How do you like your gardens? Grade I listed with their very own Michelin-starred restaurant serving fine dining and afternoon tea? Us too, which is why we love Leonardslee Gardens & Lakes in Lower Beeding, near Horsham.

Whatever the season, you can guarantee a breath-taking display at Leonardslee. Spring brings bursts of colour from the renowned collection of rhododendrons and carpets of native bluebells. Through summer, the ancient woodland comes alive. Follow majestic tree-lined paths to tranquil lakes – with seven to choose from, you can literally visit one every day of the week. Through autumn, the landscape is transformed into a blaze of red, orange and burnished gold. And in winter, misty lakes contrast with the stark outline of trees showcasing the iconic and unique look of Leonardslee.

Wildlife spotters will be in heaven with the huge range of native wildlife that makes its home in the ancient woodlands alongside the herds of free-roaming deer and wallabies, who were brought to the estate from Down Under in 1889 and continue to thrive and enchant.

After all that walking you’ll have worked up an appetite so enjoy a sensational afternoon tea or settle in for fine dining from Restaurant Interlude, which snaffled a Michelin Star within just months of opening. You can even stay at the recently renovated Leonardslee House  in the heart of the gardens where special overnight breaks are available. Plus you can even quaff a taste of the estate with a bottle from the first Pinotage vineyard in England – go on a tour of the vineyard or enjoy a tasting.

A great attraction year-round, Leonardslee has numerous seasonal highlights including Enchanted Leonardslee, a magical summertime trail through the gardens with live performances, comedy nights, music and more. Winter brings Leonardslee Illuminated, an equally enchanting festive light trail. It’s also one to put on the list for a idyllic, dreamy Sussex wedding venue.