Doddington Hall Gardens
Doddington, near Lincoln, Lincolnshire
An Elizabethan house just west of Lincoln with walled and wild gardens that flower from early spring into autumn, set within an estate that is being rewilded.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit Doddington Hall Gardens?
Doddington Hall has been a family home for more than 400 years, and its gardens feel lived in rather than staged. The Elizabethan hall, built between 1595 and 1600 by Robert Smythson, sits at the heart of around five acres of walled and wild gardens, with flowering from early spring until autumn. The walled courtyards and gabled gatehouse set the tone: this is a garden framed by old brick and a long family history.
Walk through the walled gardens close to the house, then out into the wilder areas, where the planting is looser. Look for the temple designed by Antony Jarvis in 1973, and in season for the sculpture exhibition held in the gardens; outdoor theatre is staged here too. The parkland and gardens are listed Grade II* on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, so there is plenty of history in the layout as well as the house.
Beyond the garden walls the estate is changing fast through Wilder Doddington, a rewilding project launched in 2021, with Exmoor ponies, heritage breed pigs and Lincoln Red cattle helping to reshape former arable fields. The estate walks are free and open from dawn till dusk. There is a farm shop café, the Grain Store café and restaurant, a tea room and several shops, all free to visit, so a garden trip can easily stretch into a full day. Gardeners will find ideas in how a historic walled garden sits beside a much wilder setting.
What to see
- The walled gardens around the Elizabethan hall and its gabled gatehouse.
- The wild gardens, where flowering runs from early spring into autumn.
- The temple designed by Antony Jarvis in 1973.
- The seasonal sculpture exhibition held in the gardens.
- The free Wilder Doddington walking routes through the rewilding estate.
Doddington Hall Gardens through the year
- spring
- The gardens reopen early in the year, and spring brings the first flowers to the walled and wild gardens while skylarks sing over the rewilding fields.
- summer
- Summer is the fullest time in the gardens and the season for outdoor theatre, with butterflies and grasshoppers in the wilder grassland.
- autumn
- Autumn brings changing leaves across the estate and seasonal events, including pick-your-own pumpkins.
- winter
- The gardens close over winter, though the shops, cafés and estate walks stay open; check the official site for the garden season dates.
The story behind the garden
Doddington Hall was built between 1595 and 1600 by the architect Robert Smythson for Thomas Tailor, a lawyer and Recorder to the Bishop of Lincoln. The house later passed through the Hussey, Delaval and Jarvis families, and on the death of Lieutenant Colonel George Jarvis it went to his cousin, the Rev Robert Eden Cole. It remains in private ownership. In the mid 20th century the hall was restored by Laurence Bond and Francis Johnson, and in 1973 Antony Jarvis designed the temple that now stands in the gardens.
More recently the family has opened the estate up further, adding cafés, shops, holiday cottages and wedding venues. In June 2021 it launched Wilder Doddington, which is turning intensively farmed fields, heavily grazed grassland and woodland over to nature recovery, with new ponds and wetlands.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Visitors who like a historic garden as part of a full day out with food, shopping and wild walks, and anyone interested in rewilding.
- Getting there
- Doddington is a village just west of the city of Lincoln. Free parking is available opposite the hall and outside the Farm Shop and Grain Store.
- Before you go
- Garden tickets are bought on arrival at the Gatehouse with no booking needed, though hall tickets are best booked ahead. Check the Doddington Hall website for current opening times and prices.
Questions about visiting Doddington Hall Gardens
Do you need to book to visit Doddington Hall gardens?
No. Booking is not needed for the gardens; you simply pay on arrival at the Gatehouse. Booking ahead is recommended for hall tickets and is required for afternoon tea, the Grain Store restaurant and most events.
Can you visit the Doddington farm shop and cafés for free?
Yes. The shops, cafés and estate walks are all free to visit. Admission charges apply only to the hall and gardens and to selected events or experiences, so it is easy to combine a garden visit with lunch or shopping.
Is there parking at Doddington Hall?
Yes, free parking is available while the estate is open. There are car parks opposite the hall and outside the Farm Shop and Grain Store, both handy for the gardens and the estate walks.
What is Wilder Doddington?
Wilder Doddington is the estate's rewilding project, launched in June 2021. Former arable fields have been left to recover, with Exmoor ponies, heritage breed pigs, Lincoln Red cattle and wild deer grazing, and new ponds and wetlands created.
When are Doddington Hall gardens open?
The gardens open seasonally, from early in the year until the end of autumn, and close over winter. Days and hours vary, so check the official opening times page before you travel.
Garden features
Location
Doddington, near Lincoln, Lincolnshire
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