Borde Hill Garden
Borde Hill Lane, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1XP
A 17-acre formal garden of 13 garden rooms around an Elizabethan house north of Haywards Heath, with champion trees, woodland, lakes and views across the High Weald.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit Borde Hill Garden?
Borde Hill suits gardeners who like plants with a story. The formal garden covers 17 acres around the Elizabethan mansion house and is divided into 13 garden rooms, each with its own character and planting style. Around it lie heritage parkland, ancient woodland and lakes, within 383 acres of Grade II* listed landscape in the High Weald, with views to the Ouse Valley Viaduct.
The plant collection is the real treasure. Five generations of the Stephenson Clarke family have built up rare trees and shrubs here, and the estate holds one of the largest private collections of champion trees in the UK, with more than 95 specimens. In spring, magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas take centre stage, and later in the year the rose garden draws rose lovers. The Old Potting Sheds and the woodland walk through Stephanie's Glade show a quieter side of the estate, and the lake walk adds distance for anyone wanting a longer outing.
Most paths in the formal garden are step-free, with gentle slopes, hard surfaces and gravel, and mobility maps are available from Visitor Reception. Dogs are welcome on short leads throughout the garden, parkland and woodland. Families can use the adventure playground with its zip wire, and there are cafés and a new glasshouse restaurant. Gardeners will come away with ideas for using trees and shrubs as the backbone of a garden room, and for planting that carries interest from early spring onwards.
What to see
- Thirteen garden rooms around the Elizabethan mansion house, each with its own planting style.
- One of the UK's largest private collections of champion trees, with more than 95 specimens.
- Spring magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas.
- The rose garden in summer.
- Woodland walks, lakes and views across the High Weald to the Ouse Valley Viaduct.
Borde Hill Garden through the year
- spring
- Spring is Borde Hill's big season, with magnolias flowering in profusion and swathes of camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas.
- summer
- Summer belongs to the rose garden and the planting in the garden rooms, with long walks round the lakes.
- autumn
- Autumn brings colour to the champion trees and woodland, and the Old Potting Sheds take on a seasonal look.
- winter
- The garden stays open into late December with half-price winter admission, then closes briefly over Christmas; check the official site for dates.
The story behind the garden
The estate is first recorded in 1534, and the Elizabethan house was rebuilt in 1598 by Stephen Borde, grandson of Andrew Borde, physician and herbalist to Henry VIII. In 1893 Colonel Stephenson Robert Clarke bought Borde Hill and became the first owner to plant the gardens and woodlands, beginning the collection of rare trees and shrubs that his family has added to ever since.
His son, Sir Ralph Clarke, made the garden a registered charity and opened it to the public in 1965. The Stephenson Clarke family has owned the wider 2,300-acre estate for some 130 years, and the garden is listed Grade II* on the Register of Parks and Gardens. Current plans include a field to fork restaurant in The Stables and a community project in the South Park, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Tree and shrub enthusiasts, families with children and dogs, and anyone who enjoys a mix of formal garden rooms and open parkland.
- Getting there
- Borde Hill is on Borde Hill Lane, about 1.5 miles north of Haywards Heath in West Sussex and around 20 minutes from Brighton.
- Before you go
- Tickets can be bought on arrival, but booking ahead helps reduce queues. Check the Borde Hill website for current opening times, prices and member offers.
Questions about visiting Borde Hill Garden
Is Borde Hill National Trust?
No. Borde Hill is an independent garden charity and is not part of the National Trust or English Heritage, so admission applies. Historic Houses members get free entry, and individual RHS members do in certain months.
Can you take dogs to Borde Hill?
Yes. Dogs on short leads are welcome throughout the garden, parkland and woodland during the open season, and a free dog treat is offered on arrival.
When is the best time to visit Borde Hill?
Spring is the classic time, when magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas are in flower. Summer brings the rose garden, and the champion trees and woodland give interest into autumn.
Is Borde Hill accessible for wheelchairs?
Mostly, yes. Most paths in the formal garden are step-free, and gentle slopes, hard surfaces and gravel paths allow good wheelchair access. Mobility maps are available from Visitor Reception.
How big is Borde Hill Garden?
The formal garden covers 17 acres with 13 garden rooms, set within 383 acres of Grade II* heritage parkland and woodland. A visit can be a short stroll round the rooms or a long walk to the lakes.
Garden features
Location
Borde Hill Lane, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1XP
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