Autumn colour at Uppark

Nestled in the heart of the South Downs, Uppark is the perfect place to visit this autumn. As the leaves begin to turn and the morning air becomes a bit crisper, visit us for a gentle stroll around the gardens. Your visit to Uppark helps our garden team to fund the planting of spring bulbs for everyone to enjoy next year.

The garden you see today is believed to be a mix of 18th and 19th Century design features by two of our most famous historical landscape gardeners, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown and Humphry Repton.  Areas of the garden, such as the wide glade, are more heavily influenced by Brown rather than Repton.  

Although not all of Repton’s plans were implemented, he is thought to be responsible for the Dairy and the Borghese vase on top of the mound at the top of the north drive as well as relocating the main approach to the house to where is it today.
Start off your day with a stroll around our woodland walk.

" It would appear presumptive of me to suggest any improvement or alteration to a place which possesses so many natural advantages as Uppark."
- Humphry Repton, Eighteenth-century landscape designer
Tweet this

The trees lining the north and south approach to Uppark create the cathedral-esque canopy of mottled russet and golden yellow foliage. They surround our intimate woodland, which you can explore via a network of paths. 

The garden and woodland is awash with colour in the autumn
Beech trees on the drive at Uppark, West Sussex
The garden and woodland is awash with colour in the autumn

Keep an eye out for the tulip trees in the formal gardens as they turn from green to a buttery yellow. Autumnal stars the Japanese maples near the scented garden, and the sugar maples on the drive, are transformed from pinks to vivid crimson as temperatures cool. 

Don't forget to explore round to the south meadow and take in the autumn display across the South Downs and out towards the Isle of Wight. 

See the delights of the garden this autumn
close up of autumn fennel seedheads
See the delights of the garden this autumn

Once you've finished exploring, stop off at our café for some warming treats. We've got delicious home-made cakes and hearty food available every day.

If you’re feeling inspired after your stroll, you’ll find beautifully illustrated books on garden design and planting in our shop. We’ve got handy garden tools too, from kneelers, to aprons with pockets for essentials like secateurs and string