Secret Gardens of Somerset

This beautiful little book explores the little known gardens of this hidden corner of England, gorgeous photographs accompany text that explore the history, planning and content of each garden

This is a beautiful book filled with lush photos of British gardens. Set amid historic architecture and beautiful countryside this is a virtual tour of gardens well worth the time. It is a visual bouquet.

I spent a semester of college in Somerset so was beyond excited to receive this e galley and revisit an area that I adored.  Inside this book, readers can enjoy an armchair visit to twenty beautiful spots including The American Museum and Gardens in Bath, Cothay Manor, Stoberry H0use and more.  Each entry has a good amount of information along with gorgeous photos. There is also a section on information for visitors.  For those who enjoy gardens, this title is highly recommended.


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wish I had all the money to make my gardens look like these. I also wish I had all the money to afford to hire people to make sure my gardens could look like these Somerset gardens all the time. And if I had all the money, I’d spend all my time just sitting in my Somerset-style garden, drinking fancy tea and reading a nice book.

Secret Gardens of Somerset is a beautifully photographic record and intimate tour of 20 different stately and informal gardens in Somerset. Due out 15th Sept 2020 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it's 144 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is an inspiring and educational book, full of ideas for garden lovers no matter what the scale of their own green spaces. Very few gardeners will have the space to recreate the famous gardens pictured, however, there are so many good takeaways which can be adapted to readers' own gardens. Since the book is absolutely full of color photographs and the text is relatively small and densely packed, the hardcover format is a must.

The gardens represent a wide array of design and execution. The expected stately home gardens are represented, of course, with long alleys of topiary boxwood and formal layouts. What was equally welcome and more unexpected however, were the working farms, informal gardens, cottage gardens, historical landmarks, and a surprising amount of humorous interpretation and unexpected juxtaposition inviting a close look. The Morris mini car as a garden installation absolutely bursting with blooms really made me smile.

Four stars. Lots and lots (and lots) of inspiration. Aesthetically an enjoyable read with some nice takeaways.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

What a visual jewel this book is.

So many wonderful gardens in Somerset, accompanied with useful informations (such as visiting hours for example), beautiful photographs and all gardeners, well-deserved for all that magnificence.

Highly recommended for all enthusiastic gardeners and lovers of historic architecture.

Secret Gardens of Somerset: A Private Tour is a gorgeous gardening book that will make you feel like you’re on holiday in England.

Author Abigail Willis does a lovely job organizing this book by each garden stop on the tour. The gorgeous photographs are the best part of the book. I also greatly appreciated Willis’s writing. We get a feel for where it is located, a bit of history and a behind the scenes chat with its gardeners. Willis does a lovely job of keeping the narratives informative, contemporary (instagram is mentioned!) and up beat. Easy for gardening novices and experts to follow along.

What makes Somerset such a special place to visit and read about is the delightful mix of gardens. From impressive cottage gardens to a flower farm to organic gardening and an art gallery garden. My favorite was Bishop’s Palace. A large property surrounding a gothic cathedral with a moat!

Having put off a trip to England this summer due to Covid19, this was just the travel fix I needed and was very inspiring for my personal gardening efforts at home.

After having lived in Somerset for a short time, I found this book interesting with beautiful photographs and information about the gardens and their owners. I had not heard of some of these gardens. What a lovely coffee table book for those who love gardens and the outdoors.

I have wanted to go for Somerset for years, and this book has me even more excited to go! Secret Gardens of Somerset by Abigail Willis will have you planning your next holiday before you are even finished with the book.

This book was full of different gorgeous gardens in Somerset. You get a history of each of them, get to know about some of the staff, and get a personal look at the property. The photos were gorgeous.

I liked that there is visiting information at the back of the book to help people who will have to visit once looking through and reading this book.

I received an advanced reader copy from Quarto Publishing Group through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

The beautiful county of Somerset in England is full of scenic beauty, from rolling hills to quaint villages. Another enticing attraction is an abundance of lush gardens. This book takes the reader on a tour of twenty fantastic landscapes. The gardens range from large old Manor homes to small cottages and farms. The famous cottage garden of Margery Fish (East Lambrook Manor) is included as well as the most famous garden in the region -Hestercombe - which was designed by Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens. Many of the gardens have been rescued by a current generation of gardeners while some have just been established in this century.

The gardens featured are The American Museum and Gardens, Barley Wood Walled Garden, Batcombe House, The Bishop’s Palace, Common Farm, Cothay Manor, East Lambrook Manor, Elworthy Cottage, Forest Lodge, Greencombe Gardens, Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Hestercombe, Iford Manor, Kilver Court, Midney Gardens, Milton Lodge gardens, The Newt in Somerset, Stoberry House, Westbrook House, and Yeo Valley Organic Garden.

Each garden is given a six-page spread. The text is illustrated by the stunning photography of Clive Coursnell. A gorgeous book that will inspire gardeners as well as perhaps persuade one to visit Somerset.