Hestercombe Gardens
Latest Reviews
Great garden, good facilities
Source: google.com
Visited in Easter holidays - kids enjoyed the gardens although only had a very small play area. Great Cafe - good food and coffee.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Excellent day out. You can take the dog, feed the ducks and fish. Children can run around and explore. Brilliant cafe in doors and out and you can take your dog in. Lovely amazing walks with lovely views. All the staff were friendly and helpful. A brilliant day out.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
These are great gardens set in the hills above Taunton. The house is not open but the gardens are well worth going to. There is a formal gardens and an informal woodland walks.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Great user experience - and friendly, helpful staff in a location of outstanding beauty.
Source: google.com
Such a special place to watch the seasons change . Gardens beautiful . Courtyard cafe good choice but food a bit pricey ..Gift shop and garden centre worth a view.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I cannot imagine why being practically on our doorstep why we have not visited before. The gardens are beautiful, lots of hidden surprises including waterfalls. The cafe served lovely food with plenty of choice. My son did the Easter egg trail and played on the remote control boats and had a lovely time. I really cannot recommend this place enough.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Our first visit here since moving down to Somerset or at all that matter. A lovely day was had, the formal gardens a little bare as I would expect early April but we look forward to regular visits to see the seasonal changes.plenty of bird life about and saw our first swallow of the season, just arrived!
The shop and plant centre very good and the plants a very reasonable price compared to garden centres.
The art exhibition not to our taste though and the rooms were too hot to stay in for long, especially when going in from a cooler outside.
I thought the restaurant looked lovely and hope to try this soon, and I believe a very good Sunday lunch can be had at the cafe.
Oh, and it's dog friendly too!
The shop and plant centre very good and the plants a very reasonable price compared to garden centres.
The art exhibition not to our taste though and the rooms were too hot to stay in for long, especially when going in from a cooler outside.
I thought the restaurant looked lovely and hope to try this soon, and I believe a very good Sunday lunch can be had at the cafe.
Oh, and it's dog friendly too!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Recently had a lovely day out with friends and our children. We all loved it. Great walk, beautiful gardens and the restaurant finished it off perfectly. Although, the weather wasn't great it was lovely. Have definitely planned to return in the summer as will be lovely to take a picnic and spend the day there. The children loved exploring.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We have been here once before when we bought a really good value family membership which gives 2 adults and 3 children free entry for a year. This time we came it was Mothering Sunday, we had a lovely roast in the Stable cafe which was not at all crowded, and really good value. The gardens were loved by all and it is a great place to play hide and seek for the young and old kids, the youngest being 6 and the oldest 77!! I'm looking forward to coming back through the seasons. The only disappointment was that the shop did not have more plants. A peaceful oasis on the edge of Taunton.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A visit here on a fabulous spring sunny day in March was of mixed reactions. The grounds are extensive but perhaps lack the wow factor in terms of planting. The walks are pleasant but in some places fairly steep. The formal gardens probably look better with summer planting ? but are of good interest. The house is somewhat odd with very abstract art works on display and even a strange concert taking place in the hallway. All in all worth a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
There was a lot to see even in early spring as we walked all around the grounds at Hestercombe, and quite a lot of colour too. On a breezy day once we were up into the sheltered valley it was very pleasant, our walk took about two hours. This was our first visit since the house has been open to the public, we went into the restaurant and had soup and a roll which was good. The second hand book shop is also good and I picked up a book at a decent price. By the time we had walked around the formal gardens our visit had lasted over three hours, which I thought made the entry fee good value.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Had a lovely family day out with picnic and a very long walk through this wonderful place. Great place.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
my partner was not happy that there was no concessions for oaps, the gardens were nice and very interresting to walk around, the waterwheel was very good, had a coffee in the cafe a little expensive ( but no different than other places like this)
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Went there for a few hours with the wife to marvel at the beautiful gardens, lovely gardens well kept, had a coffee in the cafe, not expensive, always something different to see, helps if the sun is shining
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We didn't get to see all the gardens as it started to tip down with rain. I gave it 5 based on what we saw which was excellent. The restaurant for lunch was outstanding and then to walk in the gardens and come back to the restaurant for a real cup of tea was wonderful. The watermill was very interesting and the bookshop inside was well stocked and had knowledgeable staff. We will be back to see more in better weather. It is expensive to get in but there is a lot there. Even our four legged friends were welcome.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We are members and frequent visitors. Hestercombe has something to offer through the year for all ages. Regular special, seasonal events help to keep everyone's interest while creating a sense of anticipation! Grounds are wonderful and food, especially in the Stable Cafe, is to be recommended.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We have been visiting Hestercombe gardens for many years and alway enjoy the varied walks around he formal and woodland gardens. Spring and Autumn are good for the woodland gardens, with spring bulbs, snowdrops, daffodils and bluebells and golden leaves in the Autumn. In the summer you can enjoy shaded walks through the woods and paddle in the stream and the formal garden is stunning set amongst the Lutyens architecture.
Much work has been done to the gardens over the years and continues to the day. The house has recently opened, but is not particularly note worthy.
There is a nice cafe and formal tea room and gift shop and plant sales area. Parking is free.
Membership is reasonable especially if you live close by and make regular visits.
Much work has been done to the gardens over the years and continues to the day. The house has recently opened, but is not particularly note worthy.
There is a nice cafe and formal tea room and gift shop and plant sales area. Parking is free.
Membership is reasonable especially if you live close by and make regular visits.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
What a lovely garden. I had visited before and been distracted by the fabulous formal garden, this time of year is less spectacular so we decided to look at the informal part.
The lady where you pay is so friendly (consistent with last visit), but we didn't quite believe the '2hrs to get around' - amateurs that we are!!
You could do a circuit much quicker if short of time but it really is worth finding all of the buildings and their views. There is a wonderful cafe/restaurant and shop selling gifts & plants on site as well as a beauty salon (as yet untried).
The house was disappointing as the art gallery was shut for changeover of artist and it can best be described as a work in progress although there is a formal restaurant with magnificent views and they hold weddings there.
Loads of space for children to run around and plenty of picnic areas when the weather picks up.
We all need to support this independent and historic house (but mostly garden!!)
The lady where you pay is so friendly (consistent with last visit), but we didn't quite believe the '2hrs to get around' - amateurs that we are!!
You could do a circuit much quicker if short of time but it really is worth finding all of the buildings and their views. There is a wonderful cafe/restaurant and shop selling gifts & plants on site as well as a beauty salon (as yet untried).
The house was disappointing as the art gallery was shut for changeover of artist and it can best be described as a work in progress although there is a formal restaurant with magnificent views and they hold weddings there.
Loads of space for children to run around and plenty of picnic areas when the weather picks up.
We all need to support this independent and historic house (but mostly garden!!)
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
It is nice here but very over-priced unless you are a member. The tearooms are okay but they could probably do more with it and I thought it was also slightly overpriced.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Great walks, gardens, shop and refreshments
Source: google.com
Fairly local to this place and been many times. The gardens are a wonderful space but this time we went to see the house and the art exhibition, what a disappointment ! The house has some fantastic features and could be fabulous if they had the money to restore the place properly, but the art ? Well, total rubbish in our view and completely out of context in its environment. Contemporary art is an acquired taste I realise but this stuff is nonsense ! I am sure there are better local artists could would exhibit here which are more in keeping with the surroundings firstly, and secondly, not likened to a poorly put together primary school collection.... Very poor, the second hand book shop however is great !
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Lovely walks and gardens as promised in the guide. Visited the art exhibition which was in the lovely old house but wished there was some way of restoring the house to its former glory as it has some stunning features - the art wasn't it for me but each to their own. The cafe served lovely food at reasonable prices and lots of gluten free options so very happy husband. Well worth a visit and next time we will go in the summer with a picnic as such lovely grounds to roam.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Popped in for Sunday lunch in the stable lovely roast and able to walk it off Afterwards in pleasant surroundings
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A very nice venue to relax with friends and family. Lovely gardens to walk around and the restaurant serves tasty food
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
