Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, is Britain’s finest tree collection — around 15,000 specimens from all over the world, gathered across 600 acres of Gloucestershire since the 1850s and now cared for by Forestry England. Gardeners make pilgrimages here; everyone else just comes for one of the most beautiful walks in England, in any month you choose.

The Autumn Spectacular

Westonbirt in October is a national event. Its world-famous collection of Japanese maples ignites into scarlet, amber and gold, drawing tens of thousands for what is simply the best autumn colour display in Britain — the Acer Glade at its peak is genuinely worth planning a break around. But the arboretum refuses to be a one-season wonder: spring brings clouds of magnolia and one of the country’s great bluebell shows, summer means picnics under champion trees, and even midwinter has its scented walks and famous illuminated trail.

Two Woods, One Walkway

The arboretum splits into two characters. The Old Arboretum is the Victorian showpiece — formal rides and avenues laid out by founder Robert Holford, planted for pure spectacle. Across the valley, Silk Wood is wilder: 400 acres of working woodland with waymarked trails where dogs are welcome. Linking them soars the treetop walkway — 300 metres of gently rising boardwalk that carries you up into the canopy itself, step-free and pushchair-friendly the whole way, with a crow’s nest lookout among the branches.

Visiting Westonbirt

You’ll find Westonbirt on the A433 three miles from Tetbury, in the southern Cotswolds — an easy pairing with the honey-stone towns nearby. It’s open daily, with a good café, plenty of parking and mostly firm, buggy-friendly paths; autumn weekends are gloriously busy, so come early or midweek for the maples at their calmest. Booking ahead is essential for the big seasonal events, especially the winter light trail.

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