Levens Hall Gardens
Levens Hall, Levens, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 0PD
A celebrated topiary garden in the Kent valley south of Kendal, laid out by Guillaume Beaumont between 1689 and 1712 and still remarkably close to its original design.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit Levens Hall Gardens?
Levens Hall is the place to see historic topiary on a grand scale. The manor house sits in the Kent valley near the village of Levens, about five miles south of Kendal, and its large topiary garden is one of the most celebrated in the country. What makes it special is how little it has changed: the park and gardens laid out by Guillaume Beaumont between 1689 and 1712 survive remarkably intact, keeping almost all the essential parts of the scheme shown on maps from 1730.
Walking round, the clipped shapes are the obvious draw, and it is worth taking your time to look at them from different angles, as they change character as you move between them. Beaumont was gardener to King James II and is also linked with the grounds at Hampton Court, so this is a rare chance to see the work of a leading designer of his day still in place. Beaumont also planned the tree planting in the deer park, which is home to black fallow deer and Bagot goats.
Gardeners will take away ideas about structure, and about how clipped evergreens can give a garden shape all year. Levens is also a family home, owned by the Bagot family and open to the public, and there is more to see beyond the garden. The house has fine Elizabethan panelling and plasterwork, and a small collection of steam road vehicles, including traction engines, which are usually steamed on Sundays and Bank Holidays. The garden appeared on BBC Gardeners' World in December 2021.
What to see
- The topiary garden, first created by Guillaume Beaumont.
- A garden layout that survives remarkably intact from 1689 to 1712.
- The deer park, planted to Beaumont's plan and home to black fallow deer and Bagot goats.
- The Elizabethan house with fine panelling and plasterwork.
- The steam road vehicles, usually steamed on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Levens Hall Gardens through the year
- spring
- Fresh growth softens the outlines of the topiary, and the deer park is green and lively.
- summer
- The garden is at its fullest around the clipped shapes, and the house and steam collection make a full day out.
- autumn
- Low autumn sun throws long shadows from the topiary, showing off its shapes.
- winter
- Topiary looks striking in frost, but check the official website for which months the house and garden are open.
The story behind the garden
The first building at Levens was a pele tower built by the Redman family around 1350. Much of the present house dates from the Elizabethan period, when the Bellingham family extended it and added the panelling and plasterwork in the main rooms. In 1689 they sold the estate to Colonel James Grahme, Keeper of the Privy Purse to King James II.
During Grahme's ownership the French gardener Guillaume Beaumont, gardener to James II, laid out the park and gardens between 1689 and 1712, including the topiary garden and the planting in the deer park. Grahme also made additions to the house, and more followed in the early 19th century. Levens is now owned by the Bagot family. The gardens survive remarkably intact and were featured on BBC Gardeners' World in 2021.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Anyone interested in topiary and historic garden design, and families who will also enjoy the steam engines and deer park.
- Getting there
- Levens Hall is in the Kent valley near the village of Levens, about five miles south of Kendal in Cumbria.
- Before you go
- Combine the garden with the house and, on Sundays and Bank Holidays, the steam vehicles. Check the official website for current opening times and tickets.
Source: Wikipedia: Levens Hall
Questions about visiting Levens Hall Gardens
Who designed the gardens at Levens Hall?
The gardens were laid out by the French gardener Guillaume Beaumont, gardener to King James II, between 1689 and 1712. He also planned the tree planting in the deer park.
Is the Levens Hall topiary garden original?
Largely, yes. The park and gardens Beaumont laid out have survived remarkably intact and keep almost all the main elements of the scheme shown on maps of 1730.
Where is Levens Hall?
Levens Hall is in the Kent valley near the village of Levens, about five miles south of Kendal in Cumbria. It is a short trip from the southern Lake District.
Who owns Levens Hall?
Levens Hall is owned by the Bagot family and is open to the public. The estate was bought in 1689 by Colonel James Grahme, the year Beaumont's garden-making began.
What else is there to see at Levens Hall?
As well as the topiary garden, there is the Elizabethan house, a deer park with black fallow deer and Bagot goats, and steam road vehicles that are usually steamed on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Garden features
Location
Levens Hall, Levens, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 0PD
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