George and Amal Clooney's Oxfordshire Backyard Perfectly Captures The English Country Garden Aesthetic Dominating Trends in 2026

The Clooneys' unique combination of sandstone structure and soft climbing vines encapsulates the romantic energy of British countryside gardens

amal and george clooney in their garden
(Image credit: Mike Marsland via Getty Images)

The quintessential English country garden is defined by a healthy blend between structure and wildness. A playful marriage of sandstone hardscaping with climbing vibes, charming flowers, and unmanicured hedges strikes the perfect balance of a beautiful space that feels actually lived in. Amal and George Clooney's Oxfordshire backyard embodies the look.

A glimpse into the garden of their Oxfordshire country manor, the 17th-century Mill House, reveals a gorgeous interplay between sandstone steps and free-flowing greenery. It captures the English country garden aesthetic with a graceful, heritage feel. Vines climb up the manor walls, euphorbia pops its head over the staircase railing, and pretty pink flowers offer a subtle peek of color.

Whether you actually live in the English countryside or across the pond, the essentials of this look are accessible in any garden.

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To dive into George and Amal's garden design, we spoke with experts on how to create the English garden look at home. Homes & Gardens also curated an edit of all the plants and tools we'd recommend for emulating their style.

Recreate George and Amal's Look at Home

Amal and George's backyard provides the perfect blueprint to jump off for creating your own charming space.

Craig Wilson, gardening expert and founder of Gardeners Dream, recommends: 'Your cottagecore garden should be a space with a cozy, whimsical aesthetic. Plants and flowers will be the huge focal point, and what you choose should be specially selected to achieve the right vibe. You want to add both color and texture, but keep things feeling peaceful rather than chaotic. It should be in between curated and wild, looking slightly undone, but also purposeful.'

English plants are essential for making your space feel authentic like the Clooney's home. 'To get a real English country garden feel, you might want to look towards UK-native plants and flowers, such as Columbine, Yarrow, Foxgloves, Geraniums, and Campanulas; not only will these thrive in your garden, but they will also give a traditional British feel to your space,' advises Craig.

Furthermore, it's important to keep the look slightly muted, without overwhelming vibrancy. Craig explains: 'In terms of color, you’ll want to lean towards pastels to create the softness that is often associated with the trend. Plants and flowers such as lavender, hollyhocks, and climbing roses in muted pinks, purples, and blues should be nestled amongst the green of wild-looking grasses and shrubs.'

Though you might not build an entire sandstone patio and stairs like the one at the Clooneys' estate, there are other ways to bring English-style hardscaping to your backyard to complete the look. Craig states: 'When you think of a quaint country cottage, you’ll likely envisage stepping stone paths and cobblestones, both of which you can easily add to your garden without spending too much time or money.'

He advises: 'Stepping stone paths can be added on top of grass or stones to create that typical countryside feel. You’ll want to reach for natural, rugged stones such as limestone or sandstone, as these offer a much more unpolished look, adding texture to your garden.'

'Another way to get that country feel is to use rocks or cobbles to line borders and section off areas of bedding,' adds Craig. 'Veer away from perfection; using odd-shaped stones and laying them in a carefree manner will add rustic charm.'


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Sophie Edwards
News Editor

Sophie is a writer and News Editor on the Celebrity Style team at Homes & Gardens. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly passionate about researching trends and interior history. She is an avid pop culture fan and has interviewed Martha Stewart and Hillary Duff.

In her free time, Sophie freelances on design news for Westport Magazine and Livingetc. She also has a newsletter, My Friend's Art, in which she covers music, culture, and fine art through a personal lens. Her fiction has appeared in Love & Squalor and The Isis Magazine.

Before joining Future, Sophie worked in editorial at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens brand. She has an MSc from Oxford University and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.