The White Garden

The White Garden in Wokingham is a tranquil pocket of the town that rewards a quiet wander. All-white planting scheme - flowers, foliage, the lot - creates an oddly soothing effect even in the height of summer when most gardens are screaming with colour. Snowdrops and white rhododendrons in spring, then hellebores giving way to roses and hydrangeas as the year rolls on.

It's the sort of place you'd spend thirty minutes in rather than three hours, which means it works brilliantly as a quick detour when you're staying at one of the nearby parks. If you're based at Wellington Country Park - which is honestly the better bet of the two for facilities and activities - it's close enough for an afternoon potter around Wokingham without making a full day of it.

You'll see plenty of local gardeners and older couples, which tells you this isn't about Instagram moments or themed attractions. The appeal is straightforward: well-maintained beds, decent walkways, and the chance to think about what white plants actually do to the eye. Reading's only a few miles away if you need bigger shops or restaurants.

Bring a camera if you're into plant photography - the monochrome thing photographs surprisingly well. Kids under ten will probably lose interest fairly quickly, unless they're already the keen gardener type. Free entry makes it worth stopping by, though I'd check opening hours before you go - these smaller gardens can be a bit vague about them.