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.
Opening Times
Garden & Parkland are open daily from 14th February to 23rd December 2026, 10am–5pm. From 2nd November, closing time changes to 3:30pm. Last admission is one hour before closing.
Note: The Parkland will be closed from 8th–19th August inclusive for maintenance.
Early Closing – Parkland Concerts
The Garden closes early on Thursday 13th, Friday 14th, Saturday 15th, and Sunday 16th August to accommodate Parkland Concerts. On these dates, the Garden closes at 1pm (last admission 12pm). Sound checks will take place in the morning, which may cause some noise disturbance within the Garden.
Facilities & Activities
The following are available throughout the open season during garden opening hours:
- Adventure Playground
- Woodland Walks & South Park
Special Events & Exhibitions
Kids Trail: The Enchanted Garden runs from Friday 14th August to 6th September 2026, 10am–5pm.
Exhibition: The Sussex Artists – 'Inspired by Nature' is on display from Friday 14th August to 30th September 2026, 10am–5pm.
Evening Bat Walks take place on 11th and 12th September 2026, 6:15pm–8:00pm.
Fungi Walk is scheduled for 10th October 2026, 2:00pm–4:00pm.
A Spellbinding Halloween – Kids Trail & Activities runs from 17th October to 1st November 2026 on selected days. Please contact the house for specific dates and times.
Autumn Foraging Walk with Terra Vitum takes place on 6th November 2026, with sessions starting from 10:00am.
Group Visits & Tours
Guided Group Garden Tours and Self-Guided Garden Entry for Groups are available throughout the open season (14th February to 23rd December 2026). Both must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance.
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 – £13.95
Concession – £12.95
Child (age 3-16) – £8.95
Family 1 Adult + up to 3 Children – £31.85
Family 2 Adults + up to 3 Children – £45.80
Under 3s – Free
Carer – Free
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
Kids Trail: The Enchanted Garden
Borde Hill
ABBA Under the Stars
Borde Hill
Tina Under the Stars
Borde Hill
Evening Bat Walks
Borde Hill
In the Turning Light – A Morning Yoga Practice with Emily Phillips
Borde Hill
Canopy Tree Climbing
Borde Hill
Autumn Plant Fair
Borde Hill
‘Forest Floor’ – Botanical Art Class with Penny Sanderson
Borde Hill
Fungi Walk
Borde Hill
Autumn Wreath Making Workshop
Borde Hill
Halloween Activity: Magic Shows with Professor Hiccup
Borde Hill
Wand Making
Borde Hill
Halloween Fun with Tomfoolery
Borde Hill
Halloween Activity: Spooky Spiders & Slithering Snakes
Borde Hill
Autumn Foraging Walk
Borde Hill
Christmas Candle Making Workshop
Borde Hill
Festive Bauble Embroidery Workshop
Borde Hill
Christmas Wreath Making Workshop
Borde Hill
Santa’s Grotto & Christmas Kids Trail
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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