Europe has no shortage of jaw-droppingly beautiful sites. There are huge shimmering lakes, spectacular mountain ranges and picture perfect beaches, not to mention one of the seven Wonders of the World and more than 500 UNESCO World Heritage sites (the highest concentration of any region in the world).
So, picking out the continent’s most beautiful sites of all is not easy work. But travel editors at Travel + Leisure took on the challenge and have revealed their list the 20 most beautiful places in Europe. One of those places happens to be close to London.
In third place, just below Lake Como and the Greek island of Corfu, was Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Kent. The vibrant National Trust-owned landscape is considered the epitome of the English garden and becomes a kaleidoscope of colours and textures in the warmer seasons.
The garden was designed and created in the 1930s by writer Vita Sackville-West and diplomat Harold Nicolson. When the pair moved into the property, its grounds were mostly used to grow veg and littered with old, rusting rubbish. The pair transformed it into a floral haven, creating 10 garden ‘rooms’ each with their own distinct designs and planting schemes.
The White Garden has a neat colour scheme of white, green, grey and silver while the Purple Border is packed with shades of purple blue, and magenta and the Cottage Garden is a collage of yellow, orange and red. There’s also the lavish Rose Garden and the Greek-inspired Delos.
Sissinghurst Castle Garden was nominated by Jim Strong, a travel expert and president of Strong Travel Services. He said: ‘The lawns and terraced colours of wildflowers of the area are a treat to the soul. A stroll around the grounds is tranquil in any weather, but spring and summer are the highlights.’
Scotland’s famous ‘Wee Mad Road’, the North Coast 500, also made it onto the list. Strong said that the rugged route ‘offers some of the most dramatic and strange sights while driving on small, one-lane roads’.
You can find Travel + Leisure’s full list here.
How to get to Sissinghurst Castle from London
If you have a car, you can drive from London to Sissinghurst in just under two hours. The site is a bit more of a trek if you want to reach it via public transport, though. You’ll have to catch a Southeastern train from London Bridge to the nearest station, Staplehurst. From there you can either get the number five bus to Recreation Ground then walk 27 minutes to the site, or book a taxi.
Once you’re there, entry costs £20 for adults, £10 for kids and nothing for children under five. You can pick up a family ticket (two adults and up to three children) for £50.
ICYMI: 10 of the greatest National Trust sites near London (as chosen by the National Trust).
Plus: Two of the greatest pub towns in Britain are day trips from London.
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