Local Reviews
In April 2025, Nigel S said about Hestercombe Gardens
Gardens are amazing all year round plenty to see as you walk around formal gardens are varied and well kept and the woodland/park areas offer interesting mix. Gallery was ok but overall let the whole thing down a little and had the feel of needing a bit more work. Internal visit of building could do with more information about history. Cafe provides a varied menu but certainly not cheap.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In April 2025, Daydream20759995959 said about Hestercombe Gardens
Ordering tea coffee cake or savoury snack used to be pleasurable.
Now there is a Please wait to be seated sign.Quite unnecessary on a quiet day.
Worse still one is not permitted to enter purchase and pay for hot drinks cake etc
Hence this is no longer a place where I feel happy to lunch or bring friends.
I prefered it when it had a less elitist feel.
Your small cafe is better but rarely open.
PG tea bags are a disappointing feature.I would expect better.
A more casual relaxed feel would be better suited to a garden visit.
If I wanted fine dining and table service I would go elsewhere.
I would like cosy casual and much rather pay as I order.
Sadly it was lovely and now it isn't.
Now there is a Please wait to be seated sign.Quite unnecessary on a quiet day.
Worse still one is not permitted to enter purchase and pay for hot drinks cake etc
Hence this is no longer a place where I feel happy to lunch or bring friends.
I prefered it when it had a less elitist feel.
Your small cafe is better but rarely open.
PG tea bags are a disappointing feature.I would expect better.
A more casual relaxed feel would be better suited to a garden visit.
If I wanted fine dining and table service I would go elsewhere.
I would like cosy casual and much rather pay as I order.
Sadly it was lovely and now it isn't.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In May 2025, Margaret B said about Hestercombe Gardens
Absolutely wonderful gardens. Loved the daisy steps and the climb through trees and past ponds is well worth it for the view of Taunton vale. Lots of temples and such like allowing you to take in the vistas and have a rest.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In May 2025, Patembleton said about Hestercombe Gardens
The gardens are lovely as usual but there is no where to get a drink of anything or buy a cake or ice cream without sitting in a restaurant setting. I had lunch there and although I felt the waiters welcoming but the food was mediocre and I really don’t want to be forced into a formal setting when I visit a garden. It is also worrying that there are no points to even fill a water bottle, I became dehydrated as i finished the gardens.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In May 2025, S Woody said about Hestercombe Gardens
Visited yesterday with family. Hestercombe is lovely as it has both formal gardens & more natural woodland/meadow walks. We were very fortunate to see a pair of Canadian Geese next to the largest pond. It was calming to browse the second hand book shop & the plant stalls. We very much enjoyed tea & cake at the restaurant, I particularly like that it’s table service as it’s far more pleasant and relaxing.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In May 2025, darren p said about Hestercombe Gardens
This is a beautiful place great gardens where dogs are more than welcome but not in the actual house theirs a lovely place to buy food and plants we had a great day
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In May 2025, Linda M said about Hestercombe Gardens
The gardens are beautiful and we particularly love walking through the woodland with the lovely bluebells on show. What does annoy us is the cafe is now a restaurant and a formal “ wait to be seated”set up. A woman is wandering around flashing menu’s around at 11.am when all we want is a coffee and maybe a cake. The management are obviously on a money making scheme and this is very off putting. The old cafe has now been turned into a book lending snug! Last summer we enjoyed having a coffee and occasional cake on the lawn but that’s all gone now.
Another irritant is the Wedding events . We were sitting on a bench in the landscape garden when we were told to leave as the bride would be walking past ! What a cheek if they don’t want the public there then the bridal party should have to pay Hestercombe to close it down that day to the public like other large venues do.
The grounds are wonderful but the way the place is run is not.
Another irritant is the Wedding events . We were sitting on a bench in the landscape garden when we were told to leave as the bride would be walking past ! What a cheek if they don’t want the public there then the bridal party should have to pay Hestercombe to close it down that day to the public like other large venues do.
The grounds are wonderful but the way the place is run is not.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In June 2025, floss143 said about Hestercombe Gardens
Hestercombe gardens are beautiful, well worth a visit.
On the downside, the café only sell cakes on Monday and Tuesday. We went in after 12.00 expecting to be able to buy something savoury, sandwich etc only to be told not available on these days. Very disappointing.
On the downside, the café only sell cakes on Monday and Tuesday. We went in after 12.00 expecting to be able to buy something savoury, sandwich etc only to be told not available on these days. Very disappointing.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In June 2025, Chris B said about Hestercombe Gardens
Hestercombe Gardens remain beautiful and extensive, and I’ve enjoyed many visits over the years.
The house once featured excellent art and photography exhibitions, but I didn’t renew my membership this year due to noticeable decline.
During my final year, the gift shop relocated, the cafe closed and there were no new exhibitions. The estate looked increasingly neglected—shuttered windows with weeds behind the glass, broken features like the turbine generator and AV tunnel display, and long-closed upper estate paths.
The much-loved self-service café, once offering quick drinks and snacks, has been replaced by a gift shop. The remaining restaurant is overpriced and inefficient for a simple coffee stop.
I understand funding may be limited as a charitable trust, but the absence of a basic café is a missed opportunity. Hosting exhibitions by local artists, college art departments and photographic clubs could revive interest and enhance the visitor experience.
The house once featured excellent art and photography exhibitions, but I didn’t renew my membership this year due to noticeable decline.
During my final year, the gift shop relocated, the cafe closed and there were no new exhibitions. The estate looked increasingly neglected—shuttered windows with weeds behind the glass, broken features like the turbine generator and AV tunnel display, and long-closed upper estate paths.
The much-loved self-service café, once offering quick drinks and snacks, has been replaced by a gift shop. The remaining restaurant is overpriced and inefficient for a simple coffee stop.
I understand funding may be limited as a charitable trust, but the absence of a basic café is a missed opportunity. Hosting exhibitions by local artists, college art departments and photographic clubs could revive interest and enhance the visitor experience.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In June 2025, Cruiser46765351446 said about Hestercombe Gardens
Beautiful wooded landscape up through the valley. The sun was shining, birds were singing and it was a wonderfully peaceful place to be walking. I did feel that far too much laurel had been planted though, seemingly to cheaply and easily fill in gaps. It meant colour was not as plentiful as it could be. Lutyens formal gardens were lovely and were obviously very well planted and tended. Well done the garden team.
My gripe would be food and drink. I wanted a cafe for a quick coffee stop but there wasn't one. Instead they have gone down the rather hoity toity route with a head waiter who pretty obviously looked down his nose at us. I don't need to be waited on and I don't want to pay extra for something I don't need. Inflated prices don't help either. Get rid of it. Make it a cafeteria style, reduce prices by 20%, I'm not going to pay £4.50 for an average slice of cake. Maybe have a separate coffee and snack 'to go' outlet where you can just pick something up without being seated. The restaurant is pretty obviously there to sting the foreign coach parties of which 3 were there. Finally the house. Get some interesting exhibitions going. It was good to read the history of the place but it could have been put into two rooms, not spread out thinly over lots.
My gripe would be food and drink. I wanted a cafe for a quick coffee stop but there wasn't one. Instead they have gone down the rather hoity toity route with a head waiter who pretty obviously looked down his nose at us. I don't need to be waited on and I don't want to pay extra for something I don't need. Inflated prices don't help either. Get rid of it. Make it a cafeteria style, reduce prices by 20%, I'm not going to pay £4.50 for an average slice of cake. Maybe have a separate coffee and snack 'to go' outlet where you can just pick something up without being seated. The restaurant is pretty obviously there to sting the foreign coach parties of which 3 were there. Finally the house. Get some interesting exhibitions going. It was good to read the history of the place but it could have been put into two rooms, not spread out thinly over lots.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk