The Alnwick Garden
Alnwick, Northumberland (next to Alnwick Castle)
The Alnwick Garden is a contemporary charity-run garden beside Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, with the Grand Cascade, the Poison Garden, a Rose Garden, a cherry orchard and a huge treehouse.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit The Alnwick Garden?
The Alnwick Garden is a modern garden built on an old site, and it sets out to be unconventional. It sits next to Alnwick Castle in the town of Alnwick, and was revived from 1997 by the Duchess of Northumberland with Belgian designers Jacques and Peter Wirtz. It is run by a charity, and money from visitors goes back into the garden and community programmes.
The Grand Cascade is the centrepiece, a stepped water feature with 120 water jets that leads the eye up through the garden. The Poison Garden is the part most people talk about afterwards. It holds more than 100 toxic, intoxicating and narcotic plants, including hemlock, deadly nightshade, foxglove and laburnum, and it is seen on a guided tour full of stories about poison and the dangers lurking in ordinary gardens. It is a good reminder for home gardeners to know what they grow.
Elsewhere, the Ornamental Garden and the Rose Garden honour the garden's history, the Bamboo Labyrinth is fun for families, and the Taihaku Cherry Orchard is a highlight in blossom time. The Treehouse, a large timber complex in lime trees 18 metres above the ground, has a restaurant, and the pavilion and visitor centre, designed by Sir Michael Hopkins, has a striking gridshell roof. The garden also links with Lilidorei, a separate attraction on the same site with its own tickets. Winter brings evening light trails, so the garden is worth seeing in more than one season.
What to see
- The Grand Cascade, with 120 water jets.
- The Poison Garden, seen on a guided tour, with more than 100 toxic and narcotic plants.
- The Rose Garden and the traditional Ornamental Garden.
- The Taihaku Cherry Orchard and the Bamboo Labyrinth.
- The Treehouse, set in lime trees 18 metres above the ground.
The Alnwick Garden through the year
- spring
- The Taihaku Cherry Orchard blossoms, one of the garden's best moments of the year.
- summer
- The Rose Garden and Ornamental Garden are at their peak, and the Grand Cascade is in full flow.
- autumn
- Autumn colour arrives, and the Poison Garden tours carry on through the season.
- winter
- Opening hours are shorter, and evening Winter Lights events run in the festive season; check dates before travelling.
The story behind the garden
The first garden here was laid out in 1750 by the 1st Duke of Northumberland, who used Capability Brown to landscape the parkland. The 3rd Duke was a plant collector who raised pineapples in hothouses, and the 4th Duke added an Italianate garden with a large conservatory. After serving the Dig for Victory campaign in the Second World War, the garden fell into disrepair and closed as a working garden in 1950.
In 1997 Jane Percy, Duchess of Northumberland, began its revival with Jacques and Peter Wirtz. The Grand Cascade and first planting opened in October 2001, the Treehouse in December 2004, the Poison Garden in February 2005 and the Hopkins pavilion in May 2006. The 12th Duke donated the site, and the garden is now owned by an independent charity.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Families, groups of friends and anyone curious about poisonous plants, water features and modern garden design.
- Getting there
- The Alnwick Garden is in the town of Alnwick in Northumberland, right next to Alnwick Castle.
- Before you go
- The Poison Garden is seen on a guided tour, and Lilidorei has separate or combined tickets. Check The Alnwick Garden website for current opening times and tickets.
Source: The Alnwick Garden: Opening times and useful information
Questions about visiting The Alnwick Garden
Can you go into the Poison Garden at Alnwick?
Yes, but only on a guided tour. The guides explain the history of poison and the dangers of plants found in ordinary gardens. The garden has more than 100 toxic, intoxicating and narcotic plants.
Who designed The Alnwick Garden?
The revival was led by the Duchess of Northumberland from 1997, with Belgian landscape designers Jacques and Peter Wirtz. The pavilion and visitor centre were designed by Sir Michael Hopkins.
Is The Alnwick Garden part of Alnwick Castle?
No. It sits next to the castle but is run by an independent charity, separate from Northumberland Estates. The garden and castle have separate tickets.
Can you eat in the Alnwick treehouse?
Yes. The Treehouse, built in lime trees 18 metres above the ground, is a place to stop for lunch during your visit. It is a popular spot, so it is worth checking availability before you go.
When is the best time to visit The Alnwick Garden?
Spring is good for the Taihaku cherry blossom, and summer for roses and the Grand Cascade. In winter, evening light trails are held in the festive season, so check the website for dates.
Garden features
Location
Alnwick, Northumberland (next to Alnwick Castle)
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