Bicton Park Botanical Gardens, Budleigh Salterton, Devon
If you're staying nearby on your large group holiday in Devon and you're looking to have a day out with something for all ages, go to Bicton Park Botanical Gardens near Budleigh Salterton. This beautiful 18th century botanical park has Italian, American and Mediterranean gardens, and a Pinetum and Arboretum with over 1,200 trees, including 25 Champion Trees, which means they signify the largest, tallest or best of their kind in the UK. There’s a Victorian Hermitage surrounded by acers and flowering cherry trees, and a Japanese pagoda overlooking a lake; at the top of the Fernery is a very unique Shell House that you really must see. A much talked about feature of Bicton Park is the Palm House and the Glasshouses; the Palm House was built 20 years before the world-famous Palm House at The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and has over 18,000 panes of overlapping glass.
Go and see the animals and the displays in the rural life museum, ride the miniature railway through the woods, have a game of mini golf. Take the little ones by the hand and set off on the nature trail, then let them free in the outdoor or indoor play area. Finally, you should round off your trip with a big fat slice of cake in the Orangery Restaurant and a stop off at the gift shop to buy a momento of your day out.
Open all year except Christmas Day and Boxing Day, from 10.00am.
T: 01395 568465 All information correct at the time of writing.