Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

A sanctuary of natural beauty, Sir Harold Hillier Gardens offers visitors the perfect escape from all the stresses of the outside world. Experience nature at its finest whilst exploring the 180 acres of gardens, wildlife and play areas for children. Run as a charity its aim is to conserve, develop and exhibit these world-renowned Gardens and plant collection.

Guest will be delighted while discovering the incredibly diverse range of trees, including maples and cherry trees. Attractive shrubs and flowers such as wisteria, peonies and azaleas, happily thrive within the Gardens. Sir Harold Hillier Gardens offers stunning surroundings with blooming plants from every season that have been carefully curated to give a magical experience every day of the year. 

Beautiful Gardens and Fun Activities

With gardens such as the Gurkha Memorial Garden, created to showcase Nepal’s dazzling flora, valleys like the Himalayan Valley and a peat garden dating from 1964, there is a network of paths suitable for all abilities. One route takes you through Spring Walk which during May boasts flowers with vibrant colours and tantalising scents, there is so much to see. Or, explore the impressive Centenary Border, the longest double mixed border in the country, planted in 1964 by Sir Harold Hillier to mark the 100th anniversary of his Grandfather founding Winchester Nursery.

Young visitors are well catered for. Not only are there many opportunities to learn for curious minds, there are also many exciting attractions that will bring laughter and happiness to any day out. Face the Wobbly Bridge and watch the shimmering fish swim through the sparkling pond waters. Young explorers will be enchanted by the Jurassic Gunnera Boardwalk, a raised path that cuts through a huge tunnel of Gunnera leaves.

For enthusiastic little monkeys, the Woodland Tree House lets them burn off energy whilst enjoying the large Super Snake Swing and the Flying Carpet Swing. Next, brave the Hilltop Adventures where courageous guests take on a wooden obstacle course, showing off their balancing skills and strength. The Children’s Education Garden was opened in July 2006 by David Attenborough, created for school visits and family learning days, to engage children as they learn. Here you can find six ponds filled with aquatic life and dragonflies, giant bamboo wind chimes and bamboo maze. And, not to miss are their Mediterranean and oak “classrooms” with exotic plants and herbs.