Local Reviews
In February 2023, trescomania said about Hestercombe Gardens
Loved the gardens / very quirky with unusual buildings dotted about. Snowdrops were stunning. Fantastic licensed cafe. Make great cheese scones served with cream cheese and chutney
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In April 2023, Helen T said about Hestercombe Gardens
Visited during the Easter holidays. We didn't think the house was anything special, nothing much in it and other than an exhibition of boards to read not worth bothering. The grounds and gardens were a delight though, plenty of paths, follies, lakes, views and great for getting out and about in nature.
Very slow service in the cafe, not enough staff and clearly couldn't cope.
Very slow service in the cafe, not enough staff and clearly couldn't cope.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In May 2023, louiseholistic said about Hestercombe Gardens
We really enjoyed our first ever visit here. Surprised that there is no reduction for seniors, we paid £29 for two adults without Gift Aid. The architectural art exhibition upstairs in the house was baffling, but the house itself was obviously stunning in its day and it was lovely to have access, admire the views and the elaborate plasterwork. The gardens were truly magnificent, we especially loved the Edwardian collaboration between Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens, it felt very secluded and well thought out, with far reaching views across the countryside. The borders were well kept and weed free. The gift shops were well stocked with high quality, local crafts and locally grown plants in the plant centre. We can’t comment on the cafe as we brought a picnic with us. Plenty of seating throughout the gardens. We plan to return at a different time of year to appreciate the planting and have lunch.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In May 2023, Evanitamushroom said about Hestercombe Gardens
Gardens are beautiful and a great mix of formal and informal , super friendly staff and amazingly delicious cakes in the tea room.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In May 2023, Peter R said about Hestercombe Gardens
We came here on 19th May 2023, via Taunton where we had been staying. It was a lovely warm late spring day, so good weather for a classic country House garden. We arrived shortly after opening at 10.00 and had coffee at the little restaurant. The gardens and grounds are not on a colossal scale and we were able to comfortably tour most of the property in about 2 hours. The landscaped areas were very good. The formal gardens are smaller than one might imagine, and my wife expressed a slight disappointment at the plantings, but I thought them charming. Obviously, one needs to come spring, summer and autumn to see the changing palettes of colour and form, but as we live in Birmingham, this is not an option! The house itself is a shadow of its former grandeur, having been kicked around during the war and after, and there is little to see except for a gallery of contemporary art, a gift shop (did not look especially interesting), and a 'second-hand' bookshop. This latter excited my imagination, but it was rather disappointing. True, there were some 'pre-owned' stuff, but quite a bit of the shelves were occupied by what looked like 'remaindered' items.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In May 2023, robfear2012 said about Hestercombe Gardens
First time visit and what a lovely surprise. Beautiful formal gardens, combined with pretty woodland walk. Delicious sausage roll from the cafe and a well stocked plant shop. However, staff were overprotective of any area being used for a wedding in the afternoon, which took the edge off of what otherwise would have been a memorable visit. We will go again but, only after checking there aren’t any weddings that day.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In May 2023, marilyn a said about Hestercombe Gardens
Beautiful gardens a lovely mix of wild and formal settings.
However for disabled visitors it is not so easy. The entrance via the cafe is dependent upon a member of staff being available to open a gate. One disabled lady was at first denied entry via the gate, staff said it wasn’t allowed!! There is a notice saying disabled access so clearly some staff training is needed. Only after 30 minutes was she finally allowed through. This isn’t good enough .
However for disabled visitors it is not so easy. The entrance via the cafe is dependent upon a member of staff being available to open a gate. One disabled lady was at first denied entry via the gate, staff said it wasn’t allowed!! There is a notice saying disabled access so clearly some staff training is needed. Only after 30 minutes was she finally allowed through. This isn’t good enough .
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In May 2023, eric t said about Hestercombe Gardens
Hestercombe is more than the fabulous Edwin Lutyens/Gertrude Jekyll designed formal garden abutting a magnificent south terrace - a lot more. Hestercombe owes
as much to Coplestone Warre Bampfylde who originally architected the site most of which is situated in a steep-sided valley. This provided the opportunity for ponds, waterfalls and winding paths through dense woodland, with viewing points cut through the trees to focus on a variety of follies and rolling landscapes
In addition all the staff we met were both helpful and knowledgable.
Don't forget to visit the House and llearn about its history.
It is definately worth a half day visit.
as much to Coplestone Warre Bampfylde who originally architected the site most of which is situated in a steep-sided valley. This provided the opportunity for ponds, waterfalls and winding paths through dense woodland, with viewing points cut through the trees to focus on a variety of follies and rolling landscapes
In addition all the staff we met were both helpful and knowledgable.
Don't forget to visit the House and llearn about its history.
It is definately worth a half day visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In June 2023, Don S said about Hestercombe Gardens
Visited these gardens with friends, and were not disappointed. Part formal, part less so, in early summer everywhere is a delight to the eye. Gertrude Jekyll's hand is evident, and her style well maintained. Recommended.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In June 2023, Blackth0rn said about Hestercombe Gardens
A pleasant and attractive country estate in a slightly out of the way location, it seems they have gone rather more for the natural look in the gardens than the very formal look, with plenty of dead heads on the roses for example, as well as patches of nettles. Not that it looked a mess, just not quite as pristine and immaculate as one might expect. The main focus here seems to be the gardens and grounds, with a fairly limited selection of things to view in the house.
The formal gardens are immediately behind the house, and these are very pleasant to wander around, with water features running through them and an orchard at the rear. A type of cellar area at the end houses a water wheel, some old machinery and some information about the history of the work carried out here. At the front of the house are more extensive grounds that wind up a valley, with a couple of large lakes, a waterfall and various artefacts such as a witch’s house, mausoleum and a rustic seat, many of which also double up as great viewing points. The house itself has an art gallery upstairs, whilst downstairs the only two rooms that seem to be in use are an exhibition with boards dating the development and owners of the estate, and a shop. The shop was mostly focussed on craft items such as jewellery, rather than the more usual selection of food and drink products or gardening items.
The obligatory café was open without buying tickets to the gardens, and consisted of both an inside area (table service) and outside. The cake selection was a little unusual, if you’re after a Victoria Sponge or Millionaire’s Shortbread for example, you’ll be disappointed. We opted for the Cherry & Almond cake, and a Hummingbird cake. Both were a little on the small side, and the Hummingbird cake tasted rather too much of coconut, which I didn’t think was one of the usual ingredients. The cherry and almond cake though was very tasty and lovely and moist. I didn’t like the fact that they were served in disposable cartons like you might get a takeaway burger in, along with a plastic fork. Admittedly the carton said it was made of sugar cane and fully compostable, but there must still be an environmental cost to the production and transportation of it, and there was no compost bin to put it in when you’d finished, only mixed recyclables or rubbish! Really, what an earth is wrong with a plate that can be washed up?
Overall though, a very pleasant place to wander around and worth a visit.
The formal gardens are immediately behind the house, and these are very pleasant to wander around, with water features running through them and an orchard at the rear. A type of cellar area at the end houses a water wheel, some old machinery and some information about the history of the work carried out here. At the front of the house are more extensive grounds that wind up a valley, with a couple of large lakes, a waterfall and various artefacts such as a witch’s house, mausoleum and a rustic seat, many of which also double up as great viewing points. The house itself has an art gallery upstairs, whilst downstairs the only two rooms that seem to be in use are an exhibition with boards dating the development and owners of the estate, and a shop. The shop was mostly focussed on craft items such as jewellery, rather than the more usual selection of food and drink products or gardening items.
The obligatory café was open without buying tickets to the gardens, and consisted of both an inside area (table service) and outside. The cake selection was a little unusual, if you’re after a Victoria Sponge or Millionaire’s Shortbread for example, you’ll be disappointed. We opted for the Cherry & Almond cake, and a Hummingbird cake. Both were a little on the small side, and the Hummingbird cake tasted rather too much of coconut, which I didn’t think was one of the usual ingredients. The cherry and almond cake though was very tasty and lovely and moist. I didn’t like the fact that they were served in disposable cartons like you might get a takeaway burger in, along with a plastic fork. Admittedly the carton said it was made of sugar cane and fully compostable, but there must still be an environmental cost to the production and transportation of it, and there was no compost bin to put it in when you’d finished, only mixed recyclables or rubbish! Really, what an earth is wrong with a plate that can be washed up?
Overall though, a very pleasant place to wander around and worth a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk