1. Mottisfont Abbey Garden Admission, £7.70
The gardens of this 12th-century priory are home to the national collection of old-fashioned roses.
Open every day in June, 11am-8.30pm. Near Romsey, Hampshire, 01794 340 757
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2. Kiftsgate Court Admission, £5.50
Like nearby Sissinghurst and Hidcote Manor, this is one of England’s most famous gardens and home of the 60ft Kiftsgate rose.
Open noon to 6pm, except Thurs and Fri in May, June and July. Chipping, Gloucestershire, 01386 438 777
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3. David Austin Rose Gardens Admission, free
Two acres devoted to English roses, including a Species Garden featuring wild roses and their near relations.
Open seven days a week, 9am-5pm. Albrighton, Wolverhampton, Shropshire, 01902 376 300
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4. Duthie Park Admission, free
One of Aberdeen’s nicknames is “the City of Roses” and it has its own rose mountain, with more than 120,000 roses. Be warned: it’s not as gentle a climb as it looks.
Open every day, 9.30am to dusk. PolmuirRoad,Aberdeen, 01224 585 310
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5. Nymans Admission, £7
A gorgeously romantic rose garden in a theatrical setting. It features climbing varieties tumbling over arches around a central fountain.
Open 11am-6pm except Mondays and Tuesdays. Handcross, nr Haywards Heath, West Sussex, 01444 405 250
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6. Castle Howard Admission to gardens, £7.50
The setting for Brideshead Revisited has thousands of roses, in the shelter of the 18th-century walled garden.
Open Sundays from 10am, but phone to check – filming throughout June. York, 01653 648 621/620
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7. City of Belfast International Rose Garden Admission, free
This 128-acre park celebrates the famous rose breeders Dickson and McGredy. It also hosts the International Rose Trials in July.
Open every day. Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, Upper Malone Rd, Belfast
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8. Hatfield House Rose Weekend Admission, £10
This Elizabethan palace celebrates the month of roses on 16-17 June – offering expert advice from the Royal National Rose Society.
Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, 01707 287 010
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9. Pashley Manor RoseWeekend Admission, £7
These glorious traditional English gardens celebrate the rose season with walks led by an expert from rose growers Peter Beales, 16-17 June.
Ticehurst, nr Wadhurst,East Sussex 01580 200 888
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10. Mannington Gardens Admission, £4
The gardens of this medieval moated manor house feature varieties dating from the 15th century.
Open: Sundays May-Sept noon-5pm; Wed,Thurs andFri, June to August, 11-5pm. Mannington Hall, Saxthorpe, Norwich, Norfolk, 01263 584
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28 May 2007, Chosen by Victoria Summerley
