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Last updated on 24 February 09

Sissinghurst Garden

  3.4/5 (5 ratings)

Gardenvisit Editorial

A sixteenth century tower, and other buildings, with the most famous twentieth century garden in England. Sissinghurst garden is a prime example of the Arts and Crafts style. The garden was made on the site of a medieval manor and some structures survive. Harold Nicolson, a diplomat and author, laid down the main lines of the Sissinghurst design in the 1930s. Vita Sackville-West, a poet, a garden writer and Harold's wife, took responsibility for the planting at Sissinghurst garden. She worked as an 'artist-gardener'. Her planting design was brilliant. The historical importance of Sissinghurst Castle Garden comes from its role in transmitting Gertrude Jekyll's design philosophy to a host of visitors. The most famous and influential feature of Sissinghurst is the White Garden. It exemplified and popularised Jekyll's idea of using colour themes in planting design.

Address - Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Kent, England, TN17 2AB
Opening times - Mid March to early November. Friday to Tuesday.
Admission - Adult £9.80 (includes voluntary gift aid donation)
Website - Visit the Sissinghurst Garden website

Designers and Influences

This garden has been designed and influenced by Vita Sackville-West

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Recent Reviews

  • 3 months ago Linden said

    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)
  • 4 months ago Anonymous said

    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)
  • about 1 year ago Adam Hodge said

    Beautifully maintained. I liked the more spacious areas more than the rather intense gardens around the tower, although the variety of plants is wonderful.
    The tightly controlled colour schemes is in ways stunning but almost too disciplined.

    (5.0/5)
  • about 1 year ago Elizabeth White said

    Wonderful garden with inspirational plant combinations. I've been at several times of year. I like it best in autumn when the annual bedding is still in flower. The leaves are starting to turn and the Euonymus europaeus Red Cascade is displaying showy red fruit. The orchard also looks lovely in Spring when the blossom is out.

    (5.0/5)
  • about 1 year ago Sybil K said

    Sissinghurst is one of the world's great gardens. Its just a pity that so many other people know how good it is!

    (5.0/5)

See all the reviews of Sissinghurst Garden