Beautiful Gardens Opening Their Gates in Northamptonshire This June

This June the National Garden Scheme is opening some of Northamptonshire’s most beautiful private gardens to visitors throughout the month, and honestly, some of these places are completely jaw-dropping. We are talking roses scrambling over ancient walls, teapot topiary, village gardens with homemade cakes on offer, and even a garden with over 1,800 English and French roses. And in most of these gardens, children go free.

The National Garden Scheme (NGS) is a brilliant charity that has been opening private gardens to the public since 1927. Garden owners generously give their time and open their spaces to raise money for nursing and health charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, and Hospice UK. So not only do you get a gorgeous day out, but your visit goes directly to some really important causes.

Here is your guide to every NGS garden opening in Northamptonshire this June, so you can plan ahead and make a proper day of it.

NGS Open Gardens in Northamptonshire: June 2026

Sunday 14th June

Arthingworth Open Gardens, near Market Harborough

Arthingworth is a proper treat of a village opening, featuring up to 8 gardens to explore on the same day including some hidden ones and the impressive Bosworth House, which has been lovingly developed over 25 years. The village itself is gorgeous, sitting alongside the River Ise (there is even a small bridge to cross), and there is a Grade II* listed church and a friendly pub to visit while you are there. This one is a lovely, relaxed way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Location: Arthingworth, near Market Harborough
More info: findagarden.ngs.org.uk

Hostellarie, Desborough

Opens on the same day as 16 Leys Avenue, so you can visit both for one ticket. Hostellarie is a long town garden divided into outdoor rooms, with lawns and grass paths weaving through colour borders, ponds, and water features. One of the real highlights is a courtyard shaded by an old clematis with over 40 different hostas. If you have a budding gardener in the family, this one is full of inspiration.

Location: Desborough
More info: findagarden.ngs.org.uk

16 Leys Avenue, Desborough

A town garden that packs a real punch. There are two water features, a stream and a pond, plus a 12ft clinker-built boat flanking the water. Six raised beds, beautiful acers, and a patio garden that has been put together with real thought and care. Opens alongside Hostellarie so you can do both in the same visit.

Location: 16 Leys Avenue, Desborough
More info: findagarden.ngs.org.uk

14 Leys Avenue, Desborough

A third Desborough garden opening on the same day. This one has a lovely structure with two lawns, a rockery featuring a lion’s head waterfall, herbaceous borders planted with lupins, clematis and primulas, and a small orchard reached through brick pillars and climbing plants. The kids will love the waterfall feature.

Location: 14 Leys Avenue, Desborough
More info: findagarden.ngs.org.uk

Rosearie-de-la-Nymph, Moulton (also open 7th June)

This garden is something else. Over 1,800 English and French roses, more than 120 tree ferns some reaching up to 8ft high, a collection of 100 Japanese maples, and roses scrambling into trees, over arbours and arches. There are unusual water features and specimen trees throughout. It is honestly one of those gardens that you walk into and immediately think “I cannot believe this is just down the road.” This one opens on both 7th and 14th June, so if you missed the first date, you have another chance.

Location: Moulton, Northampton
More info: findagarden.ngs.org.uk

Spratton Gardens, Spratton

Spratton opens a whole collection of gardens on this day, showcasing the variety you can find in a single Northamptonshire village. You will find traditional cottage gardens alongside old stone houses, a courtyard garden, a gravel garden with sculpture, gardens designed to encourage wildlife, and mature gardens with fruit trees and herbaceous borders. A great choice if you want variety and want to explore at your own pace.

Location: Spratton, Northampton
More info: findagarden.ngs.org.uk

Friday 19th and Saturday 20th June

Ravensthorpe Nursery, Ravensthorpe

Over an acre of garden surrounding a former nursery, planted over 30+ years with unusual shrubs and herbaceous perennials across seven large island beds. There is also a new wildflower meadow in just its second year and a woodland path featuring shade-loving plants. An added bonus: plants are available to buy, but only on NGS open days. If you are a gardening enthusiast yourself, this one is a real find.

Location: Ravensthorpe
More info: findagarden.ngs.org.uk

Saturday 20th June

Lamport Hall, Lamport

Lamport Hall is one of those places that is just steeped in history and character, and it is home to some fascinating stories — including the fact that Sir Charles Isham, the 10th Baronet who lived here, is credited with starting the tradition of garden gnomes in the UK. The gardens have been developed over 450 years and include extensive herbaceous borders, Elizabethan bowling lawns, 250 rows of perennials in a two-acre walled garden, and the famous Lamport rockery, one of the earliest in England, which was extensively refurbished in 2024.

Location: Lamport, Northamptonshire
More info: findagarden.ngs.org.uk

Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June

Flore Gardens, Flore

Flore has been welcoming garden visitors since 1963, and this June opening coincides with the long-running Flore Flower Festival, which features themed floral displays in the village church and chapel. The gardens themselves are a brilliant mix of large and small, with features including greenhouses, gazebos, summerhouses, water features, and plenty of seating areas dotted around. The owners are all in their gardens on the day and are known for being incredibly friendly and enthusiastic, which makes the whole experience feel really personal and lovely. Your ticket is valid for both days, so you can spread it across the weekend if you prefer.

Location: Flore, near Weedon
More info: findagarden.ngs.org.uk

Sunday 21st June

Kilsby Gardens, Kilsby

Kilsby is a village with great stories to tell — it has long been associated with Stephenson’s famous railway tunnel and an early skirmish in the Civil War. The gardens here reflect the village’s development over time, offering a real mixture of sizes and styles. Expect a warm welcome, delicious teas (card payment available at the village hall), and a proper community atmosphere that makes these village openings so special.

Location: Kilsby
More info: findagarden.ngs.org.uk

Ravensthorpe Gardens, Ravensthorpe

Separate from the Nursery opening earlier in the week, this is a village gardens open day showcasing established and developing gardens set in beautiful Northamptonshire upland countryside near Ravensthorpe Reservoir and Top Ardles Wood. Many of the plants on display are available to buy from the nursery, which only opens on NGS days. Gardens here focus on inspirational planting, beautiful views, water features and wildlife-friendly planting. Please note: not all gardens on this open day welcome dogs.

Location: Ravensthorpe
More info: findagarden.ngs.org.uk

Tuesday 23rd June

Rockingham Castle, near Corby

Built on the orders of William the Conqueror, Rockingham Castle is one of the most dramatic settings in the county, with spectacular views stretching across the Welland Valley. The gardens are spread across 13 acres, divided into distinct areas including The Terrace, The Cross, the Rose Garden planted with David Austin roses, Jewel Borders, and a dramatic Wild Garden. The rose collection ranges from hybrid teas to climbers and is breathtaking in June. This opening is in collaboration with the National Garden Scheme, making it a special chance to visit. If you are visiting with children, there is a lovely Fairy Doors trail in the Wild Garden too.

Location: Rockingham, near Corby LE16 8TH
Admission (garden only): Adult £12.50, Child (4-16) £6.25, Under 4s free, Family (2 adults + up to 3 children) £31.50
More info: rockinghamcastle.com

Saturday 27th June

C2C Grows Community Allotment Garden, Northampton

This one is a little different and I love it for that. C2C Grows is a community allotment project run by the charity C2C Social Action, offering social and therapeutic horticultural sessions for women referred to the project who may be experiencing poor health or social disadvantage. On this open day you can visit the triple-sized allotment with its polytunnels, greenhouse, fruit cages, raised beds, and a peaceful wildlife area with pond. It is a wonderful example of how growing things can genuinely change lives, and well worth supporting. Pre-booking is essential for this one.

Location: Northampton
Booking: Pre-booking essential via the NGS website
More info: findagarden.ngs.org.uk

Sunday 28th June

Springfield House, Collyweston

Set within three acres, Springfield House features formal garden areas, mature trees, a woodland walk, a wildflower meadow, and productive vegetable gardens. The garden was recently redeveloped by the owners following a plan drawn up by RHS Chelsea gold medallist Adam Frost, and the result is a garden that seamlessly blends established planting with newly introduced formal beds. If you enjoy gardens with real vision and design behind them, this is one to seek out.

Location: Collyweston
More info: findagarden.ngs.org.uk

What to Know Before You Visit

Most NGS garden openings follow a similar format, and once you know how they work, it becomes a really lovely, low-key way to spend a few hours. Here is what to expect:

• In the majority of gardens, children go free, making it a great value family day out
• Most gardens offer homemade teas, cakes and refreshments on the day
• Many gardens have plants for sale at prices below usual nursery prices
• You can usually just turn up and pay on the day, unless a garden is listed as pre-booking essential
• Check the NGS website for the most up to date admission prices for each individual garden as these do vary
• Dogs: policies vary by garden, so check before you go
• Accessibility: each garden listing on the NGS website includes accessibility information

Before heading out, it is always worth double checking times and any booking requirements on the NGS website as details can occasionally change.

If the sunshine is on your side and you are planning a full day out, why not take along our free nature scavenger hunt to keep little ones busy as you explore? It is perfect for gardens and outdoor visits and costs absolutely nothing to download.

And if you want to keep up with more family-friendly things to do across Northamptonshire each week, do sign up for the Northants Families weekly newsletter — I round up events, days out and ideas every week so you never miss a thing.

Happy exploring!

The events listed in this guide are run by third-party organisers, and all details were correct at the time of publication, based on information from their official websites. However, changes or cancellations can happen at short notice. To avoid any disappointment, we recommend double-checking the event information on the official websites before making plans.