Name: Wakehurst
Rating: 5.0

Wakehurst

Ardingly, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 6TN, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Native and global landscape: Explore the gardens at Wakehurst that stretch across 500 acres. Experience sights, smells, and sounds from botanic landscapes across the planet, from native meadows, temperate woodlands and stunning wetlands. Take in the spring bluebells and blossoming summer spectacles to riots of autumn colour and winter-frost serenity.

Delve into the rich stories at Wakehurst in the Grade I Elizabethan Mansion. Relax in our grand library, or wander around the original Billiard Room and original chapel through two new exhibitions celebrating the humble beginnings of the seed bank and our scientific mission to protect nature, as well as our relationship with National Trust and the importance of our living collections.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Formal Mansion gardens: Formal gardens overflowing with important and diverse plant collections, vibrant scents, bursts of colour and botanical delights.
Native and global landscape: Explore the gardens at Wakehurst that stretch across 500 acres. Experience sights, smells, and sounds from botanic landscapes across the planet, from native meadows, temperate woodlands and stunning wetlands. Take in the spring bluebells and blossoming summer spectacles to riots of autumn colour and winter-frost serenity.
Mansion: Delve into the rich stories at Wakehurst in the Grade I Elizabethan Mansion. Relax in our grand library, or wander around the original Billiard Room and original chapel through two new exhibitions celebrating the humble beginnings of the seed bank and our scientific mission to protect nature, as well as our relationship with National Trust and the importance of our living collections.
Millennium Seed Bank: The Millennium Seed Bank is a treasure trove of scientific excellence. Hiding an underground collection of over 2.4 billion seeds from around the world, banking them to conserve them for the future.
Dog walking: You are welcome to bring your four-legged friends for walks across our 500-acre wild botanic garden at Wakehurst. Take your furry friend on a specially curated dog-walking route that takes in our sights, sounds and smells.
Family-friendly: With more than 500 acres of gardens, woodlands and natural play spaces, there are plenty of things for families to do at Wakehurst — and kids go free! Each school holiday join a superhero squad, learn a new skill every half term and become a hero for the natural world.
Shopping and Plant Centre: Browse a range of gifts, books and homeware at the visit centre shop. Or get your seasonal plants inspired by the collections at the plant centre. (Not NT)

Facilities

Parking: 50 yards from entrance. NT Members enjoy free entry to the gardens, but car parking charges apply as a contribution to RBG Kew’s plant science, conservation and horticultural work. Wakehurst and Kew members and day paying visitors: free. Minibuses of school children on formal education visits: free. Group visits in coaches park for free if 50% or more of the passengers pay for entry, otherwise £50 p/coach.
Food & Drinks: The Pantry Kiosk offers energy-boosting snacks, locally sourced cakes and pastries, as well as grab-and-go drinks.

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Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Address: Ardingly, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 6TN, UK

Post Code: RH17 6TN

Council: Mid Sussex

County: West Sussex

By train: Haywards Heath 6 miles; East Grinstead 6 miles.
By road: M23 junction 10, on B2028 near Ardingly More info on the parking charges on the Kew website.
By bus: From Haywards Heath to Crawley, passing Haywards Heath train station and Three Bridges train station. 272 Crawley - Brighton (Royal Sussex County Hospital)
Parking: 50 yards from entrance. NT Members enjoy free entry to the gardens, but car parking charges apply as a contribution to RBG Kew’s plant science, conservation and horticultural work. Wakehurst and Kew members and day paying visitors: free. Minibuses of school children on formal education visits: free. Group visits in coaches park for free if 50% or more of the passengers pay for entry, otherwise £50 p/coach.