From the subtropical south coast of Cornwall to the historic city of Edinburgh, the UK's botanical history is still flourishing and well worth exploring. From gardens in the grounds of old estates to research institutions in cities, you bound to find a secret garden to learn and get lost in. Visit these horticultural wonders located all around Britain.

RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey

This spectacular research garden run by national UK charity the Royal Horticultural Society, is best visited in springtime, where spectacular floral displays of native Spring flowers like daffodils fill the gardens. Don't miss their incredibly curated glasshouse, which contains world-class plants from all over the world and an awe-inspiring orchid collection. Founded in 1878 with the aim of being an experimental garden that studies how to grow plants from all over the world in British soil, it also has an onsite laboratory.

Trebah Gardens, Cornwall

Cornwall's unique sub-tropical climate is host to the beautiful Trebah Gardens, which are regularly voted among the best gardens in the world. A historic garden that was founded in 1831, the windswept, secluded beach here is also worth a stroll around, as is the picturesque Helford River, which the gardens trail around. Visit in springtime, when the 100-year old rhododendrons here blossom, or in winter, when its unique collection of southern hemisphere plants flower and come to life among the white trees.

Waterperry Gardens, Oxfordshire

In this quaint village seven miles from Oxford, you can find the spectacular Waterperry Gardens, eight acres of landscaped ornamental gardens with an alpine garden, water lily canal and riverside walk. The garden was made famous for being the site of a renowned school of horticulture for ladies run by Beatrix Havergal, from 1932 until she retired in 1971. While you're here, you can also visit the onsite Museum of Rural Life, which is located in a charming old granary building and houses a collection of traditional implements and tools.

Chelsea Physic Garden, London

For a peaceful retreat in London, there's no better place to escape to then the secret foliage of Chelsea Physic Garden. The walled space is nestled close to the River Thames in the upmarket borough of Chelsea and claims the title of the oldest botanical garden in London, having been founded in 1673 for apprentices to study medicinal plants. Back then, it was known as the Apothecaries' Garden due its focus on the science of healing, and the emphasis on herbs and plants with medicinal properties still continues today. Well worth a visit is the spectacular Garden of World Medicine, which arranges different healing plants from all over the globe by the culture that uses them.

Tresco Abbey Gardens, Isles of Scilly

It might be a boat ride away, but these incredible gardens are well worth a visit. Located on the island of Tresco, part of the isles of Scilly, the white sandy beaches and subtropical climate here make you feel like you're a world away from the UK. The unique climate here has been created by the mild winters, long sunshine hours and the pretty stone walls shading the garden from wind. Since they were created in 1834, the gardens have been filled with 20, 000 different plants from 80 countries including warmer climates like Australasia, Asia and Africa. Most beautiful in summer, the 17-acre gardens are still worth visiting at any time of year, as something different is in bloom every month. Located around a stunning set of old Abbey ruins, the garden also overlooks a beautiful beach and the sea.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh

A mile away from the centre of historic city Edinburgh, you can find the stunning Royal Botanic Gardens. Best visited in summer when the herbaceous border is simply magical, and you can also warm up in the winter months by wandering around their glasshouses, which are filled with tropical plants and ponds with bright lotuses and waterlilies. In springtime, their alpine house is filled with a remarkable selection of colourful crocuses. This is one of the oldest botanic gardens in Britain and was founded in 1670. Their collection totals more than 13,302 different plants, while over three million preserved plant specimens are kept in their herbarium.

Three of the four fashion capitals of the world (Paris, London and Milan, the other being across the pond, in New York) are in Europe, and so it's not surprising that the continent has its fair share of iconic Fashion Weeks, attracting visitors, retailers and press attention from all over the globe. As well as the big names, smaller Fashion Weeks in fashion forward cities like Copenhagen, Berlin and Madrid are also ones to watch.

Paris Fashion Week

The city of Paris is still the global centre of haute couture and the perfume industry, and for centuries (since the Royal Court of Louis XIV) has been influencing fashion all over the world. In the early 20th century famed designers Coco Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent made Paris one of the most important fashion cities in the world, and nowhere is that more obvious than during Paris Fashion Week. Known in French as Semaine de la mode de Paris, events are held in historic buildings all over the city, like the Carrousel du Louvre and the Grand Palais. Classic French designers like Louis Vuitton, Givenchy and Chanel all hold shows here, as well as innovative newcomers like Isabel Marant.

Berlin Fashion Week

Lesser known Berlin Fashion Week is still an important date on fashionistas calendars. Held twice annually, it's known globally for its showcase of young, talented designers pushing boundaries in the world of fashion. It was first established in 2007, and since then has become renowned for championing young fashion and providing a stage for innovation and creativity. Don't miss the annual exclusive show, in partnership with Elle, which only features young international talents. Similarly, the annual Start Your Fashion Business competition gives retail entrepreneurs the chance to get a head start, and the Designer for Tomorrow award champions emerging creative talent.

Copenhagen Fashion Week

Every February and August, the biggest fashion event in the Nordic region takes place, and more than 40 runway shows and over 1,600 exhibitors take over the beautiful city of Copenhagen. Run by the Danish Fashion Institute, the event developed from clothing trade fairs, and still has a unique leaning in that it aims to be accessible for a wide range of people, not just fashion insiders. Copenhagen Fashion Festival is run alongside the event, and members of the public are free to explore the designs on display. Danish fashion is famously minimalist and edgy, and shows here reflect this, with cool brands like Stine Goya, Cheap Monday and Vivienne Westwood taking to the stage.

London Fashion Week

London Fashion Week needs no introduction. One of the most important events on the fashion calendar, this event has been running since 1983, helmed by the British Fashion Council. Over 250 shows take place at each of the biannual events, with an audience of over 5,000 influential global retailers and media influencers. With shows centring around the grand backdrop of Somerset House and the River Thames, you can catch shows from quintessentially British brands like stalwarts Burberry and Margaret Howell, and newcomers like edgy brand Shrimps. Lets just hope that the UK finds it's intellect and remains part of the EU by voting for LibDems in the upcoming election.

Milan Fashion Week

Globally renowned Milan Fashion Week brings a touch of Italian class and luxury to the global fashion calendar. Founded in 1958, this long running event is held biannually around the historic city of Milan, with shows held in exquisite palaces like Palazzo Reale and Palazzo Serbelloni. You can expect to catch internationally acclaimed fashion houses like Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Missoni here, as well as smaller, more innovative designers like MSGM and DSquared2. Most acclaimed here are the events dedicated to women's fashion, like the SS Ready to Wear events and Milano Moda Donna, so make sure you don't miss these.

Madrid Fashion Week

Small but deeply creative, Madrid Fashion Week has been a platform to promote Spanish designers since 1963. Sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, the event is held every January and fashion professionals from all over the world flood into the cultural city of Madrid. Like Berlin Fashion Week, this event focuses on bringing opportunities to young, up and coming designers, particularly through EGO, a platform that promotes new fashion trends. The event is always notably attended by Spanish celebrities like the Duchess of Alba and athletes like footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who come to witness the creations of edgy young designers like Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada and Elena Rial.

The British summer time wouldn't be complete without a visit to a food festival. Taking place across the length and breadth of the country, there's no better place to taste exquisite produce from surrounding area, handmade goodies like bread and cheese, and finish off with a glass of local ale or cider. With workshops, talks and demonstrations from some of the UK's best celebrity chefs on offer, you'll be hard pressed to find a day out as good as a visit to one of these festivals.

Ludlow Food Festival

Located on the English-Welsh border, the pretty town of Ludlow hosts one of the UK's oldest food festivals. Every September, the town fills with foodies eager to try the best of the area's produce. Held inside the ancient Ludlow Castle, you can sample food from over 180 different local food producers, and wash it down with ale, cider and perry made in the area. Make sure you try Swift's bakery, a fifth-generation local family business, and Moyden's Cheese, which sells handmade cheese from the surrounding Shropshire area. Then, settle down to watch demonstrations and talks at one of the festival's three stages; where you can learn from celebrity chefs like Wahaca's Thomasina Miers and food industry gurus like Observer Food editor Allan Jenkins.

The Great Dorset Chilli Festival

It'll be hotter in more ways than one on the August weekend the Great Dorset Chilli Festival takes place. Thousands of chilli lovers flood into the town of Wimborne St. Giles, where they taste the best UK-produced chillies and hundreds of products created from them. In St. Giles Park, you can mill around the stalls and buy a chilli plant to take home or taste a myriad of unusual things made from chillies; from chilli beer and vodka, to chilli chocolate and cheese. There's also plenty of spicy street food for sale here; try their giant paellas or Mexican small bites like enchiladas. They also host an eye-watering chilli sauce competition, where the public are invited to try a selection of locally made sauces and vote for their favourite, and a chilli eating competition - if you're brave you can try your hand at beating other competitors to eat the world's hottest chillies in the fastest time.

Edinburgh Food Festival

Foodies

Festival in Edinburgh

is one of the biggest food festivals in the UK, with hundreds of different stalls, workshops and demonstrations. Held every year in late July, head over to its location in Edinburgh's historic George Square Gardens with an empty stomach to enjoy some of the incredible Scottish produce and global food on offer here. You'll be hard pressed to choose between the abundant street food at the festival: pick between Alandas Scottish Seafood for freshly cooked salmon, prawns and oysters or for something with a bit more of a kick, try Umami Spice Girl for comfort food with a spicy global twist. Don't forget to stop off at the The Gin Thing and Bellfield Brewery for a taste of some of Scotland's finest spirits, ciders and ales.

Isle of Wight Garlic Festival

The beautiful southern island of the Isle of Wight is also one of the UK's top garlic producers, and the industry here is celebrated every year at their Garlic Festival. Held annually since 1983 outside the charming town of Newchurch, it's recently drawn in over 20,000 visitors who flock to taste food from more than 250 different stalls. You can pick between freshly caught seafood grilled with locally farmed garlic, or if you're feeling a little more adventurous, why not try their garlic beer, or even their garlic ice cream. Don't miss seeing a show at their Theatre Kitchen, where top chefs like Rachel Khoo and Valentine Warner demonstrate their cookery magic - all with a touch of garlic.

Meatopia, London

Championing farm-to-table, nose-to-tail cooking, Meatopia is festival that celebrates the best of British meat production. Local traders like Patty & Bun, Hawksmoor and Smoking Goat all ply their wares here, focusing on promoting ethically sourced meat and bringing out the best of the natural flavour by cooking over open fires. Even their cooking techniques emphasis the ethical; fires are strictly fuelled by wood and charcoal with no butane or propane. Don't miss their Tasting Room, a perfect accompaniment to the BBQ heaven on offer - wash everything down with an organic ale or craft beer.

For an inspiring weekend break, why not visit one Europe's best book festivals? From Edinburgh to Istanbul, you can enjoy talks from the world's best writers and thinkers, all while exploring a new city and everything it has to offer. Grab a notebook and head over to one of the best European literature festivals.

Edinburgh International Book Festival, Scotland (in photo). Every year in late August, Charlotte Square, a beautiful garden in the centre of Edinburgh, is filled with literature lovers from all over the world.

Edinburgh International Book Festival

is known as the largest of its kind in the world, and has hosted iconic writers like Margaret Atwood, Sebastian Faulks and Salman Rushdie. Over 800 different authors from 55 different countries come to speak at this annual festival in the historic Scottish city, and talks are held over 17 days. The children's programme here is also internationally renowned and encompasses workshops, storytelling, panel discussions and book signings, as well as attracting speakers like Anne Fine and Jacqueline Wilson.

Berlin International Literary Festival, Germany

Held since 2001, the Berlin International Literary Festival takes place over ten days each September. It's the biggest annual literary event in the cultural German city. The festival's director and founder, Ulrich Schreiber, focuses on presenting the best contemporary poetry and prose from around the world with over 300 events taking place in over 60 locations around the city. Like Edinburgh, a particular focus is on their children's programming, with over 30, 000 children attending each year. Don't miss New German Voices, an evening event which introduces festival goers to the most promising emerging writers from the country.

Authors' Reading Month, Central Europe

The only literature festival spanning five cities and four countries simultaneously, Authors' Reading Month is a Central European book festival with events in Brno and Ostrava (Czech Republic,) Wroclaw (Poland,) Kosice (Slovakia) and Lviv (Ukraine.) Originally celebrating the literature of Czech writers, since 2004 the festival has been dedicated to literature from a particular guest country, and in 2018 this was Turkey. Held every July, and organised by Czech publisher Vetrné mlýny, two to three readings from both the host and guest country take place.

FestivalandCo, France

This quirky festival is held in iconic Parisian bookshop Shakespeare & Co, known for being frequented by celebrated authors like Hemingway, Joyce and Fitzgerald, and for its hip location on Paris' Left Bank. Attracting names like Jeanette Winterson and Jung Chang, the festival is held every June and holds talks in the picture-perfect park Rene Viviani, next to the bookstore and close to Notre Dame. The festival was founded in 2008 by owner Sylvia Beach Whitman, the daughter of the shop's founder George Whitman, who founded the bookstore and established its iconic literary status.

Istanbul Tanpinar Literature Festival, Turkey

Few cities can rival the cultural background of Istanbul, the centuries old city on the mouth of the Bosphorus. The Tanpinar Literature Festival celebrates one of the 20th century's great Turkish writers, Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar, whose famous novel A Mind at Peace was set in the city. The autumnal festival is held annually, and talks take place throughout the historic city. Over 68 authors from 22 different countries around the world attend, and previous guests have included Louis de Bernières and Ian Rankin.

Norwegian Festival of Literature, Norway

The largest non-commercial literature festival in the Nordic countries, the Norwegian Festival of Literature is held every May in the quaint town of Lillehammer. Previous speakers have included Zadie Smith, Margaret Atwood and Per Petterson. During the six-day Spring festival, over 400 writers and artists from around the world flood into the historic town, as well as 25,000 visitors. When you aren't catching inspiring talks, make sure you wander around the stunning alpine countryside surrounding the town.

Hay Festival, England

In the stunning rural border between England and Wales, Hay Festival is one of the longest running and largest literary festivals taking place worldwide. When you aren't watching talks from one of the hundreds of attending authors, wander around the quirky town of Hay, which really lives up to its iconic nickname The Town of Books, with bookshops lining every street. Previous guests have included Jung Chang, Michael Morpurgo and comedian Bill Bailey. Held in late May every year, this joyful festival is the perfect way to begin your summer.