East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens

The gardens here are the work of two designers who've spent decades coaxing something quite remarkable out of Norfolk soil. East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens is no manicured show garden - it's lived-in, personal, and all the better for it. You'll find yourself wandering through a series of distinct spaces: a Mediterranean garden complete with gravel and drought-resistant plants, woodland areas that feel properly wild, and borders absolutely rammed with perennials that shift with the seasons.

It's a destination for serious gardeners first, no question. If you're the type who gets excited about plant combinations and layout, you'll spend a good two to three hours here without checking your watch. Families with young children might find it a bit thin on entertainment - it's gardens, not a play park - though older kids interested in how things grow will get something from it. The setting itself, out in rural Norfolk east of Norwich, has a quiet appeal. There's no grand house to tour, no tea room bluster. Just the gardens and the people who made them.

Open Wednesday to Sunday and bank holidays from 1pm to 5pm, though worth checking the website as there are occasional closures. Admission cost isn't listed online, so ring ahead. If you're staying at Manor Caravan Park just 1.4 miles away, or one of the other parks in the cluster - Tonnage Bridge or Dilham Hall Retreats are close too - you could make this a half-day visit without much driving about. Spring and early summer are best for colour, but there's something to see most of the year.