Sussex Gardens

One of the wonderful things about going on holiday is the chance to be inspired, to pick up new ideas. For garden lovers, Sussex has much to offer - though with the coronavirus, gardens have pretty much closed.

Gardens are a great place to be to both exercise and to sit and take in the view & the sounds of nature, whether they are your own or someone else's! Fortunately, there are plenty of stunning gardens to enjoy in West Sussex and even a web site to help you discover more of them! Here are some useful resources for you in planning to visit Sussex Gardens

Leonardslee Gardens
Leonardslee is open and there's lots to explore and see - don't forget to see the wallabies :-) And they've got events going on, too.

Borde Hill
Just outside Haywards Heath, Borde Hill has a park, gardens, and one of the premier collections in South East England of rare & exotic plants, plus some of the tallest & biggest girth trees in England. Plus there's parkland and woodland walks & lots of events. It also has a superb restaurant, Jeremys, plus the Cafe Elvira in the Victorian Walled Garden.

Nymans (National Trust)

Not far from Haywards Heath, this is another stunning garden, with beauty & seasonal colours all year. It's one of the National Trust's greenest gardens. Nymans Gardens enjoy a beautiful, theatrical design, a fantastic plant collection gathered from around the world, and wonderful views over Sussex.

High Beeches.
27 acres of magnificent woodland and water gardens, full of rare, exotic and unusual plants; RHS award winning plants, a botanical treasure trove, with a National Collection of Stewartia Trees & a wonderful natural wildflower meadow. "Outstanding," say English Heritage. There's a Tree Trail and a collection of rare & unusual Oak Trees. This is just a magical garden, and I loved my visit there. It's closed over the winter but re-opens on 1 April 2025.

A lovely gift for a couple - a visit to Wakehurst Place!
A great way to get away from it all.
Available from Virgin Experience Days for £31.00

Wakehurst Place.
Enjoy ornamental gardens, temperate woodlands and an Elizabethan Mansion. There are seasonal walks and themed tours to discover more. There are some very interesting courses & events and Wakehurst is home to the Millennium Seed Bank.

Woolbeding Gardens
With 26 acres, there's plenty to see and do with landscape gardens, formal gardens, follies and vegetable gardens.

Petworth
A stately mansion nestled in the South Downs housing the finest art collection in the care of the National Trust. The 700 acre Capability Brown landscaped deer park offers panoramic views.

The Sussex Gardens Trust aims to educate all age groups in the care of their gardens and the Sussex garden heritage. It also compiles an inventory of Sussex Parks and gardens, and researches and records gardens. You can become a member.

Don't forget that Kew Gardens are not far from Sussex, they are based in Richmond, and you could treat someone to a Private Guided Walking Tour and Admission for Two through Red Letter Days, or a Visit to Kew Gardens with Afternoon Tea at The Botanical for Two available from Virgin Experience Days.