Borde Hill
"One of the country's truly great gardens".
Borde Hill Lane, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1XP
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Accessible parking
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Cafe / restaurant
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Easily accessible without car
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Facilities for children
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Free parking
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Garden only
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Mostly wheelchair accessible
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Parkland / open spaces
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Pet friendly
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Picnic area
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Shop
- Accessible parking
- Wheelchair ramps/routes
- Accessible toilets
Borde Hill is a Grade II* listed English Heritage Garden set within 383 acres of woodland and parkland, with magnificent views across the Ouse Valley viaduct. It has been referred to by The Daily Telegraph as “planted with passion” and by Country Life as “one of the country’s truly great gardens”.
It was created by Colonel Stephenson Robert Clarke from seeds gathered by the great plant hunters of the early 1900s. It was his philosophy that plants need to be placed in the right place.
Borde Hill is renowned for its astonishing collection of unusual trees and shrubs. It’s one of four private gardens of national importance and its exotic trees are recorded at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It is the origin of many hybrid plants including Camellia x williamsii ‘Donation’ and Alstroemeria ‘Walter Fleming’.
The garden has distinct ‘rooms’, each with its own unique style and character. In the last 30 years many areas have been greatly enhanced and restored including the sub-tropical Round Dell, the sophisticated Rose Garden and romantic Italian Garden. Paradise Walk and the Italian Garden have recently been replanted using new design schemes by garden designer Chris Beardshaw.
An abundance of spring magnolias, camellias and rhododendrons give way to exuberant summer borders of roses and herbaceous plants followed by mellow autumn colour.
Important information: opening info is generated by artificial intelligence; check specific attraction details before travelling.
The indicator above will show ‘open’ when the public have any kind of access to any part of this property. That could be the park, a shop, or a special event, and may not reflect regular admission times to the main attraction. Always consult the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling to check that the attraction you are interested in is open.
Borde Hill Garden is open to visitors from 14th February to 21st December each year. The opening hours are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily, with a reduced closing time of 3:30 PM starting from 3rd November. The last admission is one hour before closing.
During the period from 3rd November to 21st December, admission prices are halved. The standard admission prices during this period are:
- Adult: £6.25
- Concession: £6.00
- Child (3-16 years): £4.25
- Family (1 Adult + up to 3 Children): £14.00
- Family (2 Adults + up to 3 Children): £20.50
- Under 3s and Carers: Free
Gift Aid prices are slightly higher and include a 10% voluntary donation.
Special events include:
- Magnolias in Bloom: From 14th February to 30th April, visitors can enjoy a self-guided walk through the magnolia collection.
- A Family Christmas at Borde Hill: From 29th November to 21st December, featuring a kids' story trail (£4.50 per child) and Santa's Grotto (£19 per child, weekends only).
- Various workshops in November and December, such as candle making, calligraphy, and wreath making.
Membership options are available, offering unlimited access during the open season and additional benefits such as free entry to events and family trails.
Group visits are welcomed with discounted rates for groups of 15 or more, guided tours, and catering options available upon pre-booking.
This property offers free access to Historic Houses members during normal opening hours. Visitors can pre-book their admission timeslot in advance at www.bordehill.co.uk/book-now where there is a dropdown option for Historic Houses members. Please enter your membership number on the next screen and show your card on arrival.
There are also a number of membership options for the Gardens, which are all full listed on the Borde Hill website.
Day Admission:
Adult– £6.25
Concession – £6
Child (aged 3-16) – £4.25
Child under 3 – Free
Carer – Free
Family Day Tickets and Season Tickets are available.
Discounted Group Rate of £11 per person (15+ people). Garden tours are available for pre-booked groups, as well as bespoke catering options. Full details can be found on the Borde Hill website.
- Accessible parking
- Wheelchair ramps/routes
- Accessible toilets
Getting here
Borde Hill Lane, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1XP
1½ miles north of Haywards Heath on Borde Hill Lane. 20 minutes from Brighton and Gatwick on the M23 via junction 10a.
Direct trains from London Bridge or Victoria to Haywards Heath (45 mins). Taxis at station 1.5 miles away.
Why our members love visiting Borde Hill Garden
Forthcoming events
Remember, special events are excluded from free entry for members
Talk & Tour with Tom Coward: Making the Most of the Garden in Winter
Borde Hill
Kids Trail: Mission Spring
Borde Hill
Easter Wreath Making Workshop
Borde Hill
Kids Trail: Ludo’s Easter Adventure
Borde Hill
Spring Blooms Photography Workshop with Molly Hollman
Borde Hill
‘Spring Bulbs’ – Botanical Art Class with Penny Sanderson
Borde Hill
Dawn Chorus Walk
Borde Hill
Specialist Spring Plant Fair
Borde Hill
McFly – Borde Hill Summer Series
Borde Hill
ABBA Under the Stars
Borde Hill
Tina Under the Stars
Borde Hill
Historic Houses nearby
High Beeches Woodland & Water Garden
Handcross, West Sussex, RH17 6HQ
St Mary’s House & Gardens
Bramber, West Sussex, BN44 3WE
Firle Place
Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 6LP
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