apprentice scheme in the 1970s and is particularly stunning in the Autumn.