Discover more at Polesden Lacey
Find out when Polesden Lacey is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
The garden at Polesden Lacey
The garden at Polesden Lacey has something to offer in every season. Watch the autumn colour spread across Ranmore Common from the exceptional vantage point of the South Lawn, indulge in the peace and quiet in the Old Kitchen Garden or drink in the seasonal interest around the formal gardens and herbaceous borders. There's always something beautiful to enjoy.
Autumn highlights in the garden
Polesden Lacey is a beautiful place to be as the seasons transition from summer into autumn. See the changing landscapes as nature begins to prepare itself for the winter months, offering perfect opportunities for autumnal photos and long walks in the crisp, fresh air.
One of the best places for autumn colour at Polesden Lacey is the secluded woodland of Presereve Copse, where the trees display burnt oranges, rich reds and golden yellows in their leaves. The Lime Walk also transitions from a vibrant green, shaded walkway into a close-knit tunnel of yellow, brown and red, giving a warm autumnal glow. For visitors seeking a quiet spot to sit and enjoy autumn in the garden, the Upper Sunken Garden offers tranquil surroundings and is our dedicated Silent Space.
- Kitchen Garden and Home Farm Orchard
- Many seasonal vegetables are grown in the kitchen garden, including colourful squashes and pumpkins for Halloween. Beyond the kitchen garden, Home Farm Orchard becomes full of heavy-branched apple trees, ready to harvest up to late October.
- Production Garden
- The Production Garden provides produce for the Polesden Lacey café kitchens, from peas to potatoes and raspberries to rhubarb. Sometimes, surplus produce is made available at the Welcome Area for visitors to take home in return for a donation. The Production Garden team also tends to the cold frames, herb bed and fruit cage, designed to mirror the outline of the nearby Gardener’s Cottage. The dahlias and sunflowers in the cutting garden are another seasonal delight, providing blooms for the flower arrangements in the house. We dry a lot of our cutting flowers to maintain the displays inside the house during winter. Sometimes you may even see flowers drying in the windows of the old gardener’s store.
- Herbaceous borders
- Polesden Lacey's garden is home to one of the finest double herbaceous borders in England. Throughout autumn, it remains full of beautiful perennials, such as rudbeckia and red-hot pokers. We don’t use herbicides or pesticides in our gardening, as we look to support nature. We do our best to keep out the weeds by smothering them with mulch as much as possible. The local rabbits are harder to keep at bay, and you may see signs of their presence in this area.
- House borders
- There are borders on all sides of the house. The team has been working hard to restore them to their full glory, creating a new planting scheme that incorporates a variety of striking plants to bloom throughout the year no matter what season you visit. You’ll have to pay us a visit to find out which, but by incorporating a mixture of shrubs, climbers, perennials and bulbs it is bound to be a dazzling display of which Margaret Greville would have been proud.
- The Long Walk
- The only formal element of the garden to the east of the house, and probably its most historic part, this 450m-long terrace has stunning views across SSSI chalk grassland and Ranmore Common. The Long Walk is flanked by the shaded Nun’s Walk to the north and connects with the Pinetum to the west. Extensive work has taken place to restore the ancient yew hedges on either side of the Long Walk, removing bindweed and brambles and creating accessible viewpoints for everyone to enjoy.
- The Ladies Garden
- The final resting place for Margaret Greville, this area was her favourite place to sit during her time at Polesden Lacey. We've added several beautiful plants intended to pay a fitting floral tribute in shades of purple, green and blue. A few years ago, a large group of staff and volunteers also planted swathes of autumn and spring flowering crocuses to add to the garden's seasonal interest and charm.
- Dog Graves
- Although she had no children, Margaret Greville had plenty of dogs while at Polesden Lacey and all 17 are buried here, surrounded by a calming white planting scheme. A wheelchair- and buggy-accessible path runs past this contemplative spot, linking Lime Walk with the West Lawn.
Planning your visit
The gardens are a true highlight of any visit to Polesden Lacey, especially during the autumn when they offer seasonal interest in the colourful trees, intricate seed heads and final floral displays before the onset of winter. Many parts of the formal gardens offer step-free access. Some paths are gravel, but most are smooth with grass paths in certain areas. Wheelchairs, mobility scooters and all-terrain trikes are available to hire for easier access around the gardens and grounds. Benches are located at regular intervals, and there are plenty of opportunities to stop and drink in your surroundings on the way round. The gardening team are usually around and always happy to answer questions about their work.
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Re-rambling the roses: preserving Polesden's pergola
We are raising funds to replace the wooden pergola that sits at the heart of Margaret Greville’s beloved Rose Garden and safeguard its future for many more years to come. Read on to find out how you can help.
Exploring the estate at Polesden Lacey
Take a peaceful walk in the woodland and explore Polesden Lacey’s wonderfully diverse 1,600-acre estate to discover birds, wildlife and beautiful viewpoints.
Visiting Polesden Lacey with your dog
Polesden Lacey is a two pawprint rated place. Dogs are welcome in large parts of the garden and wider 1,600-acre estate at Polesden Lacey. Pick up a dog walkers’ leaflet when you arrive.
Family-friendly things to do at Polesden Lacey
Discover the seasonal joys of Surrey this autumn by bringing the family to Polesden Lacey. From children's trails in the grounds to fun things to spot inside the house, there is plenty for all ages to see and do at this time of year.
Eating and shopping at Polesden Lacey
Whether you want to grab a light meal, snack or hot drink, or browse beautiful gifts and local products - we've got plenty to tempt you at Polesden Lacey.
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 parkland in Surrey
Discover peaceful gardens in the golden autumn light in Surrey. Come out for an uplifting stroll at Polesden Lacey, Hatchlands Park, Claremont Landscape Garden and Winkworth Arboretum. Herbaceous borders are a glorious tangle of late flowers and seedheads and kitchen gardens are flowing with produce.
