Last updated on 28 November 11

Wakehurst Place Garden

3.6/5 (5 ratings)

Photograph © Charlotte Weychan
Photograph © Gardenvisit.com
Photograph © Gardenvisit.com
Photograph © Gardenvisit.com
Photograph © Gardenvisit.com
Photograph © Gardenvisit.com
Photograph © Gardenvisit.com
Photograph © Charlotte Weychan
Photograph © Charlotte Weychan

Gardenvisit Editorial

An adapted sixteenth century house with a mainly twentieth century garden. Advertised as 'Kew in the country' Wakehurst Place Garden belongs to the National Trust and is managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens. Aesthetically, it is more pleasing than Kew. As at Bodnant, the ornamental area near the house is in the Arts and Crafts style and the woodland garden is in the picturesque/gardenesque style. It was made by Gerald Loder, a President of the Royal Horticultural Society, after 1903. Like his father and uncle, who lived at Leonardslee, Loder was a rhododendron man. Wakehurst Place Garden was managed by the Price family after 1936 and by the Royal Botanic Gardens after 1965. The woodlands contain both native and exotic temperate trees and shrubs.

Address - Ardingly, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, England, RH17 6TN
Opening times - All year. Daily (except 24th and 25th December). Open 10am to 6pm (or 4.30pm in winter).
Website - Visit the Wakehurst Place Garden website

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Borde Hill Garden (5km away)
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High Beeches Gardens (5km away)
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Nymans Garden (6km away)
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Standen Garden (6km away)
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Sheffield Park Garden (9km away)
(4.8/5)

Nearby Garden Nurseries

Garden Nurseries within 30km as the crow flies from this garden.

W E Th. Ingwersen (4km away)
Imberhorne Lane Nursery (6km away)
Heaselands Garden Nursery (8km away)
Loder Plants (11km away)
Ashdown Forest Garden Centre & Nursery (11km away)
Hydrangea Haven (11km away)
Southon Plants (11km away)
Camellia Grove Nursery (11km away)

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Reviews and Comments

Have you visited this garden?

over 1 year ago AM said
Can't believe some of the other comments about not feeling in a proper garden - more a museum for plants. Don't know what bit you visited but you could not be more wrong!

(5.0/5)
over 1 year ago Bob said
The Price walled garden was magnificent (and relaxing), not to mention the array of Rhododendrons throughout the garden and park. A magnificent location to spend a few hours strolling through gardens and woodlands. Just remember that your lovely walk downhill must be reversed. At the top of the hill there is a sign indicating "no wheel-chairs." Just imagine it, when you are looking down the hill???

(5.0/5)
almost 2 years ago Bilbo Boob said
Where were the rides, the fairground, the shopping mall?

(1.0/5)
over 2 years ago Charlotte said
I'm sorry to say I disagree with Pete! Wakehurst is magnificent - it has so much on offer! Hundreds of acres of trees, plants and of course, the Millenium Seed Bank, which has to be applauded if we are going to preserve the plants we have in the future.
Another major plus for Wakehurst is that you can visit at any time of year and find something of interest here.

(5.0/5)
over 3 years ago Pete said
To me a good garden is one that inspires relaxation, a desire to sit with a good book, to admire beautiful things.

Wakehurst somehows fails to do that. For some reason I feel like I'm in a museum to plants,I may be in looking at some beautiful plants but at no point do I feel like I'm in a garden.

(2.0/5)

See all the reviews of Wakehurst Place Garden

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