Cholmondeley Castle Gardens
The life's work of Lavinia, Marchioness of Cholmondeley.
Malpas, Cheshire, SY14 8AH
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Accessible parking
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Cafe / restaurant
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Facilities for children
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Free parking
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Garden only
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Pet friendly
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Picnic area
- Guide dogs welcome
- Accessible toilets
- Accessible parking
- Wheelchair ramps/routes
The Cholmondeley Family have resided in this part of Cheshire since the Norman times. The gardens were originally laid out in the early 19th Century using architectural elements from the formal gardens of the Old Hall.
When Lavinia, Marchioness of Cholmondeley came to live at Cholmondeley in 1947 together with her husband the 6th Marquess she set about creating ‘a garden of great romance’ introducing many specimen trees and shrubs, including rare magnolias, camellias and rhododendrons. Her legacy is continued today with new developments in the Rose, Temple Water Garden and Folly Gardens together with the creation of a 100m long double herbaceous border, a fitting tribute to Lady Cholmondeley’s life and work in the gardens.
Tower Hill offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy a woodland ramble amongst interesting shrubs and trees under planted with many wild flowers and bulbs, whilst the Deer Park Mere and nature trail offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of the surroundings with magnificent views of Cholmondeley Castle.
The Cholmondeley Family Chapel of St. Nicholas lies to the north-east of the Castle. The oldest surviving part of the Chapel dates from the 15th Century and the Chapel is well worth a visit to enjoy is tranquil atmosphere, and the fine 17th Century carved oak screen and rare examples of early Flemish stained glass. The Chapel is still used for services and family occasions.
Discover the romantic Temple and Folly Water Gardens, 100m double herbaceous bordered Lavinia Walk, Glade, Arboretum, and the ornamental woodland upon Tower Hill. New for 2023 is the Cholmondeley Rose Garden with the creation of two very different Rose rooms between old and new with over 800 new plantings.
Visits are offered to the gardens only.
Our Head Gardener, Barry Grain, offers a guided tour of Cholmondeley Castle Gardens which takes an in-depth look at the seasonal highlights and history of the Gardens. Tours are £5 per person.
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.
Cholmondeley Castle Gardens is currently closed for the winter season and will reopen in early 2026. The gardens are a historic and scenic attraction located in Malpas, Cheshire, featuring 70 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, including the Temple and Folly Water Gardens, the Glade, the Arboretum, the Lavinia Walk, and the Cholmondeley Rose Garden.
Opening Hours:
The gardens are closed until early 2026. When open, the usual hours are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with the last entry at 4:00 PM.
Admission Prices:
- Advance tickets: Adults £9, Children (5-15 years) £4.50, under 5s free.
- On-the-day tickets: Adults £10, Children (5-15 years) £5, under 5s free.
- Children go free during the summer holidays from July 19th to August 31st (excluding events).
- Seasonal Membership: £35 per adult, includes entry on all open days during the 2025 season until October 26th. Children enter free with members.
- Discounts: Blue Light Discount (buy one adult ticket, get one free), RHS Members (free access in May and September, excluding event days), and Historic Houses members (free entry with a valid card).
Accessibility:
Some areas of the gardens are not wheelchair accessible. Accessible routes, toilets, and parking are available. Visitors are advised to contact the estate office for specific accessibility queries.
Events:
The last event of the 2025 season was the Autumn Festival on October 26th. No upcoming events are scheduled until the gardens reopen in 2026.
Additional Information:
Dogs are welcome but must be kept on leads. Visitors are advised to wear sensible footwear and supervise children due to uneven ground and water hazards.
Free for Historic Houses members. No need to book, simply turn up with your membership card.
Adults £8.50 in advance, £9 on the gate on the day
Children £4 in advance, £5 on the gate on the day.
Under 5’s free.
Event prices vary, please refer to website
Head Gardener Tours available upon request
For group visits please contact the secretary on 01829 720383 or [email protected].
- Guide dogs welcome
- Accessible toilets
- Accessible parking
- Wheelchair ramps/routes
Getting here
Malpas, Cheshire, SY14 8AH
Located off the A49 Whitchurch Tarporley Road, conveniently near Chester, Nantwich and Whitchurch.
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