Rose Garden

The Rose Garden in Nottingham proper is one of those spots that creeps up on you. You're wandering through the city centre, turn a corner, and suddenly you're surrounded by hundreds of roses in bloom - it's properly lovely when they're at their peak in summer.

It's a working garden rather than some vast estate affair. The roses are the real draw here: climbing varieties covering pergolas, hybrid teas in neat beds, shrub roses looking wonderfully disheveled. If you're visiting during June or July, the scent alone makes it worth a detour. Outside peak season, it's still pleasant enough - you're just there for the garden bones rather than the riot of colour.

Garden enthusiasts will spend a good hour here, making notes and taking photos. Families with young kids might manage 45 minutes before boredom sets in - it's not massive, and there aren't playgrounds or attractions beyond the plants themselves. Older gardeners, retired types who know their Floribundas from their Hybrid Perpetuals, will absolutely have a field day.

We're talking free admission, which keeps it civilised and low-key. There's no café or facilities to speak of, so it's more of a quick stop than a destination in itself. Pair it with Janson Fishery Caravan & Camping, just 5 miles out, and you've got your base sorted. Pop into the city for the garden, then back to quieter ground at the site. Summer weekday mornings are best - fewer crowds, the light's better for photos.