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Iford Manor Gardens

Medieval house with a classical frontage also famous for its Italianate garden.

Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, BA15 2BA

Iford Manor in Wiltshire

Experience this house

Visit

Free admission to members of Historic Houses when you show a valid membership card.
Free admission to members of Historic Houses when you show a valid membership card.
Facilities
  • Easily accessible without car
  • Free parking
  • Garden only
  • Pet friendly
for the latest information.
Accessibility
  • Access statement available
  • Guide dogs welcome
  • Accessible toilets
  • Accessible parking
Does our information need updating?
Let us know here

Tucked away at the bottom of a tranquil valley, a visit to the romantic, award-winning, Grade I listed Iford Manor Garden is like no other.

Famed Edwardian landscape designer Harold Peto designed the unique, Italianate, Grade 1 listed gardens when Iford Manor was his home, from 1899-1933. Drawing inspiration from his travels all around the world, the garden blends Italian, Byzantine, ancient Roman and Oriental garden designs together with architecture and classical sculpture.

Over the past 50 years today’s owners, the Cartwright-Hignett family, have lovingly restored the garden and continued to develop it, finishing the Oriental Garden area, extending the woodland walks and redesigning areas of the garden as they age, 100 years after Peto’s original plantings.

Opening Times

Please note: The information on the Historic Houses website is advisory, but please always check the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling.

View website

1 April to 30 September, Wednesdays – Sundays & Bank Holidays Mondays, 11:00 – 16:00 (Last entry at 15:30).

Online booking is essential to guarantee entry to the gardens.

No admittance to children under 10
Well behaved dogs on short leads welcome
Onsite restaurant (reservation recommended) and café available

Admission

Historic Houses members visit for free, except on charity open days. Members should select the Historic Houses Member ticket when booking and present their membership cards on arrival.

Adults: £9.50

Concessions: £8.50

Children under 10 are not permitted

Group Visits

By appointment, out -of-hours only. Please contact Alex on info@ifordmanor.co.uk for further information.

for the latest information.
Accessibility
  • Access statement available
  • Guide dogs welcome
  • Accessible toilets
  • Accessible parking
Does our information need updating?
Let us know here

Getting here

Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, BA15 2BA

By car: Approached via steep, narrow lanes (6′ 6″ width restrictions), you’ll know you’ve arrived at this romantic, secret place when you see Britannia standing guard atop the mediaeval stone bridge.

Iford is 2 miles South-West of Bradford on Avon, via the village of Westwood.
From Bath, follow A36 South towards Warminster for 5 miles, and turn left, signposted to Iford.

Our visitor car park is in the old orchard next to the bridge.

By coach: We accept groups and coaches by appointment only. We can accommodate up to two 14m coaches at any one time.

By foot: Easily reached on foot by the many footpaths which run the length of the valley through the estate, walking from Farleigh Castle or Freshford station via Friary Wood provides the most picturesque approaches to Iford.

By train: We are a 25-minute walk from Freshford Station, or a short taxi ride from the taxi rank at Bradford on Avon station – just pop into the taxi ‘hut’ there to request a driver.

By bus: The 94 bus from Bath to Trowbridge stops on weekdays at “The Pastures, Westwood”. From there it is just a 5-10 minute, very steep walk downhill to reach our entrance.

By bike: We are close to a number of the national cycle routes, notably National Route 4 and Wiltshire Route 254

Paths twist and turn around ancient statues, columns, terraces and architecture which, combined with ebullient planting schemes, draw you on in anticipation of the next delight. After each step a new view is revealed, allowing visitors to marvel in the clever nature and beauty of the design. Steeped in history and located on the last hill of the Cotswolds, with the Wiltshire/Somerset border running through the garden itself, visitors often say a visit to Iford Manor Garden was like stepping into another, timeless world.

Regularly providing design inspiration to many, the garden often features in international publications and in film, most recently in ‘The Secret Garden’ (2020). A visit to Iford Manor Gardens should leave you feeling refreshed, uplifted and inspired.

For a special experience, don’t miss a Behind the Scenes tour with Head Gardener Steve Lannin, or an evening Champagne Tour with owner William Cartwright-Hignett.

 

Award-winning Iford Manor Café & Kitchen serves delicious home made, and often home-grown, locally sourced food in its award-winning restaurant (reservation required) as well as the adjacent café.

Iford Manor Considering the load on the structure

Iford Manor Wins Restoration Award 2020

After a delay of more than six months while judges were unable to assess entries because of Covid-19 restrictions, the UK’s largest collection of independent heritage has announced the best restoration project of a historic house, castle, or garden in...

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Iford Manor Gardens in the summer

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