Barrington Court is a Tudor house and estate in Somerset with extensive formal gardens inspired by Gertrude Jekyll, along with a huge working kitchen garden and woodland/estate walks.

Many come for the house, which was restored by the Lyle family (Tate & Lyle sugar) after the first world war, though today it is empty of furniture but still open for visitors.

This review concentrates on the gardens which are very well designed and maintained with most areas being protected by traditional high walls. This encourages planting of the big, deep borders with the best of colourful summer annuals and perennials to make outstanding displays.

The garden team clearly like Hollyhocks with so many different varieties and colours towering up above the riot of colour below.  There are also plenty of brightly coloured Crocosmia, Lilies, Phlox, Lupins, Rudbeckia, Sedum, Chrysanths, Acanthus and so many more of the delights of an English summer.

Three formal gardens are presented immaculately including a square layout Rose Garden, a circular design for the White Garden and to the rear of Strode House is the delightful Lily Garden featuring a long, oval pond.

Here we see skillful plantsmanship at its best with mono-colour drifts and mixed colour borders choc full of the best English and exotic cottage style plants and shrubs.

There is an inherent elegance in formal garden design but when it is combined with the softness of cottage style planting, you have a combination to inspire and encourage relaxation.

These are very pretty gardens to be wandered around slowly before exploring the wonderful old Stables set to the side. 

Entering through rose covered arches the aromas of old timber and ancient cobble stones fills the air conjuring up echoes of the bucolic lifestyle of the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Kitchen Gardens are one of the largest we have reviewed and immensely impressive, producing vast quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables for use in the estate eateries and beyond.

The towering old walls provide the perfect support for espaliered fruit while rows of brassicas, salads, herbs, roots and legumes stretch out with military precision. 

The word 'prolific' doesn't come close to doing this garden justice.

The garden team seem to also be big fans of Sweet Peas, especially in the Kitchen garden where tee-pee trellises support some of the richest colours you will see.

Wherever you wander, there is always a backdrop of old buildings, whether they be the imposing Strode House or the many terracotta tiled outhouses and barns. 

It all adds to the charm and sense of great history that are encompassed by these lovely gardens and surrounding estate walks.

Barrington is a rewarding day out for all ages with school groups welcomed with special trail maps and activities.

This reviewer visited on a cloudy day and had a ball.  Imagine how good it would have been with some extra sunshine.