Discover more at The Vyne
Find out when The Vyne is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Things to do in the garden at The Vyne
There are nine hectares of garden surrounding the house at The Vyne. Two lakes, a walled garden, formal garden and meadow along with lawns and a herbaceous border sit neatly inside this area. There is plenty for you to explore through the seasons, from the 17th-century summerhouse to a 600-year-old oak tree. Until October, look out for three stunning book benches from much-loved public art trail 'Sitting with Jane'.
Autumn in the garden
Hundreds of brightly coloured dahlias, swelling orange pumpkins, and a fruit orchard ready for harvesting are just some of the delights to look out for in the garden this season.
- Walled garden: this part of the garden with its elegant high brick walls is a rainbow of colour in autumn. The 30m dahlia border is a spectacular sight, packed with incredible colours and shapes. Particularly striking is red and yellow dahlia Pooh, known as a ‘collarette’ because it has a ‘collar’ of shorter petals in a contrasting colour at its centre. There are apricot pompons, candy pink cactus blooms, and rich red 'dinnerplates' the size of your hand, to mention just a few. If you time it right, you’ll find bunches of freshly cut dahlias for sale just outside the walled garden.
- Orchard: nothing smells more autumnal than a fruit orchard. At The Vyne, heritage apples, pears, mulberries and plums are reaching their peak in the orchard just outside the walled garden. It’s a peaceful place to stroll and it’s full of butterflies and bees enjoying a late nectar source. The fruit is now being harvested with help from our volunteers, and you can purchase bags of fresh apples at our visitor kiosk. Fancy a juicy Beauty of Hampshire or Coeur de Boeuf?
- Summerhouse garden: a palette of pinks and purples populate the central flowerbeds in the summer months, featuring Echinacea, Phlox and Clematis among others. Each bed forms a Grecian cross to reflect the floorplan of the 17th-century summerhouse.
- Wild garden: marking the transition between garden and countryside, the wild garden is a haven for wildlife with its tall grasses.
Dahlias on sale at Visitor Reception
For a suggested donation, you can purchase a fresh bunch of dahlias grown in The Vyne's walled garden. Subject to availability.
Support the gardens at The Vyne by purchasing a bunch of dahlias at Visitor Reception
The Vyne's gardens is need of vital funding to keep going, by purchasing a bunch of freshly cut dahlias grown in the walled garden you can help care for The Vyne's gardens for generations to come. Subject to availability.
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In The Vyne's gardens until October
'Sitting with Jane' bespoke book benches
Find these three benches in The Vyne's gardens
To mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, The Vyne has partnered with Destination Basingstoke to bring back several of the popular ‘Sitting with Jane’ book benches. These beautifully designed benches are now on display in the gardens until October, offering a unique blend of art, literature and heritage. Thank you to the private owners who have kindly loaned these benches for others to enjoy. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 ‘𝗦𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗲’? A public art trail celebrating Jane Austen, featuring artist-designed benches shaped like open books. Each bench reflects a personal interpretation of her life and works.
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The walled garden
Dating back to the 18th century, the walled garden houses a variety of fruit and vegetables as well as a dahlia border. An ambitious restoration programme restored the glasshouse and the fruit and vegetable beds to their former glory.
The summerhouse
Possibly the earliest domed garden building in England, the summerhouse dates from around 1635 and has been used as a banqueting house and a dovecote. Designed by John Webb and built in the shape of a Greek cross, it is one of two originally built.
Today, the remaining summerhouse is the focus of the formal garden with beds which reflect the shape of the structure itself. The bedding plants are chosen to complement the shades of the summerhouse during the seasons and the garden is enclosed by a yew hedge.
Hundred Guinea Oak
Frail but still standing, the Hundred Guinea Oak is now over 600 years old. William John Chute, who owned The Vyne in the late Georgian period, was offered £100 and later 100 guineas for the timber.
He flatly refused to sell the oak, which you can see for yourself at the top of the Lime Avenue.
Wild garden
Here, the informal layout gives the impression of a natural landscape that has emerged all by itself. Laden with seasonal colour, trees gently arc over the main path at intervals while the paths mown through the long grass bring you to the lakeside where you can spot waterfowl gliding across the lake.
Family activities in the garden
There are plenty of self-led trails around the estate for families to enjoy. Unfortunately ball games, frisbees, bikes, scooters and drones are not allowed on the estate. This is to prevent further damage to the house and grounds.
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New for 2025: Christmas Lunch in the Brewhouse
Available to book for weekdays Mon 24 Nov – Wed 17 Dec 12pm-2pm. 2 courses, hot drink and mince pie £25 per person. 3 courses, hot drink and mince pie £30 per person. Click through to see menu and book. Normal admission applies.
Visiting The Vyne with your dog
The Vyne is a three pawprint rated place. Find out about bringing your dog to The Vyne where you can explore the gardens together.
Family-friendly things to do at The Vyne
This autumn, enjoy magical movies under the stars 4-5 October with Hocus Pocus (PG) and The Nightmare Before Christmas (PG). From 11 October to 2 November, don't miss trail ‘We’re Going on a Ghost Hunt’ Halloween Adventure.
Christmas at The Vyne
Open daily from 22 Nov 2025 - 5 Jan 2026 inclusive (Closed 24 & 25 Dec) immerse yourself in the magic and wonder of best-loved fairy tales. Aglow with dazzling trees and magical scenes, in the house discover The Snow Queen’s icy realm, Red Riding Hood’s cunning wolf, and Beauty and the Beast’s elegant tea set. A riotously fun free family trail offers games and activities indoors and out. House open 11am-3pm, gardens 10am-4pm. New for 2025, bookings are now open for Christmas Lunch in the Brewhouse tea-room available weekdays 24 Nov -17 Dec at 12pm.
Eating and shopping at The Vyne
Enjoy a refreshment stop in the atmospheric tea-room at The Vyne, Christmas Lunch 2025 bookings are now open. Treat yourself to a gift in the shop or get comfy in the window seat while browsing pre-loved books.
Things to do in The Vyne house
The Sandys and Chute families made The Vyne their home for over 500 years. They accumulated beautiful and important objects and made significant changes to the house during their lives, which you will see as you explore the opulent state rooms and humble servants’ quarters. Marking 250 years since the birth of Jane Austen, you can enjoy exhibition 'Regency Revisited' and biweekly 'Jane Austen House Tours' for an additional £5 per person. From 22 November, immersed in the magic of best-loved fairy tales, all ages are welcome to wander the ground floor of the house aglow with sparkling Christmas trees. Read on for more information.
Gardening tips
Discover our gardeners’ top tips so you can make the most of your garden, plot or window box.
