Borde Hill
BEST FOR
Ages 3+
ENTRY
from £8.95
WHERE
Haywards Heath
What it’s like
Seventeen acres of formal garden to explore, plus an adventure playground with a zip wire for when the flowerbeds lose their appeal.
The garden itself is the main event here, seventeen acres of it, with a circular route round the Elizabethan mansion and enough smaller paths off it that you can make the visit as long or short as your legs and patience allow. Kids get the adventure playground for climbing frames, balance bars and a zip wire, which is really where the energy goes once the garden tour has run its course. There are also free family trails during school holidays if you want a bit of structure to the wander.
Budget 2-3 hours, which is what they recommend and feels about right once you've done the garden and let the kids loose on the playground. It's not a cheap day out at £8.95 a child and £13.95 for an adult, though the family tickets bring the per-head cost down a bit. Everywhere on site is cashless now, so leave the coin jar at home.
Food-wise you've got a few options depending on how much fuss you want to make of it: the Summerhouse Café for coffee and cakes, Ginkgo for an indoor coffee stop, Edie's Kitchen for daytime dining, or Restaurant Isca if you fancy making a proper lunch of it. Picnics are welcome across the Garden, Parkland and Woodland too, just no barbecues.
Worth knowing before you set off into the Parkland and Woodland: the terrain there is naturally uneven and doesn't suit wheelchairs, though the Garden itself is wheelchair accessible and they've got a small number of standard and all-terrain chairs to borrow if you ring ahead. Parking's free, and dogs on short leads are welcome right across the estate during the open season.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 3 and up; the playground is the payoff after the garden walk
- Last entry
- One hour before closing
- Parking
- Free car park
- How long to allow
- 2-3 hours
- Food
- Summerhouse Café with coffee, cakes and sandwiches
- Picnics
- Welcome in Garden, Parkland and Woodland
- Wheelchairs
- Limited standard and all-terrain wheelchairs available to borrow
- Dogs
- On short leads welcome throughout Garden, Parkland and Woodland during open season
- Getting there by bus or train
- Haywards Heath train station 5 minute taxi ride
- Everywhere on site is cashless, so bring a card not coins
- Carers get free admission if you show a carers card on arrival
- The Garden Café only has outdoor seating, so head to Ginkgo or Edie's if you want to sit inside
- Wheelchairs can be borrowed but need reserving ahead by phone, and there are no mobility scooters for hire
- Haywards Heath station is about a 5 minute taxi ride if you're coming by train
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£13.95 for an adult, £8.95 for a child aged 3 to 16. Family tickets run £31.85 for one adult and up to three kids, or £45.80 for two adults and up to three kids.
Do we need to book?
You can buy tickets on arrival, but they suggest booking ahead to skip the queues.
How long should we plan for?
They recommend 2-3 hours to do the garden justice, with the playground on top of that.
Is it OK for a toddler?
The listed age range starts at 3, and the Garden paths are wheelchair and buggy friendly, though the Parkland and Woodland get uneven underfoot.
What's there to eat?
Four options: the Summerhouse Café, Ginkgo coffee shop, Edie's Kitchen for daytime dining, or Restaurant Isca for something fancier. Picnics are also fine in the Garden, Parkland and Woodland.
Is there parking?
Yes, and it's free, with blue badge parking available too.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs on short leads are welcome throughout the Garden, Parkland and Woodland while the site is open for the season.
What if it rains?
The Garden Café only has outdoor seating, but Ginkgo, Edie's and the restaurant give you indoor options, and the Garden paths themselves are open whatever the forecast.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
The Garden is wheelchair accessible and they have a few standard and all-terrain wheelchairs to borrow if you reserve by phone in advance. The Parkland and Woodland have uneven terrain that doesn't suit wheelchairs.
Can we pay by cash?
No, it's cashless across the whole site, cards or contactless only.
What are the opening hours?
10am to 5pm from 14th February to 1st November, then 10am to 3.30pm from 2nd November through to 3rd January, with last entry an hour before closing. It's closed 24th to 28th December.
Do you do birthday parties?
Birthday parties are listed among the things they offer, so it's worth asking what's included.
Featured in 1 Huddlepin list
See all Gardens & Arboretums in Brighton · Things to do in Brighton
MAKE A DAY OF IT
