Reviews of Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway. (Other) in Southampton (Hampshire).
Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway
Exbury, Southampton SO45 1AZ, United Kingdom
Description
Information of Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway, Other in Southampton (Hampshire)
On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.
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Open hours of Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway
Sunday
10 am–5:30 pm
Monday
10 am–5:30 pm
Tuesday
10 am–5:30 pm
Wednesday
10 am–5:30 pm
Thursday
10 am–5:30 pm
Friday
10 am–5:30 pm
Saturday
10 am–5:30 pm
Reviews of Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway
W. A.The gardens really filled all expectations, the colours where just totally amazing, words would not do the gardens justice. Go and see for yourself during the month of May and a great railway as well. I would definitely recommend doing the railway first ( if you turn up at opening) so you don't wait to long.
F. A.Absolutely amazing place. Family-friendly and dog friendly.
The gardens are well maintained with variety of flora. There are several ponds with some with fish 🐟 in them. Exbury also gives you access to scenic walks along the Beaulieu river.
Plenty of free parking. Tickets per adult are £11 which gives you access to the whole 200 acres of garden area.
There is a ticket of £5.50 per head for railway 🚂 steam train which is a joyful 20min ride.
L. H.Amazing day out. Lots of walking routes, activities to keep the children busy, it's dog friendly and there is a train ride. The train lasts 20 minutes and takes you around part of the gardens. The other half you have to walk. There are 3 different types of paths one for wheelchairs and others, gravel or grass. At the far end is stunning views over the Beaulieu river.
S.Beautiful gardens to explore. Be prepared for a good amount of walking.The 20 minute train ride is also worth the upgraded ticket. An enjoyable family day out. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars however is the food is very overpriced and I'd recommend taking a picnic and maybe just treat yourself to a slice of cake and a cuppa not a whole lunch.
G. S.A wonderful experience at Exbury gardens. We went for a fun day out and certainly had a good time. The gardens are filled with greenery and clearly looked after with such care. We also purchased tickets to go on the train ride which was amazing and definitely an experience to remember. Good pricing for the train ride however, it would have been great if there were concessionary tickets for the garden for Senior Citizens. Also i would recommend going in May / Spring as understandably there weren’t any flowers in full bloom (maybe due to the hot weather?) as one would want to see during the Summer season, but otherwise overall a good experience. The Sundial garden and the ponds were the highlights!
P. J.What a beautiful place. Wonderful gardens. There is a light railway cost £5.50 for half hour ride around the gardens really enjoyed our visit. There is gift shop places to eat and drink. Well worth a visit.
T. G.A lovely place to visit, take a packed lunch or eat at cafe on site, clean & friendly. Very reasonably priced for what u get for Yr money. Very beginning of the season is the best time to go for the blooms.. long walks & I walked for absolutely hours... seeing lots of different areas there. I did buy a train ticket & was a 25 min long ride, it went around the area I didn't actually walk as I run out of time.
If u love walking it's a lovely day out, it was well supported but not overcrowded.
N. G.Always beautiful gardens to visit. The recent record hot weather has hit the plants, bushes, lawns, etc very hard. The folk here have done their best to keep things watered. Some areas were looking very parched however. Future rains will help of course. Outside catering here will not be to everyone's taste. My girlfriend's lunch was not cooked properly right through. However, friendly staff throughout the site make it very welcoming. The temporary gallery was excellent and I purchased a unique and costly work. Don't forget to do the lovely riverside walks!
C. B.Thoroughly enjoyed our time here. Beautiful gardens, huge variety of trees and plants, lovely little steam train ride and nice restaurant. Looking forward to visiting in the Spring to see all the magnolias in bloom.
I. o. W. &. H. C. &. F.A wonderful afternoon was spent here walking through this Gem of all Gardens. Breathtaking. Such beauty and layout is superb. We had a wonderful Vegan Lunch at the Vegan Cafe. Five star visit
m. m.Lovely day out at Exbury Gardens. Beautiful grounds. Lots of places to rest and enjoy the fauna and flora. Easy to get to. Free parking. Free for carers and dogs.
B. C.Beautiful 200 acre garden with stunning flowers some of which I've never seen so big before. Lovely little steam railway which takes you on little circular tour of one side of the gardens. Several places to eat but I didn't try, only had a really fab latte. You can also buy some of the plants from the shops.
D. S.I went to Exbury Gardens to chase the autumn colours and I did not get disappointed. What amazing grounds with an unreal array of plants, trees, shrubs and views. I will definitely come back in spring to admire the flowers blooming and the main attraction of rododendron
J. M. S.A marvelous place! And relatively a huge one. You need to give it a whole day trip. It also has a good picnic area.
We visited it in the first week of May and it seems that this was the best time to see it in blooming.
S. B.What a lovely place to visit, lots of lovely walks through the grounds and woods. Very well signposted throughout. Several kiosks for refreshments dotted around the grounds and a lovely restaurant where we had lunch. We enjoyed the ride on the steam train too, a 20 minute ride all around the grounds. Would highly recommended a visit especially when the Rodedendrons and Camelias are out.
K. B.A good day out, dog friendly including on the railway. Tickets on the expensive side and I think we had just missed the best of the garden as could see how many rhododendrons had just finished flowering, still plenty to see though.
T. K.Lovely, peaceful garden on a chilly day at the end of May. Beautiful flowers and trees. The far end on the banks of Beaulieu river, The River walk, is very peaceful and beautiful.
Many paths are wheelchair and buggy friendly.
W. M.Lovely gardens well laid out. Staff go out there way to help you have a great day, the steam train is great takes you to different parts of the garden so you can get off and explore and save your legs, there's lots to see.
M.Large easy to use car park. Friendly staff. Amazing vistas and views. We spent about six hours walking about seven miles of paths, and didn't do them all, so there's a lot to see there, including riverside walks. We will certainly plan go again.
T. B.Very enjoyable day in the gardens. Loved the trip on the steam railway. Excellent value for money, and couldn't fault the day in general as the warm weather helped.
E. S.The gardens were amazing, even in October. However the Exhibition of Nerins was a absolutely wonderful. They were so beautiful and the gentleman was extremely informative. The exhibition is on till the end of October and worth a visit.
R. N.A beautiful and tranquil place also with plenty to see and do for children. Lovely little steam train with enthusiastic staff.
Vegan and gluten free food readily available.
S. F.Beautiful gardens and well worth a visit. Wear good footwear as there is a lot of walking if you want to see everything.
S. F.A really nice few hours. Walking, riding the train and a short stop at the café followed by the play area. The gardens are lovely and the trip was enjoyed by our toddler and dog.
S. W.Always a lovely day out, if the weather is half decent.lots of walking so wear comfy footwear and take advantage of the benches. Train is about a 20 min ride. Great colour now and for the next month or so.
H. B.An enjoyable day walking around the beautiful gardens. They are kept to a high standard. All the staff are friendly and helpful. Always has to be topped off with a little ride on the train, toot toot! Highly recommended day out.
C.We spent a whole day wandering around it was brilliant. We were lucky the the cafe was open in the tennis court a welcome place for a drink. A great place to go.
S. J.Lovely garden. Huge grounds. So much to see, easily a whole day and more. Food available on site, which was cooked to perfection. Steam railway was amazing, well worth the money.
I. P.Absolutely stunning gardens. Wish I'd come here years ago. Blown away by how tranquil and well laid out it is.
M.Beautiful gardens, restaurant served good food. The train was nice but was very busy so took 3 attempts to get on. There are also activities for the children and dogs were welcome.
M. I.A bit late with this review, went to Exbury 3 weeks ago. A fantastic day, as always. A special mention must be made of Brian on the steam railway. Thank you very much for your time sir, very interesting
D. W.We spent the whole day here. Beautiful gardens, the hydrangea walk is stunning and the dragonfly pond is lovely. We enjoyed the train ride and had fun spotting the sculptures. A nice lunch at the cafe and bought a plant to go home with.
J. D.Stunning gardens, so much to explore. Really good value for money. Would highly recommend a trip on the steam train :-)
S. S.Wonderful rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias all in bloom over the Easter weekend. A truly beautiful place, well worth a visit.
Z. S.One of the most amazing gardens we have ever seen in England. A great program for anyone, anytime!
S. S.My husband and I visited Exbury Gardens on Sunday 8th May. We thourally enjoyed it, the gardens are beautifully kept and it's a real joy to walk leisurely through the different areas. The staff we encountered were very welcoming.
A. B.Spent a lovely afternoon at Exbury. The colours were beautiful. The restaurant wasn't open, but the vegan food stand meals were very nice. Can recommend a visit.
B. T.This was my first visit for many years and there had been some changes and it was much improved. The gardens are beautiful and so lovely to take a leisurely walk round. We were fortunate to visit on a beautiful day which enhanced our experience. The steam train was fun too. The facilities were good, toilets and cafes to be found around the gardens. We have already decided we will return very soon.
c.Beautiful time of the year to visit Exbury Gardens. The rhodies and azaleas are super. Was disappointed by the plant shop by prices £25 to £50 for rhodies and also a limited range. Particularly wanted an apricot colour.
S. f.Beautiful place to visit on a warm sunny afternoon for a quiet stroll around all the different gardens and habitats.
F. R.Just beautiful. We have more to explore and will be returning. Also wonderful food from the vegan cafe.
L. P.We were here for the Exbury 10k Race In the morning and they let us stay for the day to enjoy the gardens, and it was beautiful and such a great day, will definitely come back as didn't have time to go on the train...
T. C.I love this place, it is so pretty and calming. The cafe inside the Parc is great too although not cheap.
V. H.What a wonderful place! These gardens are huge with mature, magnificent trees and beautiful flowering plants. It was the end of May and the rhododendrons and azaleas though past their best still filled the woods with colour. I came with a group and the steam train ride was included in our admission price. It takes about half an hour and is well worth doing though it only covers part of the garden. Mostly easy walking along well signposted tarmac and gravel paths with clearly marked alternative easy routes when it gets a bit steep or uneven, such as in the rock garden. Plenty of benches if you need to rest. Highlights for me included the lovely iris garden and lily pond, the Domesday Yew, exotic plants in the rock garden and the dragonfly pond. There's so much more that I did not get time to see. You need several hours to see it all. There's a courtyard with a restaurant, refreshment kiosks, picnic tables and plants for sale, and also a nice gift shop (card payments only). Loved this place, would definitely come again.
L. B.Lovely day out at Exbury, was hoping for abit more Autumnal colour, but seems its not quite at its best yet. Still lots to see and do, steam train ride, fungi hunting and just generally peace and quiet.
D. B.Absolutely stunning display of floral excellence. So much to see, bring your best legs.
M. S.Beautiful place ,my husband took me for a day trip in May when all the rhododendrons was blooming something amazing, great place for a day out with family and friends
M. H.A wonderful display of Azealeas. Easy access to all parts of the gardens with refreshments available at various points.
J. H.Visited Exbury Gardens on a sunny Autumn day and the colours of the tree foliage was spectacular. There are many areas to walk through and plants to view. The river walk is interesting too. As it was Halloween weekend the steam train became the ghost train with kids dressed up. There was a gruesome Halloween trail which was excellent and great fun. Definitely worth a visit.
A. A.Even out of season it was still enjoyable to see the changing colours amongst the trees as you walk around the garden. Unfortunately late in the year the railway is not running but still worth a visit.
S. H.Lovely gardens, it's worth going at certain times of the year as it was nearing the end of the season when we visited so not as pretty as it could be. Restaurants provide very good quality food and drink. Lots of walking so definitely a whole day is needed. I would highly recommend. My son loved running around and exploring.
j. H.Beautiful Gardens, breathtaking.
Lovely walks. Had pizza , really good and value at the kiosk.
C. C.Never been before and was not disappointed absolutely beautiful what a lovely place to visit especially as the sun was shining it always makes you appreciate life.
T. P.Beautiful gardens and pleasent walks and attractions to keep yourinterest . Busy cafeteria limited choice food on the day. But really enjoyed the time there
P. J.Wonderful day out with beautiful views around every corner. Camellias and daffodils providing beautiful blooms.
Today did the Halloween train journey, it was brilliant!!! Enough to scare the little ones and entertain the adults, well done🕷️🕸️🦇🎃
t. B.A very enjoyable day. Very surprised and happy to find gluten free vegan food available. Even had a ride on the miniature steam train
E. O.Such a calm, peaceful and quiet place to visit. Staff are lovely which is a bonus. There are several toilet blocks scattered throughout the gardens . Paths are clearly marked if they are wheelchair friendly, although several routes that are off the main tarmacked path are gravel a manual wheelchair can be used. The whole of the gardens is flat except a few small slopes. Maps are provided at the entrance but there are plenty of sign posts to help! Gardens are very well maintained and dog on short leads are allowed. Car parking is free which is great as you could easily spend the day here and not having to worry about paying to park.
S. S.Exbury Gardens is beautiful. It's such a picturesque and serene place. Our visit at the end of summer was wonderful. It was easy to navigate around the garden, with the map but also the road markers at every interval. We had a walk around the Hydrangea Walk, went to the Iris Garden, the Sundial Garden, the Centenary Garden, the Herbaceous Garden and the Exbury House. It was also great to see small cards hanging from trees and plant so you could learn what kind of tree it was. We look forward to visiting the gardens again in Autumn and Spring.
K. T.Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway was a pleasant visit with plenty to look at, we began our journey on the little steam railway and was welcomed by a relaxed Buzzard in the tree looking right back at us. My personal favourite of all the engines was Eddie! please make a mini Eddie model that we can take home! Me and my partner spent the whole day there taking photos and enjoying all they have to offer. My personal favourite from the whole day was the sundial garden with plenty of colour to see. Another plus was reconnecting with grey squirrels as we only have reds on the Isle of Wight so was nice to see although they seem very shy which is a good thing. The reason I dropped a star though was the experience of the gift shop which is lacking in anything truly personal to take home with you from the attraction, I personally love to collect unique magnets and pin badges but nothing really stood out to me there, hopefully this is something that can be improved in the future but all in all a very enjoyable day out and was extra special when we had the place to ourselves towards the closing period. Highly recommended!
C. O.Fantastic place, especially this time of year , to walk the dogs and see the lovely grounds with all the flowering Azalea and rhododendrons. Not forgetting the a trip on the steam train.
J. E.Lovely well laid out gardens.Dog friendly, with lots of space so everyone is happy, whether they like dogs or not. The Dragonfly Pond is delightful. We didn't go on the train, but it looks great fun.
M. B.Lovely place. Worth visiting on different times of year to fully experience it
R. M.Having visited these lovely gardens I would recommend spending 2 days here so that you get to see and do everything. I enjoyed the railway tour around part of the gardens. It would be fantastic to see the railway run the entire way round so that the southern most point of the gardens could be easily accessible to all that visited. Nice cafe on site and clean toilets make the visit very enjoyable.
b. b.Beautiful place. Huge free car park. Plan a long stay if you want to see everything. Wheelchair accessible. Dog friendly.
D. S.Big garden with lots to see and some history to discover. Well worth the entry fee. Did not ride the railway but looked good.
A. M.Spent most of the day here & had a light lunch in the restaurant; great cappuccino! Beautiful views across the river. Loved the activities scattered across the gardens. Plenty for children and adults to see. Dog friendly; art gallery was lovely.
C. M.We spent a wonderful day walking around the gardens. Lots to see and places to sit. Staff were lovely and the art exhibition was a bonus. Highly recommend a visit to Exbury Gardens.
A. E.The train was enjoyable, but not impressed that we had to pay extra for the market, when we only went for the steam train. When there is a large family (as we were), it becomes an expensive rip off!! Why were we not made aware of this when we bought the train tickets online?
E. M.We had a lovely day making memories. Although the dry weather was clearly having a drought effect on the shrubs it did not take away from our family day! We all enjoyed the train ride and tried to get round the majority of the site. Would definitely visit again!
C. O.Always a delight walking around Exbury. We are members and have been many times and yet there always seems to be a new path to explore and new planting to admire.
J. F.Lovely peaceful gardens and great estuary walk.
Good lunch at Sundial cafe. Lovely train trip do see things you cannot get to on walking route round gardens. Staff very friendly and efficient. Place for all seasons.
P. A.Although very wet and rainy the colours looked spectacular in the overcast morning, a beautiful place.
N. S.My wife and I have lived in the area, for thirty years. I am ashamed to say that this is our first visit to the gardens, and I have to say that we thoroughly enjoyed our walk, the ride on the steam train was great as well. We enjoyed the place that much that we will be back in the spring, when the gardens should be more colourful. Also the cafés are quite good, so you can get some refreshments, you can also take your dog. So all good
J. D.Beautiful gardens that change through the seasons. In the spring the camellias and rhododendrons are spectacular. This summer the hydrangeas have been a personal highlight.
The on-site food and drink sales are great and varied from pizza, to sandwiches and snacks to gluten free and vegans. There is something for everyone.
The gardens are vast and take at least half a day to explore. They vary greatly from a rock garden next to the railway to a herbaceous garden adjacent the house and a lovely woodland riverside walk.
If you like local art then there’s a small gallery by the house showcasing some of the best. And even better some is for sale for you to take home and enjoy.
And finally there’s a narrow gauge steam railway that explorers and meanders through the eastern side of the gardens. It’s a great way to quickly explore the gardens.
Overall I thoroughly recommend going and for people who are local upgrade to annual membership as seeing the gardens evolve through the seasons is spectacular.
C. W.I really enjoyed my day but the lady who was in the plant section was so lovely. I bought a lucky rose and she was so helpful and relaxed and it was so nice to chat with her and feel comfortable. Good for her and I wish her luck x
S. &. J.Missed the last steam train, sadly, so had a proper look round the gardens but felt they were v disappointing, especially compared to ones we have visited in Cornwall. Felt more like a very nice park than especially ornate gardens. Was hoping the children's playground would be bigger too!
R. S.Lovely gardens and super steam train. Very good eating facilities, plenty of loos too. Will come back In the spring to see the Rhododendrons. Very well run, plenty of car parking.
L. R.Excellent 20 minute ride with interesting sights, a tunnel, a bridge, lakeside stop and friendly staff with lovely engines. Gardens also excellent and we'll signposted with "You are here" type maps made of durable/weatherproof material. Only shock was in the tunnel on the train when, in the dark, I'm sure I saw a skeleton! Not long to Halloween!
C. B.If you love plants, flowers and trees, this is the place to visit. Very spacious with lovely walks to experience. To walk it all takes about 4hrs. There are benches to sit on along the way. The steam train is worth a ride too, it travels around a large area of the garden for 20mins. Highly Recommend.
A.Loved these gardens, they are huge. Really dog friendly and the gardens and views are beautiful. Recommend going either spring (when rhododendrons and magnolia are out) or later in summer when the hydrangeas are in bloom. The steam train is great, dogs are allowed on as well and our pup loved it, she wasn't bothered by the engine noise at all. There is so much to see and plenty of food options if you forgot your picnic.
P. G.Lovely place, with a mixture of flower beds and woodland walks .Great place to take dogs.Cost £11 per adult but wil worth it especially if you make a day of it. Plenty of picnic benches dotted about and a restaurant where you can by food and ice creams before going into the reception
Sadly only the toilets at reception were in use due to water shortage. A sign at reception saying that the toilets were closed would be good.
Would highly recommend for all ages of humans and dogs
T. M.Absolutely love this place! It has absolutely everything for a beautiful peaceful day. The weather was super hot so shady paths, stunning plants and scenarios, including the beautiful River Beaulieu, wonderful choice of refreshments, and can take little dog everywhere. The steam train ride is delightful. Lovely to see new planting and shop.
C. B.Peaceful gardens. .restaurant 1 stars soup of the day was at best warm took it back microwaved hot. Toilets clean and well stocked , visited today 28 04 2022 gardens and toilets are all good.
tea room was a real let down sausage roll was not thoroughly cooked I took it back and had quiche as a replacement , no clean tables poorly staffed. The tea room needs a major change.
G. M.Huge place, we find new bits every time we go. Well maintained, always changing, great displays and parkland, railway is a bonus too. Dog friendly, wheelchairs available for use, very well sorted and clean.
D. B.Beautiful walks and despite the hot dry weather a lovely visit.
A. Y.Excellent and spacious gardens, with a large range of trees and flowering plants. There are literally miles of paths to explore, including stretching all the way down to give nice views of the estuary. There are a couple of places to grab a bite to eat in the park too. It has a small narrow gauge railway that tours part of the park. Not inexpensive though, and it's not part of the National Trust (although it does offer its own Friends of Exbury membership scheme).
T. D.If you are exploring the New Forest then I would highly recommend you visit Exbury Gardens. There's also a nice vegan food hut. You feel so connected with nature on these beautiful trails. The stone bridge pond area is like heaven on earth :)
N. B.Beautiful gardens with so many varieties of flowers in all colours. Endless photo opportunities. Great for a romantic walking date or a family day out. Great food options, with a vegan and gluten free stall just outside which was delicious! Leave a lot of time as there is much to be seen.
L. M.Beautiful gardens. Extreme weather this year so not many blooms but trees ponds walk ways were well kept.
Toilets clean and tidy.
Good carpark, several places to eat.
K. L.First of all, the steam railway wasn't rolling yet. The place is is huge and to enjoy its entirety, a whole day must be spent. So many things to take in. Spring blossoms with a lot of variety, tall massive trees, trails, history, picnic areas and themed gardens! Definitely going back!
D. R.Lovely ground, fab autumnal trees, jolly chaps running the mini railway and a nice trip round the grounds. Lunch ( l had fish, excellent chips and mushy peas) was excellent, friendly young chaps happily supplied hot water for top-up. Great display of Nerines (not neurones! Predictive text...) hosted by an expert so we bought a couple and they've bloomed. Good relaxing day.
J. B.Lovely gardens showcasing many different plants from March to October. Clear signposting between each area. The narrow gauge steam railway passes some areas not accessible by foot.
J. R.A fantastic day out, we had a round trip train ride which was fully accessible to the wheelchair user in our group. My daughter got to wave the flag to depart. Then we had a nice lunch again there was a specialist food van VGF who sold Vegan and Gluten free food. Then a nice wander around the gardens.
J. S.Have just been in the spring for the first time and it is stunning with all the different colours and a background of spring green. Have told friends And family already we are looking forward to the autumn colours already. Had bite to eat at the vegan cafe very nice and good service. Steam train next time.
w. w.Very well layed out gardens. "You are here" signage at nearly every path junction. Staff friendly and helpful. The train was good and well worth the £5.50 extra. Lunch in Mr Eddy's. All good.
G. T.Best walk in the trees. steam train and good coffee.whats not to like.
B. A.Pretty. Lots of trees and not many plants. £11 is a bit of a ridiculous price to pay. Wouldn’t go again because of the price. Cute little gift shop. Cute cafes throughout.
C. w.Not our first visit but is since covid,
Train was fully booked but being Halloween special kind of expected it to be busy,
The carts that use to take you around weren't running which was ashame as I can't walk far and use a wheelchair, maybe because it's out of season?
Anyway still a lovely place to visit
J. M.Beautiful gardens plenty to see and the autumn colours are coming through. A wonderful moment at the cascade sun coming through the trees to the water and the light was reflected up through the trees and the leaves sparkled a magical moment.
S. B.Beautiful gardens. Very tranquil. Lovely walk down to the waters edge. Vegan food outlet at entrance had an excellent range of tempting options for all. I look forward to visiting again.
J. W.Beautiful and stunning garden's surrounded by amazing scenery. One of the best kept and well looked after and preserved garden's in the UK. My first visit didn't disappoint and I would definitely go back. The Exbury Junkers World War 2 mystery is very fascinating. I was very privileged to go on an almost 2 hour guided walk by the author of a book all about the mystery. Learnt lot's and it was very fascinating.
J. C.Excellent, easy to spend all day in the gardens.
T. S.I loved this garden! And the train was a bonus 😍
T. A.Wonderful grounds and gardens, so peaceful, a great place to get away from it all. A magnificent selection of trees, shrubs, plants and herbaceous borders.
The little steam train is an added bonus but a little expensive for a short 20 minute round trip. Just as nice to meander around by foot. The gardens also offer buggy tours for those who can't walk too far (however these are not running at this time due to Covid restrictions).
S. G.Absolutely beautiful place to go, easy walking and fun for children and dogs on the lead. I used to take our children when young and now a half way place for the grandchildren. We all loved the train.
B. v. L.Exbury gardens was in full bloom with magnificent rhododendron flowers, camelia and azalea. The colour was dazzling and some of the rhododendron had very pleasant scents. We were also treated to good display of bluebells. A great day enjoying the flora at its best.
J. C.Great staff, able to get the wheelchair on the narrow gauge railway so we could all experience the ride. Extensive gardens, place to eat plus a gluten free and vegan pop up which you could purchase from and still eat in the main cafe.
H. O.Lovely place even out of azalea and rhododendron season. There were some activities for children, tail end of school holidays so well used. Take a picnic znd spend a few hours there. Kids love the streams and lots of hude and seek places. The herbaceous bed by the house was in full swing so go there first and then the centenary garden was lovely too.
D. R.Lovely day. Railway and railway staff were fantastic. Will be back again to see gardens in different season. Beautiful place. Highly recommend.
L. H. (.This is a really lovely place. The views down by the river are worth the walk. At this time of year you don't expect flowers but the trees and shrubs were lovely. One review on your website claimed it was a rip off because there were no flowers, what did he expect in September. It is well worth the entrance fee. However, I'm afraid there is just one negative and that's the price of the food. Very overpriced and not very well presented, just slapped on a plate.
T. C.Despite the threatened rain which never quite materialised this was a wonderful place to walk in after 15 months cooped up working from home and coming out of the third lockdown.
The multitude of colours was fabulous and our eyes were opened as to the vast number of rhododendron varieties. Bird song and scents galore made it a sensual feast. The azalea bowl provided a welcome and beautifully tranquil place for a lunchtime picnic spot and the walk by the Beaulieu River gave a complete change of scene and feel.
We loved stumbling across rockeries or bog gardens or birch walks; and there was so much more we didn't see. Even in the damp of an unseasonally cool May, this was a memorable day out which will be much treasured.
C. C.Glorious gardens at any time of the year
M. G.Beautiful gardens. We visited specifically for the gluten free food that is directly outside and ended up going in for a wander. Very peaceful and a little steam train too that takes you round some of the gardens. Dogs welcome.
K. J.Absolutely gorgeous place even in the rain! Great walks with so many colourful flowers! The train is a must too!
K. T.Wonderful place to enjoy fresh air and space. Such beautiful gardens with so many different flowers and trees. Steam train cost extra but the grandchildren love it.
C. B.Awesome place to walk around, staff were really helpful too. 3rd visit now, covering 3 seasons, fantastic spring day and lots of daffodils
T.Great afternoon walking around the gardens, you book and pay for entrance and a time slot before you visit. Not busy at all so felt safe.There is a small tea room but limited menu so we grabbed a cake and a cuppa and sat in the sunshine. You could take a picnic too plenty of benches around Exbury.
R. K. T.Massive and well maintained garden with lovely steam train. Good for picnic and family.
Various trees, flowers and plants in the garden.
A. R.Such a lovely day out. Plenty of trees and plants to see and different areas of the gardens to explore. Very easy to maintain social distancing, we barely saw anyone else. Great for dogs and easy for little legs too!
L. K.Although I went there today I found everything very expensive. So ended up not staying. It all looked very pretty and interesting but I was not prepared to pay £10 for a Pizza or £11 to go on the little train round the gardens.
T. I. S.Beautiful walks, lovely food
D. B.Massive gardens beautiful all year round. Sit st one of the cafes for tea and cake, and ride the steam train for a different view.
C. H.Lovely gardens. Like a huge park with smaller pockets of garden. Spent 4 hours, could easily have spent longer but on route home from holiday.
J. B.What an amazing garden, spent four and half hours walking round, every vista was beautiful, the colours of the Rhodonendrons, Azaleas and Camellias were incredible. Will hi back.
S. B.Must got on the narrow gauge railway, it's a surprisingly long journey. Gardens are very extensive. Beautiful views of the Beaulieu River if you manage to make it all the way to the bottom.
b. f.Perhaps one of the best springtime afternoons I've experienced in many years. May is a perfect time to attend and the weather was bright and crisp. The dog enjoyed the views and sniffs. Thoroughly lovely.
L. (.Beautiful gardens and a lovely place to visit. Great picnic areas and plenty of benches around to sit and enjoy the beauty of nature.
N. C.This is a huge space to explore and they seem happy to have visitors venture off the paths when safe. Streams and ponds all over the place culminating in the huge Beaulieu river estuary walk. Lots of places to walk, sit, take photos, be pushed in a wheelchair and eat or drink. The railway is a bonus that winds around a considerable section of the North gardens. Historic areas first created over a hundred years ago. Some great creative exhibits bring plants and time to life like a dendritic study of a tree section from 1987 storm showing the tree size when major events happened. Well done to the team here. Will go again.
G. T.My first visit for ages due to lock down. The colours were magnificent. Well worth the hour and half drive. I just wish the tennis court cafe was open for longer and wish the gardens were open for longer during the summer.
R. E.Lovely gardens set near the coast and New Forest. With acidic soil the rhododendron and camellia are beautiful as long as you get the right time. There are a lot of different areas with themes giving plenty of variety as you walk around. You can also walk along the edge of the river and watch the boats sail past. Don't forget it also has a narrow gauge steam railway, garden shop and cafes.
M. W.Lovely place! We had a very nice few hours walking around, plus a trip on the stream train. They're very Covid aware and it's easy to distance as the gardens are enormous. Well worth a visit. 5*
D. D.Beautiful gardens overlooking the estuary. Plenty to see, small steam train for trainlovers out there! Visited end of summer so colour was fading but autumn colours are just about to come into action
R. M.Beautiful, well-kept gardens, with a steam train to ride on too (train tickets not included in garden price). Tea room not currently open, but you can buy sandwiches, ice cream, cakes & drinks. Well worth a visit.
J. D.Beautiful gardens and great steam railway
B. P.Wonderful gardens. Excellent visitor facilities, paved paths for those with mobility problems and disabled accessible toilets. Quite a lot to see there so start early if you want to get it all in. Buggy and train rides are available at an extra cost (we didn't do these). Took 5 hours or so recommended to be able to see a good portion of the gardens and even then we hadn't seen it all.
I. T.Revisited here with our dogs whilst on a short break in the area. Booked in advance (as you are requested to do during these strange times). Lovely place to visit. My only small moan is that we sometimes found it more difficult than it should have been to match the signposts to the map we were given & found ourselves unsure on occasions that we were moving in the right direction. The cafe in the grounds at the other end was also closed, just where you needed to sit & rest with a nice cuppa.
S. J. P.A lovely day out, the gardens are beautiful with many different walks. The steam train ride was great fun. Also its very nice that Exbury is dog friendly.
A. F.Lovely day! Spent 6 hours walking round the beautiful grounds and still didn't see everything. Ideal for all ages. Our grandchildren enjoyed the play area, the steam train and just exploring. Plenty of seating and places for our picnic. Will go again. Photo at Arromanche viewpoint.
M. M.Great place to visit, steam / diesel trains about 20min ride. Lovely Riverside walk with plenty of photo opportunities.
D. W.Beautiful gardens 💙
This was our 1st ever visit- it won't be our last.
Well kept gardens lots to see - from woodland to river views- ponds and exquisite landscape
Book in advance - take refreshments with you
T. M.We went on our first family outing since the pandemic started and it was lovely to be out. The food at the vegan gluten free stall outside of the entrance to the gardens was great. We didn't notice the lack of meat or gluten. We didn't feel unsafe at any point as covid19 guidelines are being met. The rhododendrons and azalea are in flower and despite the clouds it was a pleasant walk round.
A. M.Gorgeous gardens. Lots of hidden paths to explore with two young children. We all had fun on the steam train and had a lovely chat with one of the engineers. Looking to visit again in the Spring.
J. R.What a magical place. Me and my family had the greatest time. Beautiful gardens!💖💖💖
T. S.Well what a fab visit. Stunning. And pretty flat underfoot. Lots to look at fab trip on the train. Staff were helpful and friendly.
I. B.Very busy during October half term. Plenty of activities for kids, face painting etc. And of course the miniature railway. Lovely to sut out in the sun.
A. D.Definitely the best "stately house gardens" I have EVER been to. 200 acres of beautiful mature trees & plants. Easily spend a full day & picnic in it's peaceful energizing atmosphere.
H. S.We really enjoyed our day out at Exbury Gardens, the only annoyance was the 45 minute queue to get tickets for the train. On a Saturday they should have more than one person on that desk. Also, in the herb garden it would have been nice to know what the plants were as they're not marked like other gardens.
The gardens are lovely and well kept and the steam train is a nice added touch. I do hope they are doing something to offset the emissions though! Overall we had a lovely day out and would recommend!
P. T.Beautiful gardens, all well kept and very easy to explore and walk around. Great accessible paths with lots to look at from all over the world. A lot of history all in one place and new things to go back to. The train is great takes around 15mins which is a nice time as it's not too long and not too short. Kids will love coming too as although the gardens are very well kept and maintained you are free to wonder and go where ever! A really beautiful place and an absolute gem in the middle of the new forest. If you haven't been GO! We keep coming back and it never feels busy as the grounds are quite vast and there is so much space.
M. H.Lovely walk around the gardens - azaleas and rhodendums. Beautiful scenic ponds.
G. B.Very well organised under current Lockdown rules. Have to book a date and time in advance, and visitor numbers are restricted. Beautiful gardens to wander through with sensible but minimal one way parts. Sandwiches and drinks available. Well worth a visit...and staff are very friendly and helpful.
P. R.Lovely place to spend the day walking round the fantastic gardens. You are allowed to take your own food so can have a picnic while there. Since Covid the cafe and restaurant are not fully staffed so don't rely on those for your lunch. Best off taking what you need with you.
A. H.I had a great day out. There is plenty of walking involved to visit all areas and if its wet, you may get a little muddy. Booking the garden and steam railway is recommended. The steam railway was about a 20min journey round areas you are not able to visit on foot. Staff are very friendly and happy to answer questions. There are mainly different trails to take to get to a given destination but there are plenty of signs nd "you are here" maps which I used all the time. You can get easily lost but the maps help. I will certainly like to go back again.
A. S.This is a nice large garden which you can enjoy at your leisure. All year round there are displays of colour whether it be spring blooms or the changing leaves in fall.
S. L.Reasonably priced, well laid out with a variety of plants, blooms & walks to see them all, including accessible paths. Excellent tearooms. Friendly & amusing steam train experience, good for small children. Lakes, ponds, landscaped areas, untamed areas, themed gardens, something to see all year round.
C. K. P.The Steam Railway is a must not just for the children. The adults would enjoy the ride and the scenery. The different woods with many wonderful trees, plants and flowers are attractive.
G. B.Loved walking around enjoyed it loads, not expensive to get in either really. And there's routes for buggy's made it so much easier to push the pram around
Loads of places to put down a blanket and have a picnics. The colours of the flowers are Incredible
P. S.A lovely place to spend a day. Free entry to gardens for carers (£5 for carer train ticket and worth every penny) amazing gardens, plant sales, cafe and 2 wc blocks. Disabled access is good with assistance available on the train. The steam train journey is a must for all.
Very highly recommended
b. h.Wonderful visit, the gardens were beautifully maintained and the steam train was a lovely experience.
E. M.Much to see, with varied walks to suit all from flat and easy, to more challenging down to the Beaulieu River, with fantastic Autumn colours.
L. N.Splendid sights and views of nature in a well designed huge once private garden, now in autumn colours. Good tea shop as well. Enjoy!
L. K.The buggy ride is wonderful and informative!! Gets you around the best part of the gardens!! The gardens are a delight !! Natural landscape with beautiful undulating scenery, very private secluded areas and water features. Beautiful exhibition on Nerine plants in the gallery....Eddys tearoom is fabulous...such freshly made yummy food...the Croque monsieur is to die for...as well as the cakes. We will go there again...soon !!
S. B.Spent the day here with my husband, 2 sons ages 8 and 6 and my parents on an unusually sunny Easter Saturday. We arrived at 10am, it was very quiet and parking was easy (this did change quite quickly) I had prebooked online to save 10% and the lady at the till gives you a white ticket that you must keep in order to get in and out the gardens - note should you accidentally loose this, you do have to fight for a replacement as they wont let you back in with just the emailed receipt on your phone, and isn't handled in the best way in my opinion. Aside from this the place is stunning, views are gorgeous and it is a genuinely nice place to spend hours. We had 3 generations and no one was bored the 5 hours we were there and the train ride was an added bonus. We did eat at the cafe by the entrance to the park, there isn't too much choice and we found the sandwiches dry. We really enjoyed our day here and look forward to returning with our dog to enjoy the stunning scenery again
M. J.In season this place is amazing for camellias and rhododendrons. At other times of the year, the trees and other plants provide a spectacular garden with views over the beautiful Beaulieu River. Recent developments have been to improve the range of flowering plants over the summer.
There is an electric buggy service around the gardens, and a narrow gauge steam railway that provides views not accessible from paths.
S. s.Peaceful and beautiful gardens. I took the dog and she loved it. Booking system in place due to covid and was excellent spacing and not too busy at all. Great for all the family just be wary of the water if doing the river walk. Plenty of parking and shade and places to sit and have a picnic. If live reasonably close season ticket well worth it.
S. G.Such a lovely place to visit. Some gorgeous walks which are pushchair/wheelchair friendly. Although there were a few people there, it was still very peaceful and quiet. Highly recommend a visit. We topped it off by riding on the steam train at the end of the day.
n. j.lovely day out maybe wrong time of year to go as not many plant in blossom..... but still was good day. and love it that we could bring the dog with.
W. P.Recommend this as a place to visit. Good paths to walk on to see the beautiful grounds. Train ride was nice too. Nice coffee shop. You can also purchase plants.
H. H.Lovely gardens with a fab little train. Walked around for over four hours and it felt like ten minutes. Lots to see beautiful views.
D. S.So so pretty. The colours, reflections on the lakes and beautifully maintained grounds all made it a day to remember. A small steam train was available at various times throughout the day too.
Y. T.Last week, we went with my family to visit Exbury Gardens. Words luck to describe the natural beauty we saw. The variety of plants and trees is unique. Huge trees of many decades life.. Muchrooms and flowers all over.. At each step you discover a new "nature's painting". Cricks with small waterfalls, bridges and ponds with KOI and Golden fishes, birds, squirrels...Even the buildings feat so nice to the environment..The people that work there are very helpful and friendly. Everything is tidy and clean. F/B Premises are so nice and inviting to relax and enjoy from tea and coffee up to a great meal at a very reasonable price.
It's really a life experience that I'm looking forward to living A.S.A.P !!!
L. G.The house and gardens were magical. Our two year old loved looking for fairies as we walked along and was adamant that Ben Elf (from the popular TV show) lived in the Wiggly Tree. Despite the rain, the pond was beautiful and the steam train was a must.
D.Impressive garden. A must see. There is also a mini steam railway and a small coach to ride on. Especially a tour with Mr Jack is worth a lot.
The garden is huge and you should have enough time when you visit it.
J. R.A lovely day out whatever the weather if you’re interested in large gardens. Plus it has a miniature steam railway which gives a lovely trip through part of the gardens.
A lovely day enjoyed by three generations.
g.Such a beautiful place to wander around on a nice day, with plenty of places to stop for a picnic. Covid19 secure arrangements meant that we had to book in advance and that also meant they limit the number of visitors so it was even more peaceful as a result. Worth a visit.
T. H.Lovely visit to these beautiful gardens. Do not miss the steam railway.
F. M.Exbury Gardens is a beautiful place to visit. Allow at least 4 hours..we covered over 5 miles in that time! Something new to see around every corner.
Take a snack/picnic though as prices are high. £5.90 for two mochas!
G.Wonderful day out peace and quiet, lots of lovely flowers and fragrance's, too much to put in words, if you are local then buy the season ticket fantastic value. Pictures say it all have a look.
R. C.Beautiful gardens that are really well kept. So many colours and pretty sights. A great view of the river at many points around the garden. Also, the gardens are very well signposted and easy to navigate.
C. W.Amazing place to visit, with so many beautiful things to see. Walked for miles with a rest in between, very organised and staff were friendly and helpful.
E. R.We love Exbury, so we're delighted when it reopened. Great for singles, couples or families, lots of places to stop for a picnic or just for a rest. They have put in extra measures to make sure everyone is safe as well. There is always something beautiful to see, no matter when you visit.
H. T.Did really get to see much as when we went there was torrential rain. Tried to walk round with umbrella but was not possible. Also had tickets to go on stream train which travels round the park but again was not possible due to weather. The ticket staff were very good as we got a full refund for our tickets as we decided to abort our visit.
P. C.Lovely more wild garden than most with nice steam train ride. Only down side is it's a little expensive but season ticket with free train is great value if you're local and kid loves trains!
J. S.A lovely place to visit all year round. Went to the Xmas Fair so got to walk around part of the gardens for £2. The Xmas Fair was really good. The steam train was running too.
L. K.Beautiful gardens - would be at their best in springtime as so many Azaleas and Rhodadendrons. Lovely herbaceous borders and ponds. Views of the estuary on one side. Nice cafe and a snack hut on the other side of the garden.
B. C.What an amazing place, if you go at the right time of year the Rhodedendrums, Azaleas Camelias are stunning. Surely the best in the country.
They are having their centenary this year.
Oh and that Wisteria is huge.
Loved it, wish we lived closer as would visit often.
R. M.Nice gardens with lots of different plants and trees.a miniture steam train..there's cafes and a restaurant. Nice place to have a picnic
S.Lovely gardens. Very well maintained. Definitely worth a visit. Especially in autumn the colours of the trees are just gorgeous.
B. D.Beautiful gardens, fun place for a family visit esp. on a Spring weekend.
The Rock garden within is simply beautiful and the Steam train ride is fun for all ages.
This place is huge, and best enjoyed early in the day. Arrive early.
A. L.Fantastic place for spending day out with nice weather. Plenty to see and enjoy, both for adults and children. And ride on the train is real fun thanks to wise cracking comments :-)
M. W.Gardens are very big although the features in them can be a little underwhelming. Steam Railway is one of the best around however - it is massive and a ride takes around 25 minutes.
H. S.Absolutely stunning gardens with such an array of beautiful flowers. Very much about the plants, but does have a miniature train which is great fun and an excellent café, gift shop and plant sales.
W. J. C.An absolutely stunning place to visit, plenty of space to walk around, dog friendly, easy for wheelchair users too, lovely big paths so you can get round easily. Recommend the steam train ride, the staff are brilliant and interact with everyone, the restaurant and gift shop are well worth a visit too. Plenty of spa e for kids to run around including a lovely play area for them as well as statues for them to seek out around the gardens.
R. D.Lovely gardens, with all year round interest. Loved the buggy ride with an informative and jocular driver. Well worth the price of entry.
I. D.We loved it here and our 3 year old loved the steam train, loved the gardens and the flowers unfortunately we couldn't stay all day but would love to come back as you can spend all day here, loads of things to do for the kids, and loads love fun little gardens and surrounded land to explore. Highly recommend coming here to spend the day. Will definitely come back again.
I. S.These are some of the largest and most beautiful gardens in England. They were developed by the Rothschild family.
You can walk around them for hours or take the miniature steam train if you don't feel like walking that far. The map you are given when you arrive helps you find your way round. Highlights include the Camellia Walk through the woodland alongside the Beaulieu River, the Rock Garden, the Sundial Garden and the masses of rhododendrons and azaleas.
K. P.Mature garden full of botanical interest, beautifully designed and maintained to an exceptional level. A joy all year round really can't wait to visit again.
d. m.stunning! we booked online and arrived early, which was perfect because it got busy later. the gardens are breathtaking at this time of year and the flowers went on for ever! easily accessible walks, lovely vistas, plenty of benches and a good selection of food/drink available, the vegan options were particularly good. just a wonderful place.
P. J.Fantastic place with beautiful gardens laid out well with lovely lakes. The trip on the train was well worth the experience and so lovely for children. I would not hesitate in recommending Exbury Gardens and of course going again.
L. G.Lovely grounds even if it is winter. The train was in full force and decorated for the festive season. My son enjoyed his trip around the tracks and came back full of information.
S.Exbury Gardens is a large estate garden which has impressive collections of azaleas, camellias & rhododendrons. Amongst them are several beautiful ponds & water features. Exbury gardens is definitely the jewel of Hampshire & one the best and well maintained gardens in the England.
R. P.Stunning gardens and a wonderful walk which can be as short or as long as you like. So many hidden pathways to explore, it felt like a real exploration. The steam train is a nice addition but not necessary if you don't have children as you get better views walking.
D. M.Had a great day at Exbury, my top tip would be to make it down to the river walk for the lovely views.
L. P.I'm not into Gardens, but this place just blew my mind. Totally awesome
K. B.Amazing gardens, even if it's not in full bloom it's still a wonderful landscape to walk through. It has a restaurant/toilets at the entrance and a tea room/toilets half way through the gardens. Plenty of place to sit and enjoy the views. Plus it has its own train so you don't have to walk. There are information boards by the ticket office if you want to know the history and they also sell plants. A lovely place to visit with the family. Its pram and wheelchair friendly if you stick to the main paths. Definitely worth a visit, don't forget your camera.
m. p.In the spring these gardens are lovely, rhododendron, azalea, camellia etc it does have autumn colours but out of those seasons it's not especially interesting as a garden. As a destination it's still good. Food is good and reasonable price.
N. B.Christmas fayre was less busy than previous years many less stalls but nice to see the autumn colours
J. M.Very nice gardens beautiful in spring spent a good 5 hours exploring and riding the steam train.
J. w.Very enjoyable walk and beautiful gardens
M. H.A brilliant day out. Not too happy with the lunch we had, bread was hard and skimpy on the shared serving. Was suposed to be a helping for 2 to share, but possibly was a single persons helping!...Gardens are magnificent and loved the train ride, would love to do a second visit.
J.Lovely location and cafe. Seems (July 2022) to need a bit more colour in the gardens as many ‘gardens’ are more like arbortoriums
EDIT: Changed to five star review due to reply - I did find some lovely flower gardens in the afternoon, especially the centenary garden!
G. H.Beautiful relaxing walk, such a breath of fresh air.
P. S.Really nice at this time of year but a bit pricey to get in
S. G.Fab place, so well mapped out and always so well maintained. Steam trains fab fun - and very dog friendly
B. R.Really Great garden. You need at least two days to fully enjoy the park. We got tired after doing just half the park.
S. W.Lovely woodland gardens, very enjoyable to explore different colourful flowers, daffodils, trees and to be near the Beaulieu river. Lots to explore and walk around - easily did 10k steps. Felt very peaceful, even though there were a lot of people visiting there is so much to explore so it's not difficult to find a quiet spot. Would visit again.
M. S.Had a great day at Exbury Gardens. Lovely walk around the grounds followed by steam train ride before late lunch and driving back to our holiday let with grat weather to cap it off. 😊
B. O.Great gardens nice steam train
Ride very good value and fantastic vegan cafe
I. M.We had a fabulous warm and sunny spring day. The rhododendrons and azaleas were in full bloom and were outstanding. The cascades were particularly beautiful with multiple small waterfalls and ponds surrounded by flowering shrubs of all kinds. We also rode the steam train around the garden.
There were a number if food options and although the gardens were busy there didn't seem to be any queues.
We took our own picnic, but bought and ice-cream after we went back in to the garden.
I'd recommend getting there just before opening time as the garden was at its best with low numbers off visitors. This is particularly the case in spring.
S. M.Such a lovely place to visit, at all times of the year. This was my second visit
k. m.Absolutely stunning gardens & woodlands.
Miles of walks through the most magnificent selection of rhododendrons & azaleas of every colour and variety. Flowering season
April - June. Site cafe,plant sales. Mostly flat pathways makes fir good access.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
S. P.All day and more needed to fully experience the amazing gardens and scenery. Recommend any time of the year.
J. A.Lovely place to visit. Wheelchair accessible and dog friendly.
J. W.Amazing Gardens any time of the year. Shame the gift shop has closed down since our last visit
R. S.Beautiful gardens with azaleas and rhododendrons in full bloom at this time of year (early May). Paths are well marked and relatively easy walking. Calm atmosphere and wonderful views over the Beaulieu River.
Catering is good quality and fairly priced. Also don't forget the steam railway which takes you to some beautiful locations.
L.Loved it, beautiful gardens and exceptionally well maintained. Also the steam train is well worth it. In fact we loved it so much we upgraded to a year's membership as we left.
G. S.Excellent place to stroll through wooded gardens plenty of pools and generous amount of benches to chill and sit in the shade and river walk. Great facilities
M. N.Fabulous, early May, peak of the flowering season for Azaleas and Rododendrons. Dog friendly too.
T. M.Lovely place for walking and photography
G. K.Exbury Gardens I visited about 35 years ago. So on the 17th May 2018 I went back to see how everything had changed. They now have a miniature railway running through part of the grounds, it’s a twenty minute ride with a 5 minute stop half way. It does not cover all the gardens and is about £5.00 for the trip or you can buy the ride in with the ticket price for the Gardens which works out a little cheaper all in price. The house is impressive along with the shrubs, which you can buy in the garden shop. April and May seem to be the best times for visiting this attraction as after that the blooms on the flowers and Shrubs have wilted and died.
Exbury Gardens is a famous garden in Hampshire, England, which belongs to a branch of the Rothschild family. It is situated in the village of Exbury, just to the east of Beaulieu across the river from Bucklers Hard. It is well signposted from Beaulieu and from the A 326 Southampton to Fawley road in the New Forest. Exbury is a 200-acre ( 81 ha ) informal woodland garden with very large collections of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, and is often considered the finest garden of its type in the United Kingdom. Exbury holds the national collection of Nyssa ( Tupelo ) and Oxydendrum under the NCCPG National Plant Collection scheme run by the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens.
Lionel Nathan de Rothschild purchased the Exbury estate in 1919 and soon set to creating a garden on an ambitious scale. The infrastructure included a water tower, three large concrete lined ponds, and 22 miles ( 35 km ) of underground piping. Exbury is now open to the public for most of the year, with high seasons in the spring for the flowering shrubs and the autumn for the autumn colour. The Rothschild's house at Exbury is a neoclassical mansion which was built around an earlier structure in the 1920’s. It is not open to the public.
In the north east corner of the gardens there is also the 12 1⁄4 in ( 311 mm ) gauge Exbury Steam Railway that goes on a journey across the pond in Summer Lane Garden, along the top of the rock gardens and into the American Garden. The railway was built in 2000–2001 as an additional attraction in the gardens. Two narrow gauge style 0-6-2 tender tank locos were built specially for the line by the Exmoor Steam Railway. The railway is a member of Britain's Great Little Railways. The railway however has proved to be more popular than anyone had anticipated, with trains often needing to be double headed. To solve this problem, a much larger 2-6-2 tender loco called Marriloo was built at Exmoor, and entered service on the line in 2008. It is notable for having carried the Queen on a footplate trip round the railway. The railway stages very popular Ghost Trains during the October half-term and Santa Steam Specials in the run-up to Christmas.
Other features include the Hydrangea Walk, the Rock Garden, Iris Garden, the Sundial Garden which follows an exotic planting, and a Camellia Walk ( which takes visitors to a path alongside Beaulieu river and back via the pond ). This path along side the river is very photogenic with river craft sailing up and down the Beaulieu River. The price to gain access is around £15.90 with the train ride. Or just under £12.00 without the train ride. There is a cafe there called Mr Eddy’s tea rooms where you can get snacks from. A Cappuccino was £2.80 but was huge in size.
W. S.Lovely gardens and a super Christmas Market on our visit.
J. C.This is a huge park/garden and we had some fairly expensive refreshments in the cafe before taking a trip on the miniature steam train that barely scratched the surface of the gardens. So we then took the golf-cart-style bus on a tour of the furthest reaches of the garden. A quick way to get round and not so tiring. It has a very interesting history and is very beautiful. It is quite expensive though.
S. W.Well maintained gardens and a really nice steam train trip all dog friendly too!
D. W.An amazing day at Exbury Gardens. A well maintained estate with so much to see and do. Walked the entire estate with the aid of the useful map. Great for dogs and kids.
P. S.Worth a visit .Large gardens which extend down to waters edge with train ride.Resturant,pizza area ,and ice cream area .Suitable for all the family including dogs ,a good day out plenty to see .Staff were friendly and gave advice on which areas to start.
H. S.Lovely as always. My mum and I have season tickets so go quite regularly. The staff are also very friendly. Would definitely recommend.
Z. Z.Stunning garden feel like walking in paradise.
F. C.What a great visit. A wonderful experience at any time of the year when the Gardens are open. Very well organised cafe facilities too.
R. B.Free parking and access to cafe and pip up vegan cafe. You could spend all day walking round the formal gardens, by the river and through the woods. Gravel paths can be challenging for wheelchair users and prams at times. Dog friendly
s. c.Very very nice well manicured shrub beds
Clean tiday
But i do feel a little over priced on entrance. But i also understand overheads
Apart from that a good couple of hours
J. B.A really beautiful place, very well taken care of. We took a picnic so I cant comment on any food outlets there. The queue to get in, even though we had pre paid tickets was slow. It was delightfully hot day, but no shade whilst we queued.
The train is amazing and my grandsons loved it. No doubt it is a gardeners paradise!
J. A. N. P.Lovely place! Enjoyed peaceful strolls through the nature, lots of flowers and stunning views of the river.
D. C.I've been to these gardens four times now and will definitely go back again, you can spend all day walking round at a leisurely pace or take a steam train ride or a buggy ride, you will get to see more of the gardens on a buggy ride than the steam train, there is a restaurant on site and ice cream, a play area for the kids to keep them happy.
S. E.Lovely day out. Well arranged and accessable for all . Lovely gardens woods and park . Didn't go on the railway, next time! Give the cafe a miss other than for a drink. Poorly managed.
J. P.Brilliant gardens, especially April to June and in the Autumn. The Vegan outdoor cafe serves brilliant food.
B. S.Really friendly staff beautiful place to visit but need at least 2 days to see it all steam train was well worth the money look out for the animals
H. W.Very friendly staff! Amazing gardens! Loads too see. Best time to visit is in the spring!
L. S. (. L.Been many times and worth every visit.
Easy walks and always different. A great day out.
B.Absolutely beautiful. So much to see.
H. C.Lovely gardens with good accessibility with various type of paths to suit all abilities. Steam train was good too.
D. P.Great place to have a safe walk in a beautiful place with family and friends. food is good to. try going for the Halloween train when it comes available
P. E.We have visited these beautiful gardens in both spring and autumn. There is always a spectacular seasonal display. There is a narrow gauge steam railway which offers a tour of the gardens including unaccessible areas. There is a large main restaurant and a number of smaller outlets around the gardens.
P. P.Beautiful, different every time you visit!! A wonderful place to get away from the hussle and bussle of life xxx
B. A.Great gardens to walk around, lots of wildlife to see if you're quiet, kids loved the train and rolling down the slopes 😁. The food was good especially VGF Food with their gluten free and vegan foods.
N. N.What an amazing place. There I got lost with the amount of colourful flowers everywhere. I spent more than 3 hrs walking around and I loved it. I would recommend you to wear walking shoes. Did not ride the steam train but i saw many families with kids that really enjoyed it.
G. M.We visited with a friend on a Sunday expecting it to be packed and it wasn't we spent a lovely afternoon looking around the gardens .we had lunch there which was excellent and before leaving had milkshake and cake . And we all hope to return soon.
R.A really nice place to be. Let down slightly (for me anyway) because they allow dogs and as usual, not all dog owners think the rules apply to them and allow their dogs off a lead.
S. H.Beautiful well maintained gardens.. Really had a good time kid enjoyed the woods... Steam engine experience was nice....
J. O.Very good gardens with a wide variety of trees and shrubs. Ornamental gardens too. Steam train on narrow guage was an added bonus.
M. E.A sprawl of trees and flowers to wander through. Plenty to see but an educated guide will help.
A small scale steam railway adds to the quirkiness.
T. B.Beautiful flowers and ponds. Great place to spend a day walking round. Very colourful.
J. B.Visited as part of the new forest tour bus. Will be going again for a longer visit. Lovely little gift shop.
P. C.Beautiful place even in October, must be stunning in Spring and Summer. The little steam train was delightful
P. S.Great day out with the family. Kind of like Kew Gardens, only cheaper, less crowdy and maybe even friendlier and more thoughtfully laid out. Dog friendly too 🐶
J. A.Fantastic place - loved it - great walks and the flowers were beautiful- featuring place to take the family
C. G.Narrow gauge steam train ride was great and the restaurant good, gardens large, well laid out and well labelled, we had a great day out.
R. N.Fantastic day out. If you love plants, trees and everything in-between then you'll love it. The little steam train is awesome, well worth a ride.
Dogs are allowed.
The only negative is that the entrance and cafe could do with a rethink to reduce queues. The cafe layout was proving very confusing to a lot of visitors.
S. B. V.Visited For 1st 🥇 Time In 55years With My Elderly Mother . Lovely 2hrs , Well Worth The Admission Fee 🧚🏻♀️ Alone . Shall 🐝 Returning . Thank You 🙏 🥰
E. N.Would have been a no brainer 5star if it wasn't for the price!!! The most wonderful place to be, but why not make it accessable to all. They would have more visitors if it was a reasonable price, a price cut would pay for itself.
A. G.Absolutely stunning gardens and the most tranquil place to spend the day.
W. J.Absolutely stunning, beautiful setting, friendly staff, would highly recommend a visit. This is somewhere we will definitely be revisiting in the future.
R. C.Lovely, lovely, beautiful, gorgeous place to visit especially in May - June, when all the flowers are in full bloom. I have never seen flowers like it. And a steam railway and you can charge your EV!
I. J.Lovely location, excellent disabled access with buggy trails to edge of Solent and Beaulieu river. Play equipment for children
A.This is such a lovely place to visit which we've done several times. My husband is now disabled and the facilities are good. Staff are helpful and friendly.
R.Lovely gardens, visitors encouraged to leave main paths and picnic under trees, bringing your own picnic makes for a reasonably priced family day out, play area, dogs welcome, great for budding photographers and artists. Small stream train ride at extra cost, otherwise, beautiful gardens, tranquil walks, this is not a theme park
A. N.Every visit I find something different. Lovely to spend a few hours walking round the gardens.
V. M.Lovely gardens, beautiful colours. Excellent steam train ride for kids with accompanying adults - recommended.
H. N.Wonderful day at exbury. Flowers looking stunning and we had the sunshine.
C. M.Lovely place to walk and enjoy flowers and trees.
T. L.Beautiful gardens and very knowledgeable tour guides. Very enjoyable walk.
N. S.Great gardens which take most of the day to explore thoroughly and the train is fun for kids
R. L.Amazing huge and varied gardens. Rhododendrons still good 8 June. Lots of wild orchids in meadows by the river.
H. W.Gorgeous gardens, very dog friendly and the staff are fun-loving characters it makes for a great day out :)
P. G.Absolutely beautiful at this time of year with lots of camellia, magnolias, and early rhododendrons to see, plus lovely tranquil river views. And the food at the vgf cafe was delicious, with a great choice of gluten free meals and snacks. My husband really enjoyed the miniature steam train ride too!
A. W.Take your time and really soak up the atmosphere of this fantastic garden with very diverse scenery
N. T.We accidentally came across this spot with the intention of parking our car and then heading off on a hiking trail. It was only when we decided to get some tea first at Eddie's restaurant that we stumbled on the Exbury garden and steam train. It was one of the most beautiful gardens I have ever seen and the steam train was great, even for an adult. We'll definitely be visiting again 👍🏽
M. C.Absolutely beautiful, all the flowers in bloom stopped had a picnic and loved every minute of it
O. I.Would definitely recommend. Really really beautiful 😍
Lovely picnic spot too. Only downside is the distance to the restroom: you should not walk too far if you've got a weak bladder.
E. O.Although it is true to say we were blessed with beautiful weather during our visit, we equally were extremely and positively surprised what everything!
Simply beautiful!! What a great variety of plants and trees and how wonderfully kept!!
Amazing work!!
Thanks a lot
C. M.I've been to Exbury several times over the years and it never fails to please. The trees are beautiful, the site is well maintained and the train is great. The staff couldn't be more helpful. Thoroughly recommended.
V. K.Lovely gardens but we went a bit too early and a lot of the azaleas and rhododendrons weren't in bloom. Will make a note to go later next year. Cafe food was good.
D. Q.Beautiful gardens, so much to see. There are places to eat and drink, and even a nice playground for the kids.
J. B.Stunning gardens that are immaculately maintained. The facilities are excellent too. It gets three stars because the cafe in the grounds serves everything in, on and with plastic and there is no recycling disposal - unbelievable in 2022.
K. O.Just a wonderful place to visit, the gardens are beautiful, staff so friendly and helpful, and VGF food is 10/10! ❤️👍
M. P.Go quickly and you will see the daffodil field. But all year round it is beautiful. Go you won't regret it.
T. P.Idyllic setting for a lovely garden with plenty to see for all.
L. C.Lovely family day out. It's a lot of walking but you can stop, sit and enjoy the wonderful views. Wish I lived nearer, I'd be visiting frequently!
J. W.Unfortunately we went about a week too late to see the Rhododendrons in full bloom but had a fantastic day anyway. They had just gone over after torrential storms. You cannot predict Mother Nature!!
Had a lovely lunch with very kind and polite staff.
c. p.Fantastic spring colours. Lots of walks lots of great trees
D. H.OMG what an amazing Beautiful day the gardens are just Awesome and loved the train ride
G. G.Fabulous place to take mum in the wheelchair, even the gravel paths were mainly navigable. Flowers out and great coffee. Doing the train is a must. Such nice people and who wouldn't buy a shrub to go home with
G. T.Certainly at this time of year the gardens are absolutely super, obviously things change in such an attraction, however there is always something worth visiting for.
Having it's own steam train is worth a trip especially for children and railway enthusiasts.
There are a few food outlets with good fare, including VGF which sells vegetarian gluten free food of super quality. Definitely worth a try!
T. H.Fantastic at the moment as the Azaleas and Rhododendrons are in full flower. First time we've visited and very impressed by the beautiful setting and the ease of navigating the site. Friends of Exbury card represents great value if you are local and can visit at all regularly
A. H.Beautiful gardens. Photo ops everywhere. The only reason didn't get 5 stars was the poor organisation at the entrance and in the cafe.
A. P.Lovely walks around fantastic gardens, backing onto the beaulieu river
D. W.On a group visit on a recent very wet Sunday my extensive walk around the gardens was excellent, with the plants in May being mostly at their peak. Unhappily my visit was rather spoilt by my experience at Mr. Eddy,s where the service was lacking, with delays at the till, only a half-pint plastic container was offered with my wine, the cutlery was not even capable of cutting the lukewarm goujons of cod and the chips were cold.
B. T.A truly beautiful place to visit. I cannot fault the gardens & staff, ticket prices were very reasonable too. It should have warranted a five star review but here’s why it didn’t. Myself and a friend had coffee, lunch and another coffee at Mr Eddys. The food was fabulous but we were disappointed to have it served on disposable plates, with disposable cutlery & cups. We were even more disappointed, borderline horrified to see that all of these items were tipped in to black bags along with the food waste. Nothing was recycled. Surely a place demonstrating the beauty of nature, should strive to do better.
P. M.Beatiful gardens and great railway, however...
Sign posting poor. There were not even prices of tickets listed at the ticket office. I had to ask.
Also in the restaurant when I ordered a ploughman's I was told I had to go back to the cash desk and order it in a very busy restaurant. Instead I ordered a quiche which did require prepayment. Only tea spoons were were available for soup. I could go on...
C. F.Lovely vegan gluten free cafe at entrance. Children can run and be free in gardens doggie friendly, easy walking for people with difficulties. Loved it.
B.Arrived at 3.15pm and was disappointed to be told that the last train was at 3pm. It wasn’t particularly clear on their website and their website also lets you purchase a train ticket even with the 3pm and 4pm timed garden admission tickets?!
The garden turned out to be very disappointing. Having travelled 2hrs to get there, I had fairly high hopes for this place. Their maps are completely wrong - both the paper one you pick up from the entrance as well as the (“you are here”) ones dotted around the gardens. This led us to go down many wrong paths and this is not ideal when you’re pushing a pram around. There aren’t many ‘main’ (smooth tarmac) paths around, and their so-called ‘principal’ paths are stoney gravel paths which is not the best when you’re pushing a pram around. It was not a very enjoyable ride for my baby.
The little kitchen co was closed so could not get any refreshments. Our only other options were Mr Eddy’s, Rhodo Pizza and VGF’s which were all by the entrance and were also closed by the time we got there.
We didn’t see any staff members on the grounds at all, which makes me wonder what would happen should there be an emergency - someone would have to run all the way to the entrance to get help?
We had our dog with us and we discovered a lot of ticks on her during and after our visit. She was on a lead the entire time, didn’t walk into long grass and was mostly on the gravel paths… so I don’t understand why she had so many ticks on her?? It’s really no fun having to pick ticks off our dog after a long tiring walk!
Upon leaving the gardens, there was a sign to say exit through the gift shop. There was also another gate to the side of the gift shop, but I guess they force people to exit through the gift shop in hope that people will impulse buy and spend more money with them. Pretty sneaky I thought…
Overall a very disappointing and unenjoyable visit. Not great for us as a young family with a dog, but perhaps might be better for couples or families with older children.
A. P.Best seen in spring or autumn. Can get very busy even on week days. The drive gives good wheelchair access but the gravel paths can prove difficult. The lawns are navigable by wheelchair in dry weather.
S. C.What a great, well established and huge garden estate. Our only mistake was getting there too late to enjoy more of it. Could easily spend 4-5 hours there. A circular walk took us 2 hours, stopping to look at plants along the way. Could easily sit and enjoy the sea view for a long while, or sit in the lush gardens with a packed lunch, or to sketch etc. So big that we easily avoided crowds.
I’d return if we could get a discount.
D. M.Fantastic time have now joined as members. Loe the vegan cafe at the front
S. H.Really nice day out in good weather and for the right time of year. We went in May and it's recommended. Really nice food places there too. Worth a visit as adults, not much for really young children to do though.
A. N.Just a fabulousl day at Exbury for a birthday walk ! The steam ride was just magical!
a. G.Gardens were beautiful, however a measly hollow scoop of ice cream in a paper tub, not even a cornet, for £2.00 was not really acceptable. The cafe tables were not being cleared & the hygiene standards were not brilliant.
t. s.Nice place beautiful gardens and a lovely river walk, two cafes
S. M.Great day out.
Always love a steam railway.
Looking forward to the pizza although that was disappointing
T. B.Exbury Gardens is wonderful to walk round and see all the trees and flowers, we walked almost 10 km. The train journey was lovely we all enjoyed it.
L. W.For such large grounds, it was so beautifully maintained, safe and tasteful...I shall be returning and spreading the word...
The train was particularly busy but worth the 30min wait for the children...
Not too far to walk, lots of spots to rest and take in the views and we tried Eddy's Cafe beforehand which was pricey but great service and food variety - nothing like a Cream Tea followed by walks through stunning English scenery...
B.Lovely day and plenty of walking. The little steam train was great as well.
M. A.Very expensive if you want a quick train ride as you have to pay for the garden aswel. Only one play park. Cafe looked lovely but very limited choice.
A. S.£12 something ticket is too expensive they planted unnatural plants here along the path and keep on watering them plants do not belong in the woods plus price should be £5 the max too far to get there the best was alake which i give five star rest is just woods too expensive
C. R.Excellent venue for a very well organised a classic car show.
M. E.A beautiful place to visit ,the gardens are kept so nice ,dog friendly aswell
A. A.Stunning. No other words can describe this amazing garden. Around every corner was a jaw dropping burst of colour.
We visited in April when the rhododendron and azalea were in full bloom.
L. G.Really lovely afternoon, gardens are amazing and the train ride was fab
S. M.It's decent enough for a morning out . The gluten free coffee shop was nice.
K. S.Visited early May. Azaleas and rhododendrons are magnificent. Beautifully tended gardens. Looks like good planting for year round interest too.
M. G.Lovely day out, so much to explore and delicious vegan and gluten free food at the outdoor cafe.
M. K.Wonderful place I recommend it for everyone
S. T.We visited this place back in September. Lovely walk around, seeing all the trees and flowers. We saw a couple of pond areas with lots of dragonflies.
L. D.Amazing place to visit. Each season new colours. Cafe normal and vegan. Steam railway which you can use just need to buy ticket. There are ponds, bridges. You can prebook ticket or pay at the entrance. Big car park.
C. W.We took the children for Halloween and they thoroughly enjoyed the day. There was a ghost train and crafts inside.
L. G.Great evening out ABBA tribute could off had more hospitality stalls and lighting when returning to car
D. M.Came to see the Azaleas and Rhododendrons. A little late in the season as they weren't at their best. Will try earlier in May next year. Still beautiful gardens and we walked for miles.
a....wonderful place, beautiful plants, woods. I will be back here on autumn time, time which I was spend there have been very relaxing for me...
G. M.Stunning Rothchild Estate with wonderful trees, lakes, gardens and famous for its tho rhododendrons and azaleas. 220 acres so worth a days outing. Plenty of spots to picnic as Eddy's cafe is super expensive
M. F.Lovely garden walks, great free bush craft lesson and a steam train ride that goes around the entire park
J. G. p. a. v.Beautiful place to spend to day strolling around and a great little steam train ride to top it off.
T. Y.Absolutely love this place. Plenty of walk ways and lots to see.
d.Fabulous gem of a place in a wonderful location, we enjoyed our visit so much that we have become members
S. K.Absolutely brilliant,beautiful plants friendly staff food excellent.
C. R.This is a wonderful place to visit. It is vast in size and has so many wonderful hidden gems that you suddenly come across. You can pick up a map at the entrance and this is very important to help you navigate your way round. Try and pick a dry sunny day if you can so you can see it at its best. The catering facilities are very good as are the toilets. Plus there are a wealth of places to sit and enjoy this fantastic place. So much thought must have gone into this garden and it is very much appreciated. A great day out 👍.
H. J.Beautiful place, always something to see. Looks amazing all year round.
c.Our 1st Visit to Exbury , what a wonderful day , and Kai our Border x Bearded really enjoyed his walk.So peaceful and the scent from the blossom is beautiful.So much in bloom even this early in the year , it must be amazing as the seasons change. A perfect day. Thank you Exbury.
o. s.Heaven of flowers. Loved it. If you love to be around flowers more then once a month..do get an annual ticket
C. A.Beautiful autumn colours and a peaceful place. Lovely day out.
C. E.Beautiful garde s and train worth doing half by foot then half by train as so big.lovely cafe there before you enter.
Е. Д.Beautiful and romantic place. Just regreting that we didn't buy a year ticket straight away.
R. F.Beautiful gardens and huge thanks to the railway staff who went way beyond the call of duty to help me with a dropped possession from the train. Such kindness.
R. S.Lovely Autumn colours. A great place to visit. Beautiful trees and views of the Beaulieu River.
S. R.Gorgeous grounds, not crowded, plenty of distinctive amd idyllic spots, was suffering slightly with the current drought
n. l.A lovely garden to visit, the colours of the trees are on the change and the bonus of the Halloween ghost train 🚂 was great fun for the kids.
A. C.Well worth the money, steam train experience was good with disabled companion. Staff were very helpful
b. d.Just love these gardens, small stream train for the grandchildren and a pleaseant tea room.
A. C.Enjoyed our visit to these beautiful gardens
s. a.Gardens are amazing and the tearooms do fantastic coffee and homemade cakes
A. C.Recently attended the Christmas fair here. For something bigged up online, I was actually a little disappointed in the small and sad looking array of stalls under some tarpaulin on a car park.. Some was local produce, other things were just tat you could buy from any local town centre Saturday market. We left after an hour. What really annoyed me was the parking: unhelpful attendants who wouldn’t even let us park up a few minutes before opening, asking us to “park up somewhere down the road” ?? (I’m sure the local residents wouldn’t take kindly), only to find people being let in thirty seconds afterwards. On pulling up to reverse park, I was barked at to forward park (in a van with reduced visibility to reverse out this is dangerous!) so I had to awkwardly shuffle around in order to get into a space front-facing. Then told to leave a car and a half’s width between me and my neighbour and not to park in front of trees! So I had to move a second time. This waste of parking space meant the overflow car park was quickly in use - needlessly. Overcautious attendants. The gardens themselves are probably nice in the summer, but in the winter there is naturally a lack of colour and interest in the landscape. Absolutely lovely lady on the garden entrance though - credit to the Gardens.
K. R.Beautiful Autumn day at Exbury Gardens.
Well worth a visit.
R. A.First time. Loved the gardens. Stunning.
D. H.Lovely gardens. Vegan eatery very popular and perfect for my "gluten free" friend but not sure about any ethics regarding recycling of plastic cutlery, wrapping, etc? Maybe separate bins for rubbish? Perhaps I missed them! I know Covid is causing problems so perhaps it could be something to try and implement in future. See you in the Autumn for a spectacular show of colour.
N. T.Open for Christmas fayre. Limited stalls but good local vendors.
K. T.A lovely time and beautiful grounds,only grumble is the food is a bit on the pricey side
K. D.Lovely gardens with stunning trees and the rhodadendrons and azaleas beautiful at this time of year. Excellent vegan cafe even for us non-vegans!
T. M.Stunning gardens and great steam railway, staff were very friendly.
K. N.Absolutely lovely place, that's my third time here, never have enough 🥰
a. g.beautiful garden, with lots of rhododendrons and azaleas, possibility to visit by small train.
D. A.A great day out in late spring, the rhododendron bushes are spectacular. Take the steam train ride for a leisurely overview.
J. J.Loved it, lots of gardens to walk around, great for taking the dogs too
d. s.Wow, wow, wow... what fabulous gardens. We visited on a sunny spring afternoon in April. The Rhodedendrons, Azaleas & Camileias were utterly fab! Photos just do not do it justice. Very well kept & nicely curated gardens. One star dropped due to a very grumpy staff member who served us at the old tennis court tea room,absolutely zero customer service & even now, I would say a bit expensive 3 cans of coke, one cup of tea, 2 slices of cake & a flapjack shouldn't be £19.. all in all a fabulous day out
N. H.Wore my feet to a nubbin getting around everything (to get my money's worth), great day out. Nb, most of the cafes etc are before the paid entrance, so if you are out in the forest and fancy a cuppa or a fancy vegan burger, fill your boots here.
D. L.Beautiful spring gardens, great train ride, but then I love a steam train
H. H.Absolutely splendid garden. We love to visit to experience every season. Good walking experience as there are different terrains and hills and flat lands but for us the highlight is always the garden and its plants. Can't wait to return.
S. M.The train guys are great!! Lovely gardens well kept
E. J.Great effort made by the gardens for Half term, lots of Halloween activities for children. Loved the rock gardens and enjoyed the ghost train however I think it was a little too much for our 4 year old oops. I wish there was a place just for coffee, took ages in the Cafe just to get a hot drink the flow is poor this could be made more efficient. Would have liked to explore more of the gardens but unfortunately didn't have the time on this visit. Struggled to find the picnic area not enough signage before the bridge, could have more picnic tables too. A good trip, would like to come again during spring or summer next time.
G. P.Beautiful garden, lovely walks
C. L.Gardens were lovely, easy walks, train ride one of the best.
Mr Eddie cafe a disappointment.. plenty of staff but only one serving drinks..lack of cutlery and what was there was dirty..but food was good..Tennis cafe was very good .
M. C.We visited on a Thursday, arriving just after 10 am, a delicious coffee in the cafe by the entrance before setting off, the gardens are always maintained to such a standard that they look beautiful, but not overtended like some. Very few plants looked even remotely poorly. We followed the map and went North first, gradually wandering around making our way towards the Old Tennis Courts Cafe in the centre of the grounds, where we had lunch. On again, down through the ponds, Cascades and camellia walk to the Arromanche plaque with the lovely views of the Beaulieu River. We headed back via the riverside walks. Admission when we visited was £13.50 which we think is pretty reasonable. There are memberships available too for more frequent visitors. Will definitely return, I think this was our sixth or seventh visit.
J. B.Fantastic herbaceous borders . The wiggly tree is just amazing . Must return in spring . Loved the train :) choooochooo :) .
G. M.Stunning place with a wonderful array of trees, plants and shrubs from around the world. Everything kept spotlessly clean and special thanks to the kind man who gave our dog some dig treats when we ordered some latte and cake at the little cafe in the middle. We'll worth the money and we'll worth a visit for the views and the lovely trails down to the river. Many thanks.
T. C.Beautiful place to visit also a good place to take your dog, prices are cheap to with free onsite parking
W. M.Went for the Christmas fair which was great and enjoyed a lovely walk around the grounds which was beautiful even at this time of the year
N. S.The railway was truly lovely, with an interesting fact trail to find as we went. I loved the gardens, even thought the carpark was busy they felt quiet and tranquil.
Scored a four because The food offering was delicious but if, like me, you have tricky eaters a picnic is needed. And the play park is for 12 and under, so my oldest didn't have the most exciting day.
P. “. K.Even though it was busy, there is so much land to walk around that it seemed very quiet and tranquil. Lovely gardens with Mike's to walk around.
C. C.It's a lovely place to visit but not very wheelchair accessible there is only two tarmac roads the rest are gravel so hard to push a wheelchair on,so you miss alot of the gardens.
J. F.Best show of colour - May. Still pretty areas of colour mid June.
B. W.Beautiful gardens. Only issue we had was, there was a tiny child who had a choking issue staff dealt with but, laid here on a table by the entrance awaiting emergency services to attend. Get a first aid room guys!!! Very distracting for everyone
S. S.We went to exbury gardens last week and the azaleas and rhododendrons were beautiful. We decided to have lunch at Eddy's restaurant. What a rip off! We had jacket potatoes with tuna priced at £7.50. It was purely a potato with a couple of spoonfuls of tuna mayo. No salad garnish or butter and plastic forks and wooden knives that couldn't cut through the potato skins! Best to take your own food and will warn others to do so.
C. S.Been twice and saw Deer both occasions,plus had a lovely walk
A. a. R. l.Huge Rhododendrons and wonderful azaleas in these magnificent gardens.
S. K.Easy car parking, expansive 46 acres of changing landscape and flora down to the river. Ponds, streams, loads of trails, eats and drinks, and a steam railway. Good sign posting and easy paths, play areas for the children. The only thing I would suggest is add much more all year round planting as relying on just the early flowering plants keeps it very green for the rest of the year. However well worth a long walk and with the dogs.
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