The Royal Horticultural Society Garden Wisley

    Park & Forests, Botanical Gardens
    Closed10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

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    Location & Hours

    Mon

    • 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

    Tue

    • 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

    Wed

    • 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

    Thu

    • 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

    Closed now

    Fri

    • 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

    Sat

    • 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

    Sun

    • 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

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    • Photo of Victoria B.
      Victoria B.
      Los Angeles, United States
      4
      229
      30
      11 Jul 2022

      Wisley is amazing and gorgeous.
      I cannot imagine the amount of water they must use to keep the gardens looking so glorious.
      Important in the summer heat: take the complimentary shuttle to the top and walk down. You'll be so glad you did. Ask at the entrance where to catch it and it'll drop you at the top by the new building. Staggering up in the pounding heat is miserable.
      Climbing to the roof, anticipating a breathtaking view is pointless if it's summer. Do it after the leaves have fallen or you'll get a big fat view of tree, as well as heatstroke. (The lift was broken today.)
      Well worth it.

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    • Photo of David J.
      David J.
      Farnborough, Hampshire
      93
      2270
      11247
      26 Oct 2008
      First to Review

      Wisley is the showcase garden of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).


      Founded in 1804, the RHS is a charity aimed at developing and furthering all forms of horticulture and promoting gardening. However, it was nearly a century before the RHS acquired what is now its largest and most famous garden.


      The origins of Wisley date back to 1878 when George Ferguson Wilson - a businessman, scientist, inventor and keen gardener and a former Treasurer of the Society - established the Oakwood Experimental Garden on the site, aimed at 'growing difficult plants successfully'. On his death in 1902, the gardens were acquired by the wealthy Quaker Sir Thomas Hanbury, himself a keen gardener. He gifted the gardens to the RHS a year later, fulfilling a need for a garden site near London that the Society had been looking for for several decades.


      In the following century, the relatively small garden at Wisley (most of the grounds were then woodland) was expanded to the large horticultural garden we see now. The garden has always been more than just a place to wander and enjoy plants, however: a laboratory, library and school of horticulture were established here, and trials for developing new varieties of plants and demonstrating new horticultural techniques. This combination of learning, development and enjoyment is still key to the RHS's work today.


      Most of the visitors to Wisley these days come to enjoy the gardens, which demonstrate a wide variety of different types of planting and garden design. As well as the trial gardens, there are areas of woodland, rockeries, water features, formal gardens with roses and hedges, and of course the good old British favourite, the herbaceous border.


      Also popular are the plant centre where you can buy many of the plants you've just seen, the gift shop (great for that hard-to-buy-for aunt) or one of the five cafés and restaurants on the site. The site makes good provision for people with disabilities, as much of the site is accessible and there is good provision for people with hearing and vision impairments and learning disabilities: full details are on the website.


      Access is via the northbound carriageway of the A3, just south of the junction with the M25. Ironically, for somewhere so close to two such major traffic arteries, Wisley itself is a haven of calm for much of the year: be warned, however, that on summer weekends the gardens can get very busy indeed, with lots of coach parties as well as full car parks. But, overall, it's a lovely place for a day out, close to London.

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    • Photo of Lorraine D.
      22
      102
      11
      18 Feb 2016

      I'm fortunate to have yearly membership to the RHS. Wisley is amongst my favourite gardens to visit. They have lots of events on during the year, so check out their website.

      Always differnt things to see depending on the season. I love February when they have butterflies in the glasshouse. There are always lots of beautiful stunning butterflies fluttering around you. Squeals of delight can be heard from children and adults alike, definately banishes the winter blues. In April I adore the orchid show and in October I love the Wisley Apple harvest weekend. Wisley grows a huge range of apples and you have the opportunity to buy varieties you would find hard to find on the high street. They have lots of workshops and courses, yes you too could be Alan Titchmarsh with a little help, I'm more a Charlie Dimmock.

      They have a library to use to look up plant information with on hand help from staff. The cafes can get very busy so take a picnic basket with you.

      Go on get the membership, so many beautiful inspiring gardens to visit and enjoy. xoxo

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    • Photo of Katey H.
      Katey H.
      Surrey
      24
      77
      151
      19 Oct 2009

      This is a fantastic place to escape the stress that life sometimes throws at you! There is so much to see here in the 240 acres!! My favourite spots include: The Butterfly lovers pavilion, the glasshouse (home to the exotic plant section), Japanese garden, vegetable garden and the fruit field.

      It is apparently one of the three most visited paid gardens in the United Kingdom! Go Wisley!

      The car park is huge, but it always seems to be full, yet when you actually enter the gardens its rather quiet. So i think a lot of people come here for their garden centre and the gift shop/cafe!

      Im really annoyed cos i just missed the Taste of Autumn festival there! It also hosts a music festival and a flower show.

      It's £8.50 to get in, rather steep i think, so you really need to spend at least a few hrs inside to get your moneys worth i think!

      The surrounding area is super villagey, and there are lots of magical little pubs tucked away!

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    • Photo of Fiona G.
      Fiona G.
      Totnes, Devon
      0
      328
      589
      17 Dec 2011

      The flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society, and its huge plant collection,where people can study horticulture & all the rest of us can enjoy the fruits of their work. I went to a lovely wedding here of a wonderful gardener
      Its one of my favourite places especially when the rhododendrons are out

      Summer at Wisley
      the rhodos in bloom : heaven!
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    • Photo of Qype User (amethy…)
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      20 Oct 2008

      Vast, beautiful and diverse, Wisley is a natural haven of beauty - moments from the traffic-laden A3. Although the crowds are likely to stay with you, when you visit at weekends, it remains a garden of delights with space for tranquillity, contemplation and inspiration.


      Find your favourite tree and relish the glory of its changing colours through all its seasonal guises. Explore and track down plants and varieties - new and old - to transform your house and garden.


      If it's convenient enough for you to get to on a regular basis, you're likely to make new discoveries with each visit. Frequent visitors should take advantage of the RHS membership scheme; if you join-up you'll save the £8 adult entry price and can bring along a friend for free.

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    • 24 Dec 2008

      Wisley gardens makes for a pleasant stop to/from London to the South coast. There are a variety of gardens on offer, across vast landscapes.


      You will need a good few hours to cover this place, with so much open lawn, flowers, ponds to see. The new greenhouse is quite impressive, housing some beautiful orchids, cacti and other varieties that thrive in the humidity. There are also show gardens at certain times of the year which display plans for more 'normal' sized gardens. I particulary enjoy the walk through the rockery, and the large pond with pretty lily pads and ducks overlooking the main house.


      The gardens aren't exactly cheap to visit if you are not a member, but there is an extensive shop and cafe, so you can make a whole day of the outing!

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    • Photo of Qype User (amberb…)
      Qype User (amberb…)
      Chelmsford, Essex
      99
      81
      29
      20 Sept 2008

      The new green house is super but not enough changes at Wisley it is really the same each visit. They often make up for this with 'walks' to spot things aimed at children but they are rather good fun for adults as well as they make you walk round different bits and in a different route from your usual one.
      The eating places are great, again the cake slices are getting smaller but the food they make is the best of all the rhs gardens I just wish they would offer smaller/lighter lunch options so there is more room for cake!
      The only thing that ruins it is all the children running round.

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    • Photo of Emma M.
      Emma M.
      London
      2737
      437
      329
      16 May 2014

      This is an absolutely outstanding place! It has so much to do and look at, I challenge anyone to be bored here. It's full of stuff to suit all ages and tastes. The gardens are obviously stunning and you can spend hours walking around them all. There is also a giant greenhouse with the more tropical plants in it and some extremely educational stuff for kids.

      There are often special activities available too - I have seen tea dances where you can learn to dance 1940s style. They sometimes also have some excellent stalls in tents (I once bought a beautiful red rose fascinator there!)

      It has a very large car park, so large in fact that if you have to park in the overflow section, it's quite a walk to the entrance.

      The only downfall is the prices of the refreshments. It's stunningly expensive to have lunch, or even a coffee and piece of cake here. Also, it has the only gift shop in the world where I failed to find a single item to buy!

      But, retail therapy aside, it's a great day out.

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    • Photo of Qype User (greenm…)
      173
      270
      18 Apr 2008

      Horticultural heaven, acres of gardens which are pleasant to look at, it's really a huge plant collection rather than a true landscaped garden. Features include the huge rock garden, new tropical glasshouse with children's learning area.
      For the very keen there's a library and plant trial areas.
      Plenty of catering, from cafes to restsaurant, the latter needs booking.
      It can get very busy at peak times, so best to avoid these, strangely doesn't open until 10am, and I think it's members (RHS) only on Sundays.
      Large gift shop, and plant sales, good ranges, but a little pricey.

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