Houghton Lodge Gardens

About This Attraction

Houghton Lodge Gardens is the ideal place to visit, whether your passion lies with Historic houses or beautiful gardens – or both. One of the most beautiful privately owned homes and gardens in Hampshire. The Grade II* listed formal and informal gardens surround the UK’s best surviving example of an 18th Century Cottage Orné. It is idyllically set above the tranquil waters of the River Test.

The walled garden is home to a heritage orchard enclosed by a historical chalk cob wall. It provides protection to 32 different varieties of the apple tree, and our recently crowned champion pear for being the widest espaliered pear tree in Britain-now 54’ long. There is a wonderful herb garden with medicinal, natural dye, perfumery/potpourri and herbal tea beds. See traditional vegetable beds and a fruit cage with golden and red raspberries which provides a safe haven for our family of Mille Fleur Pekin bantems. You will also see our hosta and iris beds, an impressive collection of Kelways peonies, Bramley apple tunnel, cutting, scented and wildflower beds, orchid house, sweet peas, stunning rose and clematis arbour all of which provide a kaleidoscope of colour from summer through to the first frosts of autumn. 

Ambling down to the river, visitors can engage with our ever-friendly alpacas, Tom, Dick, Harry and Herbert and meet the little flock of Hebridean sheep. On approaching the wooden bridge, visitors need to be wary of our resident topiary dragon who enjoys puffing his welcome. Nearby, the serpentine walk offers an enchanting mix of the quiet and scents of ancient times, with breathtaking views over the water meadows. Before returning to the walled garden, see the splendour of the semi-formal box parterre that makes up the stunning peacock topiary garden.