Discover more at Ham House and Garden
Find out when Ham House and Garden is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Things to see and do in the garden at Ham House
Ham House, on the River Thames in Richmond, is surrounded by spectacular outdoor spaces to explore, including an atmospheric 17th-century walled Kitchen Garden and maze-like Wilderness. The gardens show what historically ‘might have been’, following work in the 1970s to reinstate 17th-century character previously lost. Discover more about our seasonal highlights below.
Autumn in the gardens at Ham House
This green oasis is only 30 minutes from central London, and offers a taste of countryside calm in the city. Plan a visit this autumn to enjoy Ham House’s gardens and the leafy local area, known for its riverside paths, tree-lined avenues and meadows.
Harvest time
From vibrant squash and pumpkins to rainbow chard, the Kitchen Garden is dotted with colour in the autumn. A young orchard of 30 trees fills the south end of this walled garden. You can also find holm oak logs to sit on, a great place to take in the surroundings.
Some of the produce grown in this garden also makes its way to the Orangery Café so look out for seasonal soups and other warming treats.
Explore the Wilderness
Take a walk around the tree-filled Wilderness, found at the southern edge of the site, as the leaves change colour above your head. Take a seat in one of the summerhouse to enjoy the calm space and listen out for bird calls.
See the Cherry Garden in a different light
The structure of this formal garden, found around to the left of the house as you enter the front gates, begins to take centre stage through the autumn. See its domes, pyramids and cones dusted with dew, frost and spiders’ webs in cooler weather. Take a leafy stroll under a tunnel of twisted hornbeam branches and find hedge windows for framed views across the garden.
Join a garden tour
Join one of our free tours, led by our knowledgeable volunteers, to find out about the gardens and take in the seasonal highlights. Garden tours at Ham run March-November.
Please be aware that all tours depend on volunteer availability on the day. You can book your place on one of the tours upon arrival at Ham. Please make sure you arrive with plenty of time prior to the start of your chosen tour.
Discovering the garden throughout the year
South Terrace Border
The garden, like the house, was designed to impress. We know that many rare examples of plants from exotic lands were on display and we even know some of the species which were grown. The South Terrace border is inspired by this knowledge and planted in the 17th-century style, with a wide seasonal interest.
Don't miss: The use of containers to add seasonal interest was the height of fashion in the 17th century. Today, we take a more sustainable approach with our terracotta urns on the South Terrace and have replaced changing spring and summer floral displays with perennials, like rosemary and roses.
Cherry Garden
To the north lies the Cherry Garden. Beyond tall yew hedges you’ll discover a maze of clipped box-hedged compartments, all filled with lavender. There’s structure and interest all year round, but this part of the garden really comes to life in summer when you can enjoy the gentle perfume of these fragrant plants as you walk around this once-private formal garden.
Don’t miss: The statue of Bacchus, the god of wine which is an original piece from the Lauderdales' garden.
The Plats
From early spring, half a million bulbs burst into colour as part of an exciting garden display continuing through to autumn.
Inspired by the garden’s history, the mansion’s vast manicured lawns are filled with purple crocuses, tulips, muscari and wild flowers to create a show of colour and scent throughout the warmer months.
Don’t miss: Look out for bees and other pollinators among the plants.
The Kitchen Garden
Records show the Kitchen Garden has been at Ham since the 1600s and it’s one of the most productive walled kitchen gardens in London. Tended using organic principles, it provides the café with home-grown produce.
Find the wooden doorway on the west wing of the vast original red-brick wall, which leads you out on to a south-facing terrace with views across this historic garden. You'll see deep rectangular plots flanked by soft shingle paths. Each is gently cultivated to grow produce with a nod to the atmosphere of Ham House’s heyday.
The Kitchen Garden is also home to the Orangery Café where you can enjoy a drink and something to eat while looking over the garden.
Don’t miss: Fresh produce and cut flowers from the garden are often on display in the house’s historic Kitchen and in the Still House. On Wednesdays during the summer months, our harvest volunteers stock a cart outside the shop with vegetables and cut flowers, available for by suggested donation.
The Wilderness
The Wilderness was a fashionable feature in grand 17th-century gardens like Ham. It showed the owners' power to contain nature within its hedges and compartments. It was intended as a wilderness in the biblical sense of the word – a space for quiet contemplation and reflection, rather than meaning a ‘wild garden’.
Mown lawns meander through the space to create a criss-cross of paths between tight architectural hornbeam hedges that screen the woodland plantings and historic borders. In places, the dappled shade creates the ideal conditions for drifts of early spring hellebore and pulmonaria – a plant grown for its medicinal uses by the Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale.
As you walk, look out for small wooden summerhouses. Built in a 17th-century style, these are the perfect place sit and relax or shelter from showers while you enjoy the season’s changing views.
Don’t miss: Two statues of Venus Marina and Mercury could be seen on either side of the Wilderness entrance in the 17th century. Life-size casts can still be seen here today.
Silent Space
We have created a Silent Space at Ham, designed as a place to take time out and reflect. Take a moment of calm in the Cherry Garden, which was once a private formal garden for the Duchess of Lauderdale.
Our hope is that this Silent Space offers a moment to relax in the quiet beauty of Ham's gardens.
For more information about Silent Space and the other National Trust gardens taking part, please visit the Silent Space website.
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Explore the landscape around Ham House and Garden
Wander around the riverside landscape surrounding Ham House and explore parkland, meadows and wetland.
Eating and shopping at Ham House and Garden
Set in historic buildings, the Orangery Café and shop offer inviting spaces to relax and treat yourself on your visit to Ham House and Garden. Indulge in a warming treat and browse our new autumn/winter collection to get cosy and embrace the season.
Things to see and do in Ham House
Explore the well-preserved interiors of one of the grandest Stuart houses in England, created to impress in the 17th-century by the Duchess of Lauderdale and her husband the Duke.
Volunteering at Ham House and Garden
Thinking about volunteering at this special place? Here’s what you need to know.
Family-friendly things to do at Ham House and Garden
Games, activities, adventures – find lots of fun things to do for all the family at Ham House and Garden.
Gardens and parks
From 18th-century water gardens and Arts and Crafts landscapes to intimate woodland gardens, there are so many places to discover.
Gardening tips
Discover our gardeners’ top tips so you can make the most of your garden, plot or window box.
Gardens and parks in London
National Trust places in London are quiet after the summer holidays, gardens are still full of colour and the estates and woodlands we look after are criss-crossed with footpaths to help you immerse yourself in the riches of the season. Where will you visit to feel that autumn glow?
