Gardens to visit in Surrey

By Abigail Whyte

Published: Tuesday, 13 December 2022 at 12:00 am

From a sculpture garden to a royal park, we recommend the best gardens to visit in Surrey.

For more inspiration for days out, don’t miss our guide to Britain’s best water gardens and gardens to visit for autumn colour.

RHS Garden Wisley

These vast Surrey gardens feature a cathedral-like glasshouse with three climatic zones, including a ‘Cloud Forest’ and a Tropical Zone.

Another highlight are the Equinox Borders, which have been designed to peak in spring with peonies and alliums, then again in autumn with kniphofia and hardy fuchsias.

RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB, rhs.org.uk

The Sculpture Park

Two miles of trail meanders through 10 aces of arboretum and water gardens, with over 600 ever-changing sculptures by well known and upcoming artists. Many of the pieces are for sale or hire, comprised of materials including bronze, marble, granite, glass, wood, copper, slate, steel and stone. You might even get to see a residential artist at work.

The Sculpture Park, Churt, Farnham, Surrey GU10 2LH, thesculpturepark.com

Painshill

© Painshill

Charles Hamilton envisioned a living painting when he created this astounding garden in the 18th century. Take a stroll around the Serpentine Lake where you’ll find a Gothic Temple, a a restored water wheel and a crystal grotto, which sparkles when it reflects the lake water. Also next to the lake is a vineyard where the estate grows grapes for own sparkling white wine and rosé.

Painshill Park, Portsmouth Road, Cobham KT11 1JE, painshill.co.uk

Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden

Nestled in a woodland valley just outside the village of Ockley you’ll find a sculpture garden where the overriding theme is the powerful relationship between art and nature. The 200 sculptures vary from figurative to highly abstract, each piece carefully placed in harmony among the trees, architectural plants and ponds.

Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden, White Cottage, Standon Lane, Ockley, Dorking, Surrey RH5 5QU, hannahpescharsculpture.com

Savill Garden

Pools, lakes and streams punctuate this impressive woodland garden along with its late-flowering herbaceous borders, shrubs such as Enkianthus and colourful climbers and vines. The Mahonia and Hydrangea collections are well worth seeking out in this autumn garden, too.

Savill Garden, Englefield Green, Surrey TW20 0UU, windsorgreatpark.co.uk

Hampton Court Palace

Explore the palace’s 60 acres of spectacular gardens and 750 acres of parkland, all set within a loop of the River Thames. The gardens include a record-breaking grape vine, three National Plant Collections and the descendants of Henry VIII’s deer herd. And of course there is Hampton Court’s famous maze – believed to the oldest hedge maze in the world and containing half a mile of pathways.

Hampton Court Palace, West Molesley, Surrey KT8 8AU, hrp.org.uk

Don’t miss our gardens to visit guide.