13 gorgeous gardens to visit in Surrey this spring

A round-up of some of the most gorgeous gardens in Surrey to visit this spring.

More sunshine, warmer days, and flowers galore!  What’s not to love about Spring?  As the new bulbs herald the start of spring, we look forward to getting outside and enjoying some of the best local gardens.   Although we love those crispy winter walks, there something very inspiring about the fresh colours of spring.

So, here’s our guide to some of the prettiest spring gardens in and around Surrey.    Whether you’re a keen gardener or just need inspiration for a family day out, we hope you’ll love these suggestions.

Plus, we’ve included some of the best flower festivals in Surrey this spring.  So if you’re looking for tulips, snowdrops or orchids in abundance, we’ve got the perfect day out for you!

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The first of our gorgeous gardens in Surrey is a family favourite, the Valley Gardens at Virginia Water.

Part of the Windsor Great Park estate, these pretty gardens have spring flowers from as early as February, when you can see snowdrops in the Heather Gardens.

In March you can enjoy a carpet of golden daffodils and colour from the magnolias and camellia.  By the end of spring, the Valley Gardens are a riot of colour as the rhododendrons and azaleas come into bloom around the Punch Bowl. I’d highly recommend the Valley Gardens as one of the best places to see spring flowers in Surrey.

Another of the best reasons to visit is to take a walk around the beautiful Virginia Water Lake.

• Read more:  Springtime at the Valley Gardens in Windsor Park
• Location:  Virginia Water Car Park, GU25 4QF
• Admission:  free

Another of the very best places to see spring flowers in Surrey is at Hampton Court Palace.

As you’d expect from a royal palace, the gardens at Hampton Court Palace are totally amazing.  The famous Tudor palace has 60 acres of formal gardens, which are cared for by a team of gardeners.

You can look forwarding to seeing Italianate style gardens with fountains, ponds, and magnificent yew trees.  Plus, Hampton Court Palace has the oldest vine in the world.

In spring, you’ll see carpets of crocuses and daffodils in the wild meadow, Henry VIII’s former orchard.  If you like tulips, you’ll be in heaven at the Hampton Court Tulip Festival, which runs from 15^th April to 6^th May 2024.

Hampton Court is a fantastic choice for garden-lovers but is perfect for a family day out too.  As well as the wildlife and nature it is home one of the UK’s best mazes and an excellent outdoor play area, the Magic Garden.  Oh, and of course it has one of the most famous Tudor castles ever!

• Read more:  Tulip Festival at Hampton Court Palace
• Location:  Hampton Court Way, Molesey, KT8 9AU
• Admission: Hampton Court Palace

Just south of Guildford, Loseley Park is an impressive estate set in the Surrey countryside.  Beside the manor house you’ll find 2.5 acres of walled garden.

Within the garden walls at Loseley you’ll find 5 garden rooms, each with their own theme.  Allow time to explore the Rose Garden, the Flower Garden, the Vegetable Garden, the Herb Garden and the White Garden.  Each garden has been carefully cared for and nurtured over 100s of years.

In spring, Loseley Park hosts its annual Garden Show, when you can spend a day enjoying garden talks, activities and buying gardening goods.

This year the Loseley Garden Show is running from Friday 19^th to Sunday 21^st April 2024.  Loseley is a popular garden to visit, as it has one of the most impressive walled gardens in Surrey.

• Location:  Loseley Park, Guildford, GU3 1HS
• Admission:  Loseley Park

Opened in 1888 to mark Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, the gardens at Guildford Castle provide a calm sanctuary for anyone wanting a break from the hustle of the High Street.  The gardens are only small but are free to the public and have several benches from which you can enjoy the views.

The floral displays in the grounds of Guildford Castle change throughout the seasons.  Walk for free through the castle grounds to admire the flowerbeds or see the daffodils growing up the side of the keep.

At the rear of the Norman Castle, you’ll find a bowling green and the statue of Alice in Wonderland, a tribute to Lewis Carroll who lived nearby.

• Read more: Finding Alice in Wonderland in Guildford
• Location:  Castle Street, Guildford, GU1 3SX
• Admission:  free

RHS Wisley is one of the UK’s finest gardens and showcases a collection of plants and flowers from around the world.  Set over 240 acres, it offers a variety of plants, shrubs and trees, providing inspiration for gardeners of all levels.  Without a doubt, it is one of the best gardens in Surrey.

The gardens at Wisley are divided into distinct themes.  Some of our favourite areas are the Rock Garden, Lavender Hill Viewing Point and of course, the Glasshouse.

Plus, if you’re looking for a Surrey garden to take children, RHS Wisley is a perfect choice.  It’s an ideal venue for meeting with friends and offers a fun day out for all the family.  Kids will love the Glasshouse, with its exotic species from around the world.  Wisley has a new play area and plenty of outdoor space where children can run and play.  Without a doubt, RHS Wisley is one of the best places to see spring flowers in Surrey.

• Location:  RHS Wisley, Woking, GU23 6QB
• Admission:  RHS Wisley (Admission is free for RHS members.  Click here for details of RHS membership.)

If you prefer a wider variety of plants, head to the Savill Gardens, which is also part of the Windsor Great Park estate.  Here you can enjoy 35 acres of interconnected gardens, with seasonal displays from around the world.

The ornamental gardens at Savill showcase thousands of species within the 35 acres of gardens, providing colour throughout the seasons.  In spring you can see daffodils, tulips, magnolia, as well as thousands of crocuses on the Conifer Lawn.  You can also find many rare plants at Savill Gardens.

The Savill Garden is a fantastic place to take children, as the new playground,  Adventure Play, is now open. (Please note that there is an additional admission charge for the playground.)

• Location:  Wick Lane, Englefield Green, Egham, TW20 0UJ
• Admission:  The Savill Garden

One of the prettiest gardens in Surrey to visit in spring is Ramster Gardens in Chiddingfold.  This hidden gem covers 25 acres of mature woodland.

Ramster Gardens will reopen from 23^rd March 2024 for visitors to enjoy the spectacular spring colour.

If you visit Ramster Gardens at the start of May you can enjoy the stunning collection of azaleas, rhododendrons, and camellias.  You can also enjoy an assortment of sculptures around the gardens, as part of the Surrey Sculpture Exhibition.

The family-friendly sculpture exhibition is open from 3^rd May to 2^nd June 2024.  Entrance is included in the admission price to the gardens.

• Read more:  A visit to Ramster Gardens, Surrey
• Location:  Petworth Road, Chiddingfold, Godalming, GU8 4SN
• Admission:  Ramster Gardens

One of the best Surrey gardens to visit in early spring is Gatton Park.

Gatton Park is a historic parkland near Reigate designed by Capability Brown.  Located on the North Downs Way, it offers sweeping views of the Surrey countryside.

On the first Sunday of every month, the park is open to the public.  At the start of the year, it offers a series of Snowdrop Days for the public to enjoy the stunning displays in the Rock Garden.

• Location:  Gatton Park, Reigate, RH2 0TW
• Admission:  Gatton Park

Dunsborough Park is a stately home set in 100 acres of landscaped gardens.  The stunning landscaped gardens have been divided into garden rooms, with different themes of flowers in each.  Some of the favourites include the Mediterranean Garden, the Old Rose Garden, and the walled garden.

In spring you can enjoy a kaleidoscope of colour from the tulips, making it one of the best spring gardens in Surrey.  In April, they host their own Tulip Festival in April.

The gardens at Dunsborough Park in Ripley are open to public on selected days, as part of the National Garden Scheme.  This year they will be hosting a Tulip Festival on the following dates:   14, 19-21 and 25-27 April.  The gardens are open from 11am – 4pm.  Bookings must be made in advance.

• Location: Ripley, nr Woking, Surrey (Use Sat nav ref:  GU23 6BZ)
• Admission:  Dunsborough Park

Kew Gardens is a world-class botanical garden in southwest London.  It’s just over the border from Surrey and a short ride on the train from London.

With one of the world’s most extensive collection of plants, Kew Gardens is one of the best UK gardens to visit at any time of the year.  A team of top gardeners ensure that visitors get to enjoy a kaleidoscope of colour all year round.

From early spring, you’ll see the vibrant colours of crocuses, snowdrops, and daffodils.  Later the delicate palette of the cherry blossoms and magnolias will steal the show.

In addition to the formal gardens,  Kew Gardens has an enormous natural play garden for children, with its own canopy walk.  This makes it a very family-friendly attraction.

In spring, visitors also have access to the annual Orchid Festival (3^rd February – 3^rd March 2024).

• Location:  Kew Gardens, Brentford Gate, Ferry Lane, TW9 3AF
• Information:  Kew Gardens

Just over the borders of Surrey, Leonardslee Gardens is one of West Sussex’s finest gardens.  Leonardslee is a mature Grade-1 listed garden with rare species from around the world.  As well as the flowers and ancient trees, you can see free-roaming wallabies, a sculpture trail and a Dolls’s House Museum.  They also have a new adventure playground, so is a very family-friendly attraction.

• Read more:  Leonardslee Gardens & Lakes
• Location:  Brighton Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 6PP
• Admission:  Adults from £14.50 and children from £8

Spring is always one of the best times to visit the Isabella plantation, when the gardens are ablaze with vibrant colour from the azaleas and rhododendron.  You can find this 40-acre woodland garden is a Victorian Garden within Richmond Park.   It’s just outside of Surrey or an easy train ride from London.

• Read more:  Exploring Richmond Park in London
• Location:  Richmond Park, TW10 5HS
• Admission:  free

Ham House is an elegant 17^th century house and gardens with a stunning riverside location near Richmond.

The gardens at Ham House were styled by the Duchess of Lauderdale, who previously lived there.  In spring thousands of crocuses, tulips and muscari provide an explosion of colour on the lawns.

From mid-June you can enjoy the more formal displays of lavender in the gardens at the side of the house.  Ham House also has its own Kitchen Garden, with a selection of seasonal flowers, fruits and vegetables.

This garden provides the Orangery Café with a range of fresh produce.  On a warm day, you can sit outside the café to enjoy the views.

• Read more:  A visit to Ham House & Gardens
• Location:  Ham House, Ham, Richmond, TW10 7RS
• Admission: free to National Trust members

Another fantastic place to embrace spring is at the Woodland Gardens in Bushy Park.  You’ll find plenty of natural play areas for kids, plus some more formal areas with streams and water features.  Expect to see daffodils, camellia, azaleas, and rhododendrons.

Across the other side of the park is a large children’s playground.  Plus, you may see some of the hundreds of deer who roam freely around the park.  You could also cross the park to see the royal gardens at Hampton Court Palace.

• Read more:  10 Best things to do at Bushy Park
• Location:  Bushy Park, TW11 0EQ
• Admission:  Free

Here’s a map to help you find the best gardens in and around Surrey:

Have you been to any of these gorgeous gardens in Surrey?  We’d love to hear your comments below.

You may also like:

• A visit to West Green House Gardens in Hampshire
• A visit to Snowshill Manor & Gardens, Cotswolds
• Our 9 best walks in the Surrey Hills
• 7 fantastic outdoor places in Surrey to take kids
• A family visit to Batsford Arboretum, Cotswolds

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