Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

Begun in 1839, this arboretum contains one of the finest and most important collections of trees and shrubs in the world. There are 16,000 specimens, planted from 1839 to the present day, covering 600 acres of landscaped Cotswold countryside. Magnificent displays of Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Magnolias and wild flowers, and a blaze of colour in the autumn from the national collection of Japanese maples. Special events include Treefest (Aug BH) and the Enchanted Christmas illuminated trail (every Fri, Sat, Sun in December until Xmas).