Secret Gardens of Sandwich lie within the old stone city walls — an ocean of serenity in Kent, England.

At their heart stands the manor house designed by English architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, who also devised the three-and-a-half acres of ornamental gardens (yes, the same Lutyens for whom all those wooden garden benches you see in the gardening catalogues are named). And, psst, Road Trips Gardeners, garden entry is free in December and January.

After lying neglected for 25 years, the gardens have been transformed. The garden was in a total state of neglect. Where the charming White Garden stands was once a pile of rubble and the Holm Oak Walk was totally shapeless and overgrown. While the spirit and style of the original garden has been retained, several more modern features have been added, including the Tropical Border. The plants which grow in this sheltered section would simply not have been able to cope with the colder climate prevalent when they were established in 1911. Within this area you will find the Wollemi Pine, a rare plant dating back to the Jurassic period.

Lake Patricia was added to the Gardens during the ’70s. Future plans for this area include the planting of several species of flowering trees and the addition of roses to grow up the large circular arbor and create a flowering canopy.

Tea Rooms are found in the Old Gatehouse. With crockery, cake stands and silverware sourced from The Savoy Hotel, the Tea Rooms evoke the elegant Edwardian pastime of taking tea. Cream teas and home-made cakes are just some of the treats on offer.

Edwin Lutyens is a name synonymous with the creation of the English County Garden style. This style indicated a movement away from the highly formal Victorian garden towards a greater freedom in planting and the inclusion of a wider variety of plants. Attributes of a Lutyens garden include brick paths and herbaceous borders planted with lilies, lupins and lavenders, all of which can be found at The Secret Gardens of Sandwich.

The manor house, Salutation, was built by Lutyens in 1911-1912 as a weekend retreat to enable the owners to enjoy the coastal air. Named after an inn that originally stood within the grounds, the main house (which remains a private residence) is supported by Knightrider House, Gatehouse, Coach House and Gardeners Cottage.