Timeless, romantic and endlessly diverse, roses offer something to delight every garden enthusiast. Find your favourite landscape at RHS Partner Gardens
Few flowers capture the imagination quite like roses. From formal gardens bursting with colour to quiet corners where rambling varieties climb over old stone walls, garden roses bring beauty, scent and structure to every space. We’ve picked six RHS Partner Gardens – free to RHS Members on selected days – with rose mazes, archways and displays that will enchant you.
Join the RHS and enjoy free access to more than 240 gardens in the UK and around the world at selected times >
This year, the much-loved rose garden at Anglesey Abbey Gardens and Lode Mill is more spectacular than ever, with 20 new beds and 180 glorious English roses planted in 2024 – each one chosen for its colour, abundance of flowers and resilience. Wander through waves of colour and scent and discover stories unearthed from the garden’s past. The roses flower from late June until early October, so there is plenty of time to enjoy them.
Stroll under Scotland’s longest scented rose archway, which winds along a unique DNA Pathway with a central flower bed made from cathedral rose window stone. The historic walled garden at Backhouse Rossie Estate is themed around art and science, and offers the opportunity to take a step back and relax among changing seasonal plantings.
With a collection of around 1,500 rose plants, a mix of traditional and modern varieties can be found at Bodnant Garden, including shrub roses, teas and floribundas, alongside climbers that weave their way through pergolas and along walls. From early summer onwards, the terraces become filled with colour, with the first flush usually appearing in June and reaching a peak in July and August.
During the height of summer, the garden becomes a sensory spectacle, with an abundance of colour arranged in a harmonious sequence of white, yellow, pink, orange and red roses. These are interwoven with small ornamental trees and framed by carefully sculpted topiary and century-old yew hedges, creating both structure and enclosure. Maintaining this display requires significant care, with annual mulching, regular , and a structured feeding programme to keep the roses thriving.
Take a stroll through this once-abandoned walled garden, now brimming with colour and scent from the many roses and -friendly perennials in bloom. Planted in pastel shades and outlined with box hedging and yew topiary, the garden has been lovingly restored to its former glory for all to enjoy.
The beautiful climbing rose arch, nestled within the historic walled garden at Goldstone Hall Hotel & Gardens, is a true delight for garden lovers. This tranquil retreat features a long double herbaceous border, now enriched with newly planted climbing and rambling roses that will come into their own this summer, making it an exciting time to visit.
The classic English-style rose garden provides a romantic backdrop for more than 5,000 blooms, at their best from June through to late September. Roses are arranged in colour-themed groups, ranging from soft blush tones to vibrant reds and deep purples.
The garden gained national attention when it appeared on BBC2’s Gardeners’ World, and has also attracted notable admirers, including Dame Judi Dench, who introduced Hever Castle’s own floribunda variety, ‘Horquinsey’, in 2011.
The rose gardens of Jardin du Château d’Ainay-le-Vieil in France are set within a series of enclosed spaces, each designed to highlight different styles and varieties. Surrounded by water and medieval stonework, historic roses are grown alongside modern cultivars, all carefully chosen for their resilience as well as shapes and fragrance. This thoughtful design makes the garden as informative as it is beautiful – a living showcase of rose heritage in a striking historic setting.
Meander through the stunning Mary Rose Garden at Waterperry, where beds brim with colour and wonderfully scented plants that are at their best throughout June. The gardens showcase hybrid teas, floribundas, climbers and ground cover roses. Companion planting, including iris, provides early interest before the roses reach full bloom.
Please note: Opening times and free RHS Member days vary. Please check with the garden before you attend to avoid disappointment.
