Hestercombe Gardens
Latest Reviews
Forget the sad commercial house and just enjoy the gardens
Source: google.com
We’ve been meaning to visit here for some time and a long drive back from Devon on a busy Sunday afternoon provided just the opportunity to turn off the M5 with all it’s traffic delays and just relax. The extensive gardens and parkland were a delight and very reminiscent of Stourhead, its 18th century contemporary. Not surprising really when you learn that the two owners were good friends. There is so much to see especially if you take the time to walk to the furthest points. Work is going on all the time to restore and recreate areas and small follies that have been lost over the years. The gardens alongside the house which were the creation of Jekyll and Lutyens are especially impressive. The restaurant is well worth visiting and has some very interesting food to suit all tastes which is better than you will find at many National Trust locations. Everyone of the staff we met were charming and helpful. The house itself has suffered from being used as a fire service HQ and training centre in recent years but there are plans to return it to its former glory. Overall this place is well worth a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Beautiful grounds to wander in at any time if the year. Cafe is good too. Not tried the .restaurant in the main house. Exhibition space good. Dog friendly cafe.
Source: google.com
Beautiful gardens and location, cafe food very good well worth a visit
Source: google.com
Great day out, lovely varied gardens well worth a visit.
Source: google.com
Wonderful place
Source: google.com
Great place to walk talk and chill out let the kids run and enjoy a coffee at the end .
Source: google.com
Historical gardens with two contrasting areas - the formal gardens designed by Gertrude Jekyll and the Georgian landscape garden. Delightful and well maintained. Art gallery in the house and a lovely cafe. Well worth a visit!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This coffee shop is very good for wheelchair users, there's plenty of space, and the staff are extremely helpful. It's a shame the whole garden isn't accessible, but the coffee shop makes up for this. 100% recommend to anyone visiting Taunton, and their cream teas are a MUST.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Lovely walks around the gardens and surrounding land. Great value for money. Would highly recommend.
Source: google.com
Great place to spend day outdoors.
Source: google.com
A very pleasant day out...lunch was also pleasant but all in all for the five of us in my opinion was very expensive...the gardens are of no great attraction and every time you turn round there is something asking for donations.. But it was a very pleasant day as the weather was fine and the company good. 100 marks to the restaurant waiting staff but I doubt you will see me again.
Source: google.com
Although this was some way from home it was worth it on arrival, it was spread over many acres and each garden had its own theme. Some gardens were very formal while others were more casual, there were 3 different ponds, each of great interest as well as orchards. There were summer houses,tunnels, a witch house, a temple arbour and much,much more. For refreshments there was a friendly cafe or a more formal dining room to cater for all needs.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Lovely place for children to explore.
Source: google.com
It's beautiful. A very nice gardens. Liked it so much I got an annual pass.
Source: google.com
We were enticed to visit Hestercombe Gardens with a 2 for 1 voucher in Gardeners World, this covers a number of the garden and houses not part of the National Trust membership. The map of the different trail routes could be enhanced if the trails were colour coordinated with helpful arrows sign posts showing the way. The walks through the trees are pleasant and not too strenuous for averagely fit people, some seating is provided along the way, although the moss growing on a few of the benches could make your clothes dirty. We had a nice time ambling along and afterwards had a cup of tea and a bite to eat in the café.
The modern exhibits upstairs in the house was very disappointing, in fact we were grateful the house entrance fee was included and not extra to the entrance fee.
The modern exhibits upstairs in the house was very disappointing, in fact we were grateful the house entrance fee was included and not extra to the entrance fee.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Hestercombe is a good place to walk the dog or have a good explore of the grounds and have a tasty lunch. However I feel it is overpriced. The entry fee is €11.80 but that's for the grounds only.This is dearer than National Trust properties and there is no house to view in this price. Luckily I went with a friend who is a member so got in for free. The lunch is tasty but again expensive for a light meal. I wouldn't pay these prices myself.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Beautiful garden faithfully tended
Source: google.com
We went to Hestercombe with my 2 grandchildren aged 13 and 11 for the day and passed away a lovely few hours. We all loved it especially the viewing points like the witches house and the waterfall. It helped that the weather was beautiful too.
The contemporary art exhibition in the house was interesting and the second hand book shop had some amazing books for sale.
We had lunch in the cafe which was lovely and well presented but a little pricey.
We liked it so much we bought annual passes. This is somewhere you could come time and time again.
The contemporary art exhibition in the house was interesting and the second hand book shop had some amazing books for sale.
We had lunch in the cafe which was lovely and well presented but a little pricey.
We liked it so much we bought annual passes. This is somewhere you could come time and time again.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
There is a lot of walking to see everything but it is well worth it. The little shop was nice but we did find the cafe to be rather expensive so best take your own food and drink to keep costs sensible.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A good relaxing day experience.
Source: google.com
Absoulutly stunning place
Source: google.com
Beautiful, well organised, welcoming place to visit.
Source: google.com
Reclaimed from decades of neglect and restored since the 1960's, as a labor of love by a non-profit gardens trust, the gardens are in three parts:
1. A fifty-acre Georgian landscape park, with walking trails through woodland valleys, follies and a pretty cascade;
2. A formal Victorian terrace, with islands of bedding plants;
3. A very large sunken garden below, a 1904-1908 collaboration by the informal partnership of Sir Edwin Lutyens, who did the hardscape (also note the "Lutyens benches") and Gertrude Jekyll, who supplied the planting plans and first plants. This garden is widely considered to be their joint masterpiece. It is also one of three faithful restorations (Munstead Wood, Upton Grey) of Jekyll's artistic vision and work.
The exterior visitor center has the casual Stables Cafe and a gift shop that includes plant sales. Inside the house, there is a small art gallery, with art for sale, and a used book shop. The Column Restaurant provided our coach tour with a generous and colorful buffet for a light lunch.
See the website for visiting hours and public events.
1. A fifty-acre Georgian landscape park, with walking trails through woodland valleys, follies and a pretty cascade;
2. A formal Victorian terrace, with islands of bedding plants;
3. A very large sunken garden below, a 1904-1908 collaboration by the informal partnership of Sir Edwin Lutyens, who did the hardscape (also note the "Lutyens benches") and Gertrude Jekyll, who supplied the planting plans and first plants. This garden is widely considered to be their joint masterpiece. It is also one of three faithful restorations (Munstead Wood, Upton Grey) of Jekyll's artistic vision and work.
The exterior visitor center has the casual Stables Cafe and a gift shop that includes plant sales. Inside the house, there is a small art gallery, with art for sale, and a used book shop. The Column Restaurant provided our coach tour with a generous and colorful buffet for a light lunch.
See the website for visiting hours and public events.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A sheer delight. Worth every penny of the £17 it cost for me and my son to go in. Stunningly beautiful gardens. Cannot do justice in words.
Source: google.com
