In the old grounds of stately homes and castles in England you can see some of the world’s oldest and largest hedge mazes.
All these castles, palaces and houses are worth visiting just to look at the buildings and their wonderful gardens.

If you are going to look at the mazes as well – give yourself plenty of time.

I have visited all these gardens and mazes and they are in my opinion the best English Garden mazes to see.
They are all open to the public - although some are closed in the winter months - so be sure to check opening times before visiting.
To get the most out of them - allow yourself time to get lost and wear comfortable walking shoes.

• Hampton Court Palace in Surrey
  Here you can see England’s most well known and oldest hedge maze.>br> Grown from yew it was planted in the late 1600's and today attracts many visitors from all over the world. There are nearly half a mile of paths. Also give yourself time to wander around the extensive Palace gardens and the Tudor mansion itself.
  
  

• Longleat House in Wiltshire
  This the stately home of Lord Bath and in the grounds there is a marvelous hedge maze - one of the largest in the world - that is made from over 16,000 English Yew trees.
  I can thoroughly recommend it – there are bridges and a central tower from which to wave at those still lost! Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time as it can take over an hour to find your way in and out!
  It has the world’s longest total path - 1.69 miles but don’t worry there are little covered signs to lift and look at should you really get lost.
  

• Hever Castle in Kent
  This maze is in a beautiful setting beside the 13th-century double-moated castle where Henry VIII’s second wife Anne Boleyn lived as a child.
  Here there is a tall yew hedge maze created in 1905 William Waldorf Astor, set in over 20 acres of gardens.

• Somerleyton Hall in Suffolk
  has a yew hedge maze with a pagoda on a hill in the centre. It was designed in 1846 and has tall thick hedges - a good maze for both adults and children. The gardens are full of wonderful plants and trees.

• Symonds Yat West in Hereford & Worcester
  Not far away from me there is a lovely octagonal maze set in An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty beside the River Wye. This maze is great fun to do and is designed using over 1,000 Cedar bushes. There is a pagoda in the centre and a viewing platform at the side. It was originally created for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.

• Leeds Castle in Kent
  This maze is set in yet another wonderful location. The maze has a stone tower in the middle and an exciting hidden secret grotto. The Yew hedge is made from 2,400 trees.
  

• Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire
  This was the birthplace of Winston Churchill and Blenheim is home to the Marlborough maze. Grown from Yew, it has wooden bridges and hidden pavilions.

Enjoy visiting a maze!