Waterperry Gardens are one of the delights of English Garden visiting, but many might miss it as it is not a glamorous, 'Rock-Star-Garden' like Hidcote or Great Dixter.
All this is a great shame as there are so many wonderful 'second-tier' gardens that are generally better to visit as you can enjoy classic English garden design without the huge crowds.
Waterperry is one such garden and it is very close to Oxford and really not much of a hike from London.
Largely developed by Beatrix Havergal as a School of Horticulture for Ladies in the mid 20th century, it has been meticulously planted with much insight and as a result we the visitor enjoy the fruits of those labours today.
This is a compact gardens covering 8 acres of beautifully landscaped ornamental gardens, a fascinating nursery and garden shop, gallery and gift shop, museum and tea shop and is open year round - though the wonderful mixed borders and rose garden are undoubtedly at their best in summer.
Like many English gardens it is divided up into 'rooms' of speciality including an Alpine garden, Formal garden, Rose garden, Rock garden, Arboretum, Allotment garden, Foliage border and the very pretty Waterlilly Canal - amongst many others.
This is a place to wander at a slow pace to enjoy the richly diverse plant selection and peacefully beautiful settings.
Then when you've had your fill I recommend the small museum holding a wonderful array of garden orientated artefacts, followed by a snack in the Tea Shop.
Author: Bob Saunders.
From Oxford: Follow directions for A40 East – London. On the A40 take the third exit, 2 miles after passing the Thornhill Park and Ride, signposted for Wheatley and Waterperry Gardens follow the brown signs.
From Birmingham – M40 South – Follow the M40 Brown Signs, exit Junction 8a for Oxford Services follow directions towards the services then at the second roundabout take the exit signposted Oxford A40, after 0.5 miles turn right again towards Wheatley and Waterperry, follow the brown signs. Do not join A40.
From London – M40 North – Follow the M40 Brown Signs, exit Junction 8 for A40 Oxford then take first exit approx 1/2 mile Wheatley and Waterperry, turn immediately left on leaving A40 , follow the brown signs to Waterperry.
By Public Transport: From Oxford City Centre take the Arriva Bus 280 to Church Road, Wheatley. From Church Road Wheatley you will need to prebook a taxi.