Sissinghurst Garden

Stunning. The gardens are looking spectacular with wonderful colours and structure at every turn. World class. Well done to the National Trust team for looking after Sissinghurst so well.

(5.0/5)

Visited today (18th July 2010) on a glorious sunny summer's day. Car parking is well maintained and there was a friendly greeting. As we're National Trust members there was no parking fee, or entry fee.

Whoever said you can't exit and re-enter the gardens again (to use the facilities) is completely incorrect, you simply retain your ticket and show it again on re-entry...so you can use the lavatories and break for food and drinks (or eat your own picnic on the lawns before garden entry - they provide loan of rugs)

It's true to say there's no house to tour - but it is Sissinghurst Castle GARDENS, not Sissinghurst Castle and when you see how many full time staff are employed, you can see how much the property costs to run.

The gardens were looking beautiful, provided lots of inspiration to tackle our own, and the views of surrounding countryside are fabulous.
Although it was very well attended, there is enough space and lots of places to sit and relax, to take your time and go at your own pace.

The National Trust is doing great work preserving places for the nation and I'm pleased our subs are helping a little bit.

*for anyone visiting the area, it's easy to combine a visit to Sissinghurst with any number of other NT properties which are not too far away - we also visited Bateman's (former home of Rudyard Kipling) today.

(4.0/5)

I am puzzled at Linden's review as reentry was rather easy. the £2 car park is to stop people who just walk the estate and contribute nothing to the upkeep - not sure if non members get it deducted from their entry costs.

The garden seemed well planted with lots of flowers and seemed generally well maintained. although the white garden wasn't at its best.

The wild areas attracted lots of butterflies, bees and birds.

The tower is worth the view and not much else!


as to trip hazards? it was designed as it was. you can't expect the trust to change it for modern health and safety. if my 81 year old dad managed it then it can't be too bad!

it seems "The Raven" has won control of the catering as there was "Sarah Raven's Chicken liver pate" for sale. I took a packed lunch!

It is pricey to enter and it attracts lots of people. the price of fame I guess.

(4.0/5)

We felt totally ripped off by this place. We had to pay £2 to park, but there was nowhere you'd be visiting nearby, so obviously drivers are visiting Sissinghurst. Once you have entered the gardens, you can't exit and go back in. So if you want a drink, something to eat or the toilet, it seems you can't re-enter the garden again and all these facilities are outside. The gardens themselves were looking rather moth-eaten. Little dead-heading had been done and hostas were more hole than leaf (why grow them if slugs are such a problem here. Large patches of bare earth were on frequent disply - haven't they heard of underplanting? Hardly any of the house is open to the public (just one room it seemed) so we paid around £20 to walk round a garden that's not well-maintained. I see a better garden every day when I look out of my bedroom window! I appreciate we may not have visited when the garden is looking its best, but they won't get my money a second time.

(1.0/5)

can be very crowded with such narrow paths and for the number of gardens should be better maintained. Planting a bit sparse in summer and trip hazzards the less said the better.

(1.0/5)