Parterre Garden

The Parterre Garden near Buckingham is a formal affair - the sort of place where gravel paths run dead straight and every hedge knows its place. You'll find geometric beds laid out with proper precision, the kind of garden design that requires someone to actually care about symmetry and order.

It's a landscape garden built for walking. The best approach is to take your time, move slowly, and let the layout reveal itself bed by bed. There's something genuinely satisfying about formal gardens when they're done well - the bones of the design stay visible even when plants are dormant, and in high season the beds burst with colour arranged in intentional patterns.

History buffs will get more from this than anyone else. Families with small children might find thirty minutes about their limit unless the kids are genuinely keen on gardens. Walkers doing the longer routes through the estate will appreciate how it anchors one end of the property.

If you're camping at Embers Camping's Claydon Campsite just six miles away, this makes a cracking morning visit before the day warms up. You won't need more than ninety minutes here, so it pairs well with other attractions nearby. Bring decent walking shoes - gravel paths are pleasant but unforgiving underfoot. Worth the detour if you're interested in period garden design, though it's not the sort of place that rewards repeat visits unless you're genuinely passionate about formal horticulture.