Norton Worcestershire hotels:

Just three miles east of the beautiful cathedral city of Worcester and surrounded by glorious countryside, lies one of Britain s best kept secrets. Virtually hidden from the road, and largely unaltered in the last century, this lovely 30 acre Victorian paradise, belonging to Mr. and Mrs. R.J.G. Berkeley, has been lovingly created by successive generations of the Berkeley family, and boasts an enviable collection of plant treasures from every corner of the globe. Regarded as one of the finest gardens of late Victorian England, Spetchley was chosen as one of the first three to open to the public under the National Gardens Scheme in 1924. Seventy-six years on, its enormous collection of beautiful and unusual plants some rarely seen outside the major botanical gardens continues to delight those with an insatiable passion for flowers, and ensures that it never loses its appeal. Formal, informal, herbaceous, woodland and exotic it s a garden of gardens and home to many exquisite treasures, all flourishing within a lush framework of mature trees and shrubs. We hope our visitors will share in the pleasure it gives us throughout the year. Charming and unspoilt and naturally beautiful, Spetchley is a welcoming oasis of calm and the perfect place to relax and unwind away from the distractions of modern-day life. It s a garden for quiet contemplation or a leisurely stroll, for a family picnic or an afternoon tea with friends.