Best winter gardens to visit in the UK

On a sparkling frosty day, why not explore one of Britain's great winter gardens? Here are some of the best for seasonal colour, scent and spectacle.

Go Outdoors

Winter solstice 2021: when is it, how to celebrate and best sunset spots in the UK?

Honister Pass in the Lake District. Geeth Malinda, May.

Christmas

Countryfile Advent Calendar 2021

Wildlife

Virtual escapes: magnificent waterfalls and crashing cascades

Things to see in December

Wildlife to spot and plants to forage for this month

Foraging

December foraging guide: best foods to find and recipe ideas

Go Outdoors

Britain’s best winter beaches

GRIMSBY, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: A Grey Seal pup lies in the grass at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's Donna Nook nature reserve on November 24, 2014 in Grimsby, England. Seal pup numbers have increased on last year with over 800 pups born at the reserve so far. Large bull seals are the first to arrive at the reserve in late October or early November where they will wait for females. The Cow's arrive later and are herded into harems by the bulls, where they give birth to a single pup which is covered in white fur. The seals return to the North Sea in January before returning to the same area to give birth the following year. The Donna Nook reserve is the UK's premier destination to see Grey Seals and thousands of visitors from across the country come to see the wildlife spectacle every year. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Marine life

Britain’s best seal watching spots and how to avoid disturbing the colony

Christmas

Explore our festive features, recipes, gifts and crafts!

A man and his dog walk atop the frosty Halkyn mountain in Flintshire with breathtaking panoramic views in the background

Get outdoors this Christmas

Whether stargazing, walking or roasting chestnuts over a bonfire, here are our favourite outdoor activities to enjoy in the British countryside over the festive season.

Decorations

Christmas tree guide: how to choose the perfect tree, plus homemade decoration ideas

Scotland, Edinburgh, Princes Street Christmas Market. A traditional European Christmas Market located along Princes Street with the Scotts Monument and Balmoral Clock Tower in view.

Days Out

Britain’s best Christmas markets 2021

Reviews

Best eco friendly gifts for Christmas 2021

Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire at Christmas

Days Out

Best country houses to visit in the UK this Christmas

British wildlife

Learn how to identify species with our expert guides

Photography

British spider guide: how to identify common species, where to see and why spiders come into the house in autumn and winter

More wildlife

BBC Countryfile Magazine Podcast

Join us on a countryside escape in each episode of the podcast

Podcast

Hear the ancient stories of Britain with historian Amy Jeffs on the Avalon Marshes

Podcast

Podcast: foraging for fungi in Dorset with two brilliant naturalists

Podcast

Podcast: discussing the big issues facing the countryside with head of Natural England Tony Juniper – PART 2

Podcast

Podcast: meet Tony Juniper, the Chair of Natural England, at Wicken Fen – PART ONE

More podcasts

UK's best walks

From gentle strolls to multi-day hikes, find the best walking routes in Britain

Loch Ba and Black Mount Mountain Range, Rannoch Moor, Scotland

Uplifting winter walks

Discover the UK's most dramatic winter landscapes from our selection of seasonal walks, complete with maps and route descriptions.

Walks

Best walks in Northern Ireland

Walks

Best walks in the Brecon Beacons National Park

Sunlit valley and hillwalker; English Lake District, U.K

Go Outdoors

Britain’s best poetry walks

The small quintessential snow-covered village

Holiday Ideas

Best towns and villages to visit this winter

Walks

Britain’s most beautiful river walks

Hiker on the headland in Valley of the Rocks on South West coast path near Lynmouth

Walks

Best walks in Exmoor National Park

More walks

News

The latest environment and wildlife news

Caucasian Male Walker (29 Years Old) on the Malvern Hills on a frosty winter morning. Herefordshire & Worcestershire. England. UK. (Caucasian Male Walker (29 Years Old) on the Malvern Hills on a frosty winter morning. Herefordshire & Worcestershire. E

How Great Malvern shaped Narnia, Middle Earth and Nimrod

Discover the dramatic range of hills that inspired CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien and Edward Elgar to create some of the greatest works in the English canon

Afon Llynfi river pollution: not enough evidence, says Natural Resources Wales

Fifteen months after the brutal pollution of the River Llynfi in Powys, which wiped out all the wildlife in the river, Natural Resources Wales announce it has insufficient evidence to prosecute. But…

Two house sparrows with fluffed up feathers perch together on a bar

‘Common or garden’ not so common any more, finds RSPB

House and tree sparrow populations have declined by a shocking 50%, according to a report published today by the RSPB.

A man stands purposefully looking at the camera with rows of secondhand books behind

How to join in with Green Friday this weekend

As many people grow disillusioned with Black Friday, a counter-movement has sprung up on 26 November to promote good causes instead. Here's our guide to how to join in with Green Friday in the UK

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