'I visited the UK town with the country's most beautiful gardens'

Alnwick Gardens, a hidden treasure in Northumberland, is a favourite among those who've had the pleasure of discovering it, but there are many more who are yet to stumble upon this northern gem.

During aroad trip with friends, Alycia McNamara of the Express chanced upon this enchanting spot and it's been on her mind ever since. They were there at the peak of summer when the gardens were awash with a sea of pink, white and red roses, all the more stunning under clear blue skies. It felt less like an English garden and more akin to the romantic settings of Romeo and Juliet, reminiscent of Italianlandscapes, she said.

"The garden is perfectly kept which, for such a large space, is very impressive," she said. "There are events all year round which make this an experience much more than just leaves, trees and flowers and it also means there's something for everyone who visits. You can view upcoming events on Alnwick Garden's website but some which stood out to me are the summer music nights and the winter lights shows which are on every year.

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"It is also home to the UK's deadliest garden which holds more than 100 toxic, intoxicating, and narcotic plants. The boundaries of the Poison Garden are kept behind black iron gates and only open on guided tours. The highlight for me was most certainly the rose gardens, which feature 300 shrub roses and can be booked for weddings. The area was created by David Austin roses and was unveiled at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2001."

Adult tickets are £192.0 on the day and up to four children can enter for free.

While she didn't stay in Alnwick itself, there are numerous nearby attractions worth exploring. Alnwick Castle, a favourite among history buffs and Harry Potter enthusiasts (it served as Hogwarts in the first two films), is one such spot.

Additionally, just a 25-minute drive away lies Bamburgh beach, recently crowned Britain's top coastal destination.