Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens
Leonardslee, Lower Beeding, near Horsham, West Sussex, RH13
Leonardslee is a historic woodland and lakeside garden at Lower Beeding near Horsham, famous for spring rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and magnolias, and reopened in 2019 after years of closure.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens?
Leonardslee is a steep sandstone valley garden in the old St Leonard's Forest, with a chain of lakes running along the valley floor and woodland rising on either side. It is listed at the highest grade on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, and it is best known for its spring show of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, magnolias and bluebells, which usually peaks in May. After closing in 2010 it was restored and reopened in April 2019, so this is a garden with a strong sense of being brought back to life.
The lakes are the thread that ties a visit together. Several of them began as hammer ponds for the Wealden iron industry, dammed to power a furnace, and later became the centrepiece of the garden. Paths wind down through the woods to the water and back up the slopes, so the views keep changing as you walk. Near the house is a rock garden built around 1890 by James Pulham and Son, one of the most intact Pulhamite rockeries left in the UK. Look out too for the rhododendrons Sir Edmund Loder bred here, the Loderi hybrids.
For gardeners, Leonardslee shows what acid soil and shelter can do for woodland shrubs, and it is a good place to compare rhododendron and azalea varieties at flowering time. Expect slopes and uneven paths, so wear good shoes. The estate has also produced sparkling wine since 2024.
What to see
- Spring rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and magnolias, peaking in May.
- The chain of lakes along the valley floor, several of them former hammer ponds.
- The Pulhamite rock garden near the house, built around 1890.
- The Loderi rhododendron hybrids bred by Sir Edmund Loder.
- Bluebells in the woodland in spring.
Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens through the year
- spring
- The main event: rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, magnolias and bluebells fill the valley, with flowering at its peak in May.
- summer
- The woodland is green and shady, and the lakes make a cool place for a walk.
- autumn
- Trees around the lakes and valley sides turn colour, giving a quieter, reflective visit.
- winter
- Check the official opening information, as the garden's main season centres on spring.
The story behind the garden
The valley was part of St Leonard's Forest, felled for charcoal during the Wealden iron industry, which left a string of ponds. In 1801 Charles George Beauclerk bought part of the estate and began the first ornamental planting, including an American garden with conifers and giant sequoia and the first camellias, rhododendrons and magnolias. William Hubbard bought it in 1852 and built the present Italianate house, finished in 1855.
Sir Edmund Loder bought Leonardslee in 1889, planted large collections of rhododendrons and trees, bred the Loderi hybrids and introduced animals including wallabies. The Pulham rock garden dates from around 1890. The Loder family added lakes and planting before selling in 2010, when the garden closed. In 2017 it was bought by Penny Streeter's Benguela Collection Hospitality Group, which restored it and reopened it in April 2019.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Rhododendron and woodland garden lovers, walkers who don't mind slopes, and anyone who enjoys gardens with lakes.
- Getting there
- Leonardslee is at Lower Beeding, a few miles south of Horsham in West Sussex, in the High Weald.
- Before you go
- Paths are steep in places, so allow plenty of time and wear sturdy shoes. Check the official Leonardslee website for current opening times and tickets.
Source: Wikipedia: Leonardslee
Questions about visiting Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens
When is the best time to visit Leonardslee?
Spring is the highlight. The rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, magnolias and bluebells are at their peak in May, which is when the valley is at its most colourful.
Is Leonardslee open again?
Yes. The gardens closed in 2010 after the estate was sold, then were restored by the Benguela Collection Hospitality Group and reopened to the public in April 2019. Check the official site for current opening.
Are there wallabies at Leonardslee?
Wallabies have a long history here. Sir Edmund Loder introduced them, along with other animals, after buying the estate in 1889, and the Pulham rock mound was later used to shelter them. Check the official site for the animals there today.
How big is Leonardslee?
The gardens were laid out over about 200 acres of a steep sandstone valley, with a chain of lakes along the bottom. It is a large site, so allow several hours to walk round.
Is Leonardslee a listed garden?
Yes. The garden is listed at the highest grade on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, and the 19th-century Italianate house and its lodge are Grade II listed.
Garden features
Location
Leonardslee, Lower Beeding, near Horsham, West Sussex, RH13
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