Exotic English gardens lost for centuries is named one of the best in the UK
THE Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall has been named one of the best in the UK.
The gardens after 'lost' as a result of World War I - but has just won a King's Award.
Advertisement
5
The Lost Gardens of Heligan is one of the best gardens in the UK
Credit: Alamy
5
There are hundreds of species of plant and flower in the gardens
Credit: Alamy
The Lost Gardens of Heligan was first developed in the mid-18th century and were cultivated by the Tremayne family, with the creation of rides for horses, walled flower gardens, and a melon yard.
It was thriving up until World War I, when the Heligan gardens were left to ruin.
The 'lost years' were between 1914 and 1990 when they were rediscovered and the restoration project became one of the biggest garden transformations in Europe.
The year 1991 marked the restoration of the Italian Garden, and the Lost Gardens of Heligan officially opened to the public on Good Friday in 1992.
Advertisement
Read More on UK Gardens
In 1994, the Flower Garden was restored and in 2024, The Lost Gardens of Heligan welcomed its eight millionth visitor.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan is split into three parts and is home to the UK's only outdoor jungle which has exotic plants.
In the jungle are four ponds, giant rhubarb, banana plantations, bamboo forests and avenues of palm trees.
The jungle has a microclimate which is at least five degrees warmer than gardens in the north of the UK .
Advertisement
Most read in News Travel
It's where you'll also find one of the longest Burmese Rope Bridges in Britain, stretching 100 feet above ancient tree ferns.
The Pleasure Grounds were first laid out 200 years ago - they have historic pathways and plants.
The seaside town of Newlyn in Cornwall has been dubbed as one of the 'coolest' places to relocate
5
The gardens were 'lots' after World War I
Credit: Alamy
5
But were rediscovered and became a huge renovation project
Credit: Alamy
Advertisement
Some plantings are over 150 years old, and are home to the national collection of camellias and rhododendrons which were introduced to Heligan pre-1920.
Like many gardens in Cornwall, Heligan reaps the benefits from a mild climate.
The Productive Garden has 300 varieties of fruit, vegetables, salad and herbs which supply the on-site kitchen and are incorporated within the daily lunch menu.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan is now one of the best gardens in the UK and in May 2025 was honoured with a King's Award for Enterprise.
Advertisement
Laura Smit-Chesterfield, managing director of The Lost Gardens of Heligan, said: "The team at The Lost Gardens of Heligan are delighted, honoured, and proud to receive a King's Award for Enterprise."
That's not the only award it has won - over the years, The Lost Gardens of Heligan has been named Britain's Finest Garden and the Best Garden in the UK.
Tickets for The Lost Gardens of Heligan for adults are £28, children between 5 and 17 are £12.50, and children under five go free.
Here's another
Advertisement
And six exotic UK gardens you can visit year round where it feels like the Caribbean - even in winter.
5
The Lost Gardens of Heligan has a tropical garden with a pond
Credit: Alamy
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Pretty European city most Brits won't have heard of gets new cheap flights from the UK
WIZZ Air has unveiled a new route between Birmingham and a pretty European city lots of Bris will have never have heard of. Sibiu is located in central Romania, and is known for its Germanic architecture . 3 Sibiu is located in central Romania Credit: Alamy 3 The city is known for its history and architecture Credit: Alamy Now, Wizz Air will be connecting the city with Birmingham, from October this year. The flights will operate twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays from October 28, with fares starting from £17.99. The flight would take just over three hours. Sibiu has a wealth of different places to explore. Read more on Europe History is evident throughout the city, with remains of medieval walls and towers present, including the 13th-century Council Tower. In the upper town, there is also the Brukenthal Palace - which now houses the Brukenthal National Museum and is full of European paintings. For those who find churches fascinating, then the nearby Evangelical Cathedral is a must with gravestones in its walls. Just outside of the city, is also the Dumbrava Sibiului Natural Park. Most read in News Travel The parkland area stretches over 960 hectares and it is an oak forest with a plethora of wildlife including deer, porcupines and foxes. A beer costs around 11 lei, which is about £1.83 - so relatively cheap. Watch incredible Romania town And the average coffee costs 12.20 lei, which is around £2.03. Food is also cheap, with a three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant costing £29.12 on average. Olivia Harangozó of Wizz Air said: "We are excited to add this new route to our operations from Birmingham. "Sibiu is one of Europe's hidden gems, and we are delighted to give Brits more opportunities to visit this city and experience its – and Romania's – rich history and vibrant culture." All flights will be operated using the latest-generation Airbus A321neo aircraft. WizzAir also recently announced a new route between Birmingham and Rome, Italy, which is due to commence service on June 16. The flights will operate three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. One woman Plus, the 3 The city is also relatively cheap Credit: Alamy
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Affordable holiday island for Brits with white sand beaches and Dubai-like restaurants that is loved by celebs
CYPRUS has been an affordable holiday destination for Brits for years, and it's popular with celebrities too. With white sandy beaches, delicious food, and beautiful villas, it's no surprise that one beloved British singer even has a holiday home there. 6 Holidaymakers and celebrities alike flock to Cyprus every year Credit: Alamy 6 Peter Andre is one of the celebs that frequently visits Cyprus Credit: Instagram Over the years, the likes of There have also been lots of British holidaymakers there like Kerry Katona, James Blunt, and Peter Andre - who has a strong connection to Cyprus that 20 years ago, he decided to build his own holiday home there. In the city of Larnaca on the southeast coast of Cyprus, Peter has a villa with five bedrooms, a swimming pool and tennis court . Talking to Sun Travel about his holiday home in Larnaca, Peter said: "The house is so beautiful and private. Obviously the smells, the foods, it reminds me of my childhood and my parents. Read More on Cyprus "I bought the land 20 odd years ago and I said 'dad, here's the money to build it' and my dad spent three years building the most beautiful house. "It's very sentimental to us and the other thing is there are some amazing beaches with bright white sand." As for where to go, Peter added: "I like to go to quiet places. I don't really like to go where it's crazily busy. "The food there is amazing and we love the restaurants. For anyone going to Larnaca, I have three recommendations. One is a new restaurants called Theta in Perivolia which is very near the airport. It does Mediterranean food, but done in the style of a Dubai 5-star restaurant. Most read in Beach holidays "We go there and we're like 'why doesn't anyone know about this place?'" Peter also loves to go to a Japanese restaurant called Nippon. All the free activities Cyprus has to offer 6 Peter's Cyprus holiday home has a huge pool with sunbeds Credit: 6 There's even an outdoor kitchen area Credit: He also added: "There's another one called Opa Souvlaki Kiti, it's not fancy, but if you want a proper Greek kebab done the Cypriot way, go there." Peter stayed tight-lipped about the quiet beaches he and his family head to on holiday. But some of the most popular across the island according to Tripadvisor are Nissi Beach, Fig Tree Bay Beach, Coral Bay and Makronissos Beach. For anyone who fancies a trip over to Cyprus, you can even Inside is five bedrooms, each one sleeping two people. The rooms have queen beds or single beds, and their own en suites. The shared spaces include huge living area with two sets of sofas, as well as a separate dining and kitchen area. Outside, there's lots of places to relax by the pool or battle it out in a game of tennis. 6 The price of a holiday in Larnaca has dropped compared to last year Credit: Alamy It's a great time to go to Larnaca too as the holiday destination with the biggest price drop. According to the holiday comparison website, prices of a holiday to Larnaca have fallen by £495 per person. The average price in 2024 was £1,292.04 and in 2025 is £797.97 - a 38 per cent decrease. Flights from the UK take just over four hours and you can book flights with There's another place a little further afield that Peter described as 'a kids' paradise' - as he And here's the 6 The affordable island of Cyprus has become a holiday hotspot for celebs Credit: Alamy
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
I've walked the whole UK coast and this often-mocked island one hour from London is the friendliest seaside town
WHEN Quintin Lake travelled for five years around the UK, he encountered all sorts of coastlines, and people too. For his new book 7 Quintin Lake travelled the entire UK coastline Credit: Quintin Lake 7 He called Canvey Island the 'friendliest' place in the country Credit: Alamy Talking to Sun Travel about his coastal adventure, Quintin told us: "I thought Canvey Island in Essex was the friendliest place that I'd been. "I wouldn't knock places like that either because it's really easy to get to from London." The Essex island in the Thames Estuary near The island's main attraction is an abandoned oil refinery which has since been turned into a nature reserve. Read More on UK Coastline It's now home to thousands of rare insects and plants, as well as nightingales, lizards and adders. Almost surrounded by water, it's no surprise that Canvey Island has lots of coastal spots that are popular with tourists. Concord Beach is a hotspot for crabbing, and there's even a tidal swimming pool. Just along the coast is Thorney Bay Beach which in 2021 received a Blue Flag award. Most read in Beach holidays The Canvey Seafront is a classic seaside resort, home to museums, cinemas, bingo halls, and a miniature railway. For kids, there's also Fantasy Island attractions, with rides and rollercoasters. Scotland's number one secret beach revealed 7 Canvey Island can be very popular during the summer months Credit: Alamy 7 On the front is a huge 1930s cafe Credit: Alamy It's now the only theme park on Canvey Island after the closure of Leisure Island Fun Park. One of the biggest buildings on the front is Labworth Cafe, dating back to the 1930s, has been renovated and remains a beachfront dining area. To get to the island, visitors can get the train to Benfleet train station which takes 40 minutes from London Fenchurch Street, and then a bus from there, taking around 45 minutes. It wasn't just Canvey Island that Quintin was charmed by, he even went so far as to say that Essex was the most "underrated" county in the UK. He added that during his trip, he bumped into locals who were "really fun." He said: "It makes me laugh because all the counties next to each other have a real rivalry. "Everyone in Suffolk says Essex is horrible, and everyone in Suffolk says don't go to Essex. "But I find it quite endearing that every single county reckons that theirs is the best." 7 Quintin loved the rest of Essex too Credit: Alamy 7 Quintin compared Achmelvich Bay in Scotland to the Bahamas. Credit: Quintin Lake Photographer Quintin travelled through Wales, Scotland and England, finding incredible and sometimes hidden coastal spots. All in all, he took 1,300 pictures and spent a lot of time wild camping. Along the way he found some incredible spots like which he said looked like it belonged in the Bahamas. There's white sands and bright blue seas - the only big difference will be the weather. Quintin's book, The Perimeter is out now and available to buy . 7 Canvey Island has been described as being very 'friendly' Credit: Alamy
