West Dean Gardens

Nestled at the foot of the South Downs, West Dean Gardens in West Sussex is one of the greatest restored gardens open to the public today.

Visitors can explore a wide range of historic features on a gentle walk around the grounds. From surreal trees to the restored walled garden, West Dean Gardens proudly presents its rich creative and social heritage.

A stop in our Visit England-endorsed Restaurant and Gift Shop will complete every visit. 

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Yours to Explore

Creatively inspired by its rich heritage and setting. For a day out near Chichester West Dean Gardens is brimming with features to enjoy.

An impressive collection of working Victorian Glasshouses, a 300 foot pergola, a spring garden with flint bridges and the occasional surreal fibreglass tree offer year-round interest to garden visitors.

Explore the Gardens

About the Gardens

View a map of the gardens, meet the gardening team and find out what’s new in the garden this month. Learn about the history of the gardens and how they became what they are today.

Gourds in the glasshouse at West Dean Gardens

What's New?

As we make our way through autumn, the colour palette across the gardens is changing. Find out more about changes in the gardens and what the team have been up to. Have you visited Gardener's Cottage yet? Our newly opened tea room is somewhere to enjoy a pit-stop and refreshments.

Wedding receptions at West Dean Gardens. Credit Helen Cawte Photography

Wedding Receptions

Celebrate your wedding day in style with a marquee reception for up to 200 guests on the picnic lawn or front lawn at West Dean Gardens. Our experienced team offer a bespoke service to help you plan a your special day.

Try a garden-themed short course

Let the Gardens be your inspiration on a short course at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation. Learn practical gardening skills or garden design from the experts. Get behind the camera lens and discover how to get the best images of the garden on a photography course, or join an art course and interpret the landscape on canvas.

Find out more about gardening courses and lectures or the wide range of creative courses available.

For shorter garden talks please visit our gardens events page.

Gardens Gallery

The Beautiful Edwardian Pergola in Autumn
The October sun shining through the trees in the Arboretum at West Dean Gardens
Seasonal flowers in bloom in the Victorian Glasshouses
The glorious summer sunshine highlighting the beauty of the Edwardian pergola at West Dean Gardens
Autumn in the Arboretum at West Dean Gardens
Chillies in the glasshouses
Chillies and tomatoes grow in abundance in the glasshouses
West Dean Gardens makes a stunning venue for the perfect wedding reception
Duck and clan enjoying a swim in the River Lavant
The River Lavant flows during the winter months
Conetwirl - One of the four sculptures by Eilís O'Connell in West Dean Gardens
Apple Store at West Dean Gardens
The Walled Kitchen Garden
Apples grow in abundance in the Walled Kitchen Garden at West Dean
The succulents in the glasshouses in winter
Kalanchoe Thyrsiflora
Cherry blossom in the glasshouses
Lilly pads adorn the pond under the Edwardian Pergola
The view across the gardens down to the pergola in winter
A field of daffodils at West Dean Gardens
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Upcoming events

A Beautiful Obsession – Jimi Blake’s World of Plants

Date
Wednesday 4 December, 6-8.30pm

Simplifying the rules – easier ways to a successful vegetable and fruit garden

Date
Saturday 15 February, 9.30am-3pm
View All Events

Gardens Blog

Autumn updates - no time for tea breaks!

Posted on 17th October 2019

As we approach the autumn and winter, we have been planning and strategizing for months, putting in place processes to deliver some very exciting projects for the spring/summer 2020. As a Head Gardener, like my predecessor, I’m constantly looking for unusual species and forms to continue to make the tree collection at West Dean something special and unique.

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Support West Dean Gardens

West Dean Gardens is part of a registered charity and its upkeep and care are only possible with the support of generous donors, friends and legacy gifts.

If you share our passion for the gardens and gardening excellence,
please find out how you can help support their upkeep.