Hestercombe Gardens
Latest Reviews
We were given a map to find our way around the gardens at first and our dogs made welcome with a dig biscuit.
We loved the waterfalls and all the different monuments around the gardens. Our dogs loved having a drink and paddle by the waterfall.
Finish our trip off with coffee, and lovely cakes from the stable cafe.
Definitely worth a visit including dog owners.
We loved the waterfalls and all the different monuments around the gardens. Our dogs loved having a drink and paddle by the waterfall.
Finish our trip off with coffee, and lovely cakes from the stable cafe.
Definitely worth a visit including dog owners.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a beautiful part of the West Country to visit and an absolute Must Do if you're in Taunton or the nearby area. The gardens are really beautiful at this time of year too (September) when the leaves are starting to fall and the whole place is bathed in a golden light at the close of each day. Fish and duck food are available and an honesty box is provided. How they are managing to keep it looking so tidy with just TWO gardeners is beyond me but the areas in the landscape garden where it's 'returning to wilderness' don't look out of place at all. We have visited before and the shop, now in the main house, looks stunning with the extra light coming in and the surrounding views, and all the goods are so expertly chosen and displayed. It's very easy to social distance in there now where before it was not so easy and often felt a bit claustrophobic. Now it is clean and bright. It offers a wide range of local crafts and gifts at reasonable prices from beeswax candles to artisan fruit bowls and birthday cards and the odd Hestercombe souvenir too. It really compliments the whole ethos of the place - a great end to our visit. My little dog was made very welcome (on a lead) and was even offered a treat which made his day. Great customer service in the cafe and friendly faces all round. Plenty of socially-distanced picnicking going on and children are well catered for in the play area and follies where their imagination can run amok - especially in the spooky Witch's House up in the woods! Loved it. A true credit to the area.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Lovely walk
Source: google.com
We had coffees at the outside tables on a lawn, a lovely walk all around the grounds including the higher woods, and a really tasty lunch in the covered area at the Stables restaurant - whole visit much enjoyed, including in the afternoon a lucky chance to catch the exhibition in the house in its last couple of weeks. Covid precautions all good, they've done a great job
Source: google.com
Very interesting place
Source: google.com
A very enjoyable visit
Source: google.com
Beautiful natural & formal areas. Timings excellent & Covid 19 safety precautions. A variety of different paths, with something of interest around every corner.
Source: google.com
Superb stop and well worth it. So much to see and take in. An inspiration!
Source: google.com
Covid secure. Well organised. Beautiful as ever. Highly recommended for peace and tranquillity
Source: google.com
Beautiful natural gardens that restore the soul. The formal gardens are still a mass of vivid colour-stunning. Friendly and helpful staff and a great one way system with hand sanitisers to cope with Covid. Really interesting and relaxing day. Thanks.
Source: google.com
Great place to walk with friends
Source: google.com
Fantastic day at Hestercombe Gardens, slightly wild covid induced look to the plants but we loved it. Had a delicious picnic made by the cafe which we felt we deserved after cycling up from Taunton!
Source: google.com
I visited Hestercombe Gardens during a short break to Taunton, walking the three miles from the town centre. It was a pleasant enough visit but in common with other recent visitors was rather disappointed with the formal gardens themselves. I suspect neglect is not simply as a result of Covid-19 this summer. I hoped to see more variety of plants and more imaginative use of the space. That said, I enjoyed the trail around the grounds and the views on a gloriously sunny day. The ladies at the welcome kiosk were lovely and the cafe serves a mean (excellent) selection of cakes.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Had a great day at Hestercombe Gardens celebrating our 48th wedding anniversary, lovely gardens and great history behind it all. A staff member Chris, helped in getting us booked in and was very friendly and helpful much appreciated thankyou.
Source: google.com
Really nice. Very friendly staff and beautiful gardens. Parts were closed but that's to be expected at the moment. Will be back to see the rest. Thanks.
Source: google.com
Fantastic garden, i think the lack of visitors due to covid has made this place not the very best this year. Still its worth a visit with lot of friendly people and staff around. Hope it will go back to its former glory soon
Source: google.com
A fabulous place to visit even on the drizzle! A great contrast between the landscaped upper gardens and the formal gardens next to the house.
Source: google.com
It's obviously been difficult to keep the gardens pristine with reduced staff during lockdown but this is clearly signed and explained as you arrive. Still the formal gardens are beautiful and the informal gardens expansive. We would have liked a bit more information about the place itself and the things there. Dunster gardens had a whole section on the history of the site and the gardens and I feel hestercombe could do with the same
Source: google.com
A little tired after having had to furlough lots of gardeners,but wonderful landscaping by Lutyens and I would like to have seen Gertrude Jeykell's original planting.
Source: google.com
Lovely brooks and streams for little ones to play in
Source: google.com
Fantastic example of several centuries of garden design, including the wonderful Lutyens / Jekyll formal garden. Great day out for garden lovers, for nature lovers. 🙂
Source: google.com
Beautiful walks and excellent formal gardens, despite the reduced staffing level. The picnic area on the lawn, cafe level, is well socially distanced, with lovely views.
Source: google.com
Beautiful formal gardens and lovely walk through grounds . Enjoyed lunch and afternoon tea in the cafè.
Source: google.com
An enjoyable walk thru the gardens and are still interesting and beautiful despite the issues in plants. Also had an enjoyable lunch in the cafe. Excellent service from the courteous staff. Highly recommended
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Best part was the formal gardens as the informal gardens were not looked after in the same wsy
Source: google.com
