The Garden at Ham House and Garden

Ham House’s atmospheric 17th century walled garden is a celebration of the past, with a modern sensibility. Extensive formal gardens, statuesque borders, a wilderness area and productive kitchen garden have been lovingly re-created. At the same time, our planting is constantly evolving to keep the garden’s original spirit alive. We use organic principles to encourage wildlife and plants to thrive in a place that everyone can enjoy.

The Cherry Garden at Ham House, Surrey, seen from an upper floor window

The historic gardens at Ham House 

Explore the formal gardens at Ham House and enjoy the stunning walled kitchen garden, restored and planted with many plants from the time when Duchess of Lauderdale lived here.

The Garden at Ham House

A view into the historic formal gardens of Ham House in Richmond

The Summer Garden at Ham House 

Behind Ham's 17th century walls the garden is alive with colour and scent. Borders burst with fabulous flowers, delicate wildflowers attract bees and butterflies and the historic kitchen garden is brimming with produce - find a quiet spot or a slice of Ham-made cake and enjoy this green oasis.

The Kitchen Garden at Ham House

The Kitchen Garden 

Ham’s 17th century walled kitchen garden is productive and stunning all year round. Fruit, vegetables and flowers make for colourful companions - then we use organic principles to encourage a wide range of wildlife and plants to thrive here.

A summer house located in one of the Wilderness' compartments; a perfect place to relax.

The Wilderness  

In the farthest corner of the grounds, Ham House’s Wilderness Garden is protected by a mile of high hornbeam hedge. Take a meandering walk, find your own place to stop and enjoy the woodland drifts and colourful plantings.

The vivid colours of species tulips and muscari in Ham House's garden, Richmond

Ham's 'plats' garden reimagined for 2019  

Head Gardener Rosie Fyles has revealed a new display within Ham’s formal gardens. Discover a changing pageant of colour and scent as a succession of 500,000 bulbs and wildflowers transform vast manicured lawns, making them a delight for nature and people throughout the warmer months.

Behind the scenes

Bumblebee on lavender in the garden at Ham House, London

Easy ways we garden for nature (and you can too) 

Ham House Garden is a formal historic garden cared for with nature at its heart. We have gardened using organic principles for over a decade and we find gardening for nature doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some of the simple things we do to encourage nature to thrive.

A pair of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers have made their nest at Ham House Garden in Richmond, London

Nesting woodpeckers make Ham their home 

Ham House’s 17th century garden is home to many birds, animals and insects. This week has been extra special though as we’ve seen our very first nesting pair of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers, who have made an old apple tree their home. Mum, Dad and chicks are all doing well.

Box hedging and topiary in the Cherry Garden at Ham House, Richmond-upon-Thames

Keeping box healthy in Ham’s historic garden  

Ham House’s formal Cherry Garden is a spectacular diamond pattern box parterre, filled with lavender and hundreds of metres of clipped topiary. So when an eagle-eyed visitor spotted an unusual greenish yellow caterpillar on a box hedge, Head Gardener Rosie Fyles was naturally concerned.

Lush green trees and tall grass in Ham House and Garden's Wilderness area

Find an oasis of calm in Ham's Silent Space 

Our ‘Silent Space’ its an area of the garden where you are can take a seat, turn off your phone and enjoy the quiet.

What's on for garden lovers?

Visitors in the Hornbeam Arch in the garden at Ham House and Garden, London.

Richmond Station to Ham House historic scenic walk 

Leave the car at home and instead enjoy the walk from the station to Ham House taking in some of the most beautiful urban greens in England along the way.

Visitors on a garden tour at Ham House and Garden, London

Join us for a Garden History Tour 

For the inside track on this rare garden gem, originally created by the Duchess of Lauderdale, we highly recommend joining the free 30 minute Garden History Tour led by our knowledgeable guides.

Volunteer with tray of freshly picked beans in the Kitchen Garden at Ham House and Garden, London

Grow your knowledge with a Kitchen Garden Tour 

Ham House's 17th century walled kitchen garden is stunning all year round. Historically it would have grown fruit and vegetables to feed the whole household. Today organic principles encourage nature to thrive too. Hear how in this behind the scenes tour.