Hestercombe Gardens
Latest Reviews
Beautiful place to go for a sunset
Source: google.com
Absolutely fantastic morning out doing the halpween trail and exploring the gardens, woods and trails despite heavy rain. The kids adored the Halloween trial and making their own potions. Lots of space for the little ones to run wild, puddles, and places to sit and relax. In the summer it would be amazing to take a picnic. Lots of car parking, great kids play area and the cafe/ shop is fantastic. The chocolate brownies were delicious.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We made the mistake of visiting Hestercombe during halfterm week. Unfortunately the visit was marred by a lot of unsupervised children ready for Halloween activities, the big queues and even bigger waits for food in the cafe, where there didn't seem to be enough staff to cope. At one stage a gardener was helping to clear the tables, which were piled high with discarded food and plates. It was not Hestercombe's fault, but would draw the line at mothers changing nappies on cafe tables.
The gardens and grounds were really superb and would have enjoyed it more if time had allowed. Lunch took an awful lot longer than we had planned.
It felt as though the place needed a bit of a tidy up. The great big commercial dustbins outside the front of the house just made tit look a bit tatty and uncared for.
We will give it another try on another day. We are members at Forde Abbey which means we get concessionary entry. Unfortunately this visit was, to be honest,very disappointing.
The gardens and grounds were really superb and would have enjoyed it more if time had allowed. Lunch took an awful lot longer than we had planned.
It felt as though the place needed a bit of a tidy up. The great big commercial dustbins outside the front of the house just made tit look a bit tatty and uncared for.
We will give it another try on another day. We are members at Forde Abbey which means we get concessionary entry. Unfortunately this visit was, to be honest,very disappointing.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
One of my favourite places to visit, excellent cafe and beautiful gardens and grounds. The garden team work incredibly hard to capture how the grounds should be, excellent events put on for children too, this year (2016) it was called Terrific Tuesdays brilliant brilliant fun for children and adults of all ages!. I visit as often as possible, beautiful in every changing season. Great events all year round - worth visiting at Christmas time for Ice Rink too!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
These gardens are superb and put on a range of really good activities and events throughout the year. The cafe and shop are all great. Despite this, and the fact I live very close, I only visit a couple of times a year due to the high entry price. It is absolutely well worth a visit but when you are a national trust member the free options are more appealing.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Had lunch and then went to check out gardens. Food in cafe really good and reasonable cost. Children really enjoyed finding follies in the garden and I enjoyed how pretty the gardens were . Lovely place and would definitely visit again.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We love Hestercombe, we had a wonderful time completing the potion trail & dressing up as witches with broomsticks at the witch's house. We always love splashing around in the stream in our wellies. We finished with a lovely hot chocolate, having had a nice walk around the gardens. We will be back again soon, would recommend to people of all ages, we went with a 2 year old & 7 year old and with grand parents who are members.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
What a fantastic place to visit with the child over half term/holidays I decided to join up a membership and what great value for money. The kids run their little socks off and have fun outdoors. You'd be silly not to give this a visit. Just beautiful
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We went along, confidently producing our National Trust membership cards... Anyway, £22 later (no reduction for old folk) we were in. We missed the introduction to the history of the place and could only piece it together from some videos and, later, a printed sheet. We had a very pleasant walk around the gardens (unfortunately the lovely waterfall had dried up through lack of rain). We eventually found ourselves in the house and in the temporary art exhibition where I gained more insight into the place through the explanations of the lady in attendance here. I am sure it will all improve over the years as Hestercombe has only been in possession of the Hestercombe Trust since 2013.
The formal gardens (as seen on 'Gardeners' World') were impressive, although the house looks pretty austere from that side.
The formal gardens (as seen on 'Gardeners' World') were impressive, although the house looks pretty austere from that side.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A most relaxing and beautiful place to spend a couple of hours and enjoy a decent walk. It's well worth becoming a member as you only need to visit 2/3 times to make it financially sensible. The tea room is very good however the house, which hasn't been open long, is a little disappointing
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I've had several memberships to Hestercombe, but always take a packed lunch. I visited with my partner and our children this weekend, who are all 6 and under. We each had one drink and one modest meal (3 children's meals and 2 baguettes - except they actually gave us sandwiches), and it came in at £40!! We will definitely never make the mistake of forgetting the packed lunch again! Lovely day out otherwise.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We were there 2 hours, looked at it all. Not as pretty as i thought it may be. Well kept. Wouldn't have thought it really worth the £11 each to get in though.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Very lovely gardens with several separate areas. We enjoyed looking at the water mill. Very good shop with plants and interesting gifts. Disappointing cafe. The coffee should be avoided.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Hestercombe Gardens are an oasis of tranquility and well worth a visit. Living locally I have become a member and am always pleased to take visitors there as I know they will thoroughly enjoy the experience. Dogs are welcome too and I took friends who were staying with us and their dog and they commented how lucky I was to live so close to such beautiful gardens. We had a great walk followed by delicious cake and coffee in the Hestercombe cafe where dog bowls were provided for our thirsty dogs. Also there's a lovely shop selling gifts and plants etc. During the summer they had special activity days for children which looked very well supported.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Early review complains that it's expensive at £9.50, today's visit it was £11.00 per person, Very over priced, house not worth visiting and garden takes maybe 1.30 mins. Restaurant also very expensive. Surely at least winter should be cheaper. Very few people there, not surprised at that price.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a lovely place to wander around, and I highly recommend this activity. If you live nearby, or are visiting nearby, drive out there and take a look. You can walk around the house, and/or formal gardens, and/or the lakeside footpaths. Much of the experience is (in my opinion) accessible to those who are disabled. However, I do not recommend the cafe/restaurant, since the crockery and cutlery have never been clean enough for my liking. Maybe I am too fussy. Maybe not.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Expensive. Cascade not working and Turkish tent taken down. Borders past their best. Should be half price reduction.
Source: google.com
A stunning set of gardens and trees in a beautiful setting. Several lovely walks to explore various follies and ponds. Worth a visit but a tad pricey
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Had a great day in these amazing gardens. Fantastic views of the surrounding countryside. Cafe good great cakes and food.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
These gardens were our private playground when I was a child - they were completely overgrown and left to ruin, and my brother and I and other local children would sneak in when the grounds belonged to the fire service, build dens, fish in the lakes and generally enjoy our own little secret paradise from the time we were pushed out of the door of a morning during the summer holidays until it got dark or until we got hungry, whichever came first.
So it was with some trepidation that I returned with my own young family twenty years later, not wanting the shine to fade from my rose-tinted memories. The place has changed beyond recognition, but it was enchanting to discover as if for the first time the sweeping formal gardens that had been lying hidden during all the years we spent running through them, and which we had never seen through the masses of undergrowth. The work that must have gone into restoring them to their former Victorian splendour must have been enormous. The addition and restoration of various follies around the grounds makes for interesting walks. The bluebells in Spring are fabulous and the view from the Mausoleum my favourite - my daughter loves the Witch's House and the waterfall, she also loves feeding the ducks and there is a sweet little play area at the entrance. I don't know whether I'm biased by my happy memories but I love the place, and I'm so pleased it is being well looked after for others to now enjoy the way I did when I was a child - I bought a family membership a few years ago as I hope it can continue to be cared for and enjoyed for many years to come.
So it was with some trepidation that I returned with my own young family twenty years later, not wanting the shine to fade from my rose-tinted memories. The place has changed beyond recognition, but it was enchanting to discover as if for the first time the sweeping formal gardens that had been lying hidden during all the years we spent running through them, and which we had never seen through the masses of undergrowth. The work that must have gone into restoring them to their former Victorian splendour must have been enormous. The addition and restoration of various follies around the grounds makes for interesting walks. The bluebells in Spring are fabulous and the view from the Mausoleum my favourite - my daughter loves the Witch's House and the waterfall, she also loves feeding the ducks and there is a sweet little play area at the entrance. I don't know whether I'm biased by my happy memories but I love the place, and I'm so pleased it is being well looked after for others to now enjoy the way I did when I was a child - I bought a family membership a few years ago as I hope it can continue to be cared for and enjoyed for many years to come.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Great place for a walk or to stop by the cafe for food or a cup of tea. Events for children and everyone throughout the year.
Source: google.com
Awesome gardens! Around 90 acres of woodland and fields to wander around. Fantastic place to take the family, dogs welcome on a short lead. Definitely worth a visit!
Source: google.com
Recently visited with my wife. We thought the gardens were lovely but the house is a waste of time. All the rooms are empty except for about 5 pictures on the ground floor, and a lot of the room walls have been covered and spoilt with modern panels? There were some other "art" exhibition paintings by modern painter, not my thing.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Beautiful house and Gardens owned by thr national trust.
Source: google.com
Really nice gardens worth a visit. Pleasant food in cafe. Well laid out gardens with walks adaptable for short or long visits and degrees of ability.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
