Crook Hall Gardens
Free RHS Member days
10am–5pm, daily, 15 February–2 November
About the garden
On a visit to Crook Hall Gardens, visitors can find a series of interlinked gardens, each with its own unique character. Intriguing paths lead to blooming borders, secluded walled gardens, an orchard and a tranquil moat pool. Views of Durham Cathedral serve as a reminder that this green oasis is close to the heart of the city.
A year-round feast for the senses, hellebores ease us out of winter, joined by snowdrops as an early sign of spring. Bright splashes of anemones, cyclamen and crocus soon follow. In the shelter of the walled garden, a large magnolia puts on a magnificent display of flowers, while a frothy mass of blossom makes the orchard an unmissable sight.
From June, phlox, oriental poppies and ox-eye daisies vie for attention in the walled gardens. The maze, a living puzzle planted primarily with cotoneaster, begins September with dark green leaves, soon adorned with red berries that develop over the coming weeks. Elsewhere, beautyberry (Callicarpa) showcases its vivid purple berries, while autumn crocuses provide unexpected pops of colour.
Facilities
- Parking
- Refreshments
- Toilets
Key features
- Pond or lake
- Cottage planting
- Organic management
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.