The gardens at Beningbrough

Carpet of snowdrops along the ha-ha walk — A carpet of spring snowdrops

Discover the formal gardens, walled kitchen garden, herbaceous borders and wildlife areas; each with their own style and beauty.

Year round appeal

With over eight acres of formal gardens to explore, relax among the flowers or see how the fruit collection is coming along in the two acre walled garden. Each area tends to be at its best at a different time of the year and watching the season change is often a reason to return time after time.

The internationally acclaimed garden designer Andy Sturgeon has created a design that will be slowly introduced to enhance aspects of the landscape at Beningbrough.

RHS Partner Garden

We are delighted that Beningbrough is an RHS partner gardens. RHS members can visit for free any day we're open in 2022. Free entrance is for the member only and please remember to bring your RHS membership card on the day as we are unable to verify memberships directly with the RHS.

What to look out for on your wanders

Oak beams with planting and a path underneath

Pergola

The second exciting and most significant development to date for Beningbrough’s garden transformation was completed in spring 2018; planted to Chelsea standards and creating an instant garden. Wisteria 'Alba' grows over oak beams and is underplanted with bulbs, flowering shrubs and topiary. The south facing wall makes it the perfect spot to sit for a moment and soak in the sunshine.

Man pushing a woman in a wheelchair along a path surrounded by flowers

The walled garden

A stroll around Beningbrough's walled garden will take you through the historic pear arch, by the vines in the greenhouse and all the other growing produce. Over 90 varieties of fruit are grown here on 170 trees and shrubs. A wide range of vegetables are cultivated using traditional methods in two acres of enclosed kitchen garden. Harvested produce is used in the restaurant adding to the flavours on the menu.

Long colourful border with the corner and roof of a hall in the background

Wildlife areas around the garden

Where possible, the gardens work to help wildlife thrive. 300,000 bulbs emerge in spring along the ha-ha overlooking the south parkland. As the carpets fade the area is left to naturalise with vetches, clovers and buttercups. Beyond the ha-ha, the American garden is a haven for wildlife, at its best with spring magnolia blooms and autumn colour. Until the Mediterranean plan continues, this area is sown with wildflowers and the summer impact is proving as popular with visitors as it is with insects.

Colourful borders with the corner of a red bricked hall behind

The formal gardens

Sitting next to the Victorian conservatory, is the hot west formal and the perfect place to bed out the boldest and brightest colours twice a year, as was the fashion of the time. In contrast the east formal is a cool, scented space to watch the fish or sit for a while in the summer house surrounded by scent. The south lawn offers views to the parkland beyond and is framed on all sides by mature trees.

Dahlias in the border in front of a gate in the walled garden

South border

The south border is known anecdotally as the St. Leger border, after Lady Chesterfield’s love of horse racing and having the area at its best for the meet. Expect late colours until the first frosts from dahlias and asters to follow summer bulbs including swathes of alliums. The relatively new orchard planted in the walled garden slip has several Yorkshire varieties and a small nuttery.

Double herbaceous border

The heady scent of mock orange fills the air along the pathway through this part of the garden – a corridor for bees and butterflies with view to the parkland beyond. At its best in early summer, bulbs and climbers prolonging the interest. Pastel colours prevail in swathes of perennials including geraniums, peonies and wisteria growing up obelisk frames.

Bring your dog to Beningbrough

Bring your four legged friend to Beningbrough for a walk with the dog around the North Yorkshire gardens any day we're open. Here's what you need to know.

Play Video

Video

A sense of the seasons

Using imagery from the team across the year and created as part of a previous exhibition, immerse your senses in a journey around the garden and parkland in all weathers. From frosty footsteps to fluttering butterfly wings, this short video is a snapshot of the nature and wildlife you might find on your visit. Be sure to have the sound on...but you'll have to imagine the smells.

Andy Sturgeon in the Pergola at Beningbrough

The garden vision at Beningbrough

The award winning garden designer Andy Sturgeon is working with the National Trust to help revitalise the gardens at Beningbrough with a long term vision.

Child in wellies choosing gardening gloves by a strawberry bed — Getting ready to garden

Gardening tips and advice

We've asked our gardeners to share their top tips on how you can look after your garden during all seasons. Whether you want to know more about pruning, weeding, harvesting veg or replanting, you'll find all the answers here.

Read our tips here

Head out into the parkland for a longer walk

Out walking in the parkland around Beningbrough

Beningbrough larch walk

A wonderful short walk through the larch woods. Beautiful all year round but with the added bonus of a stunning carpet of bluebells in the woods during spring.

Beningbrough Newton walk

Stretch your legs and enjoy a gentle walk around Beningbrough’s wider estate taking in the historic parkland. As well as the option to take in the bluebells in the spring, you can also include a loop round Newton village making this a really flexible walk, depending on how far you want to wander on your adventures.

River and towpath in low light with a person and small dog in silhouette

Beningbrough river walk

Take on the challenge of a circular walk Beningbrough's wider parkland, taking in the river along the way.

Follow the Countryside Code

With more people than ever enjoying our coast and countryside places, we’re asking for your help in looking after them during your visit. Please help us protect wildlife and landscapes by following the Countryside Code, which includes taking any litter home with you and not lighting a barbecue or campfire.