Assessing and selecting over 1000 of the best gardens in the British Isles, this guide pinpoints the characteristics and qualities of every entry, suggesting when best to visit and what to look for. New features for 1993 are a floral calendar to highlight flowers and shrubs to watch out for month by month, a lucky dip section for readers' suggestions, and an expanded special interest section now including rock gardens, Japanese gardens and gardens with literary associations. Also included is a brief history of gardens and gardening in the British Isles, along with area maps and detailed road maps for every region.