Winkworth Arboretum was created over 80 years ago as a glorious celebration of trees. It was the creation of local physician and horticulturalist Dr Wilfrid Fox in the 1930s and has been in the complete care of the National Trust since 1988. In 2026 we reached a major milestone in securing the future the Arboretum with completion of much needed new visitor facilities.
This major investment includes a sustainable new Visitor Centre, upgraded paths and facilities.
We’ve relocated and upgraded the parking facilities. Electric vehicle charge points, bike storage and accessible bays offer accessible and eco-friendly options. The relocation will help ease traffic on local roads and provides a new gateway to the arboretum. As you enter from a main road, a new road surface will lead you to the pay and display parking that runs up to and outside the entrance to the new visitor welcome building. The old lower arboretum car park will be closed and returned back to nature (access will still be required by staff and volunteers).
Before you even enter the new visitor centre you find an inviting courtyard entrance where you'll find toilets with baby change facilities, and an accessible and Changing Places toilet. There's also a water fountain to top up your water water bottles and visitor information boards so you can get your bearings before your visit.
The new visitor centre includes a large café with indoor and outdoor seating, making visiting Winkworth a pleasure, whatever the weather or time of year. You'll find a seasonal menu including a selection of cakes and bakes, hot meals and drinks. The indoor café has dedicated dog-free and dog-friendly areas and outside you'll find water bowls for your thirsty hounds.
Just beyond the café you'll find an outdoor seating area with a separate serving area for those extra hot and cold drinks, and scooping ice cream. Look out for the pathway leading to the old tea-room and picnic area. The old tea-room will soon become our second-hand bookshop, opening later in the year.
Our shop stocks a range of National Trust products and locally-sourced items, plus souvenirs to remember your visit. There is also an external plant sales area including a selection of plants reflecting what's growing in the Arboretum. The shop will provide valuable extra revenue to fund our work and offers new employment opportunities for the local community.
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Thoughtful design and construction
Sustainability has been at the heart of the project from new bus stops for safer car-free visits to using natural, ethically-sourced and environmentally-friendly building materials. The new building has a low carbon footprint, using renewable energy sources and high standards of insulation. The target is to deliver a minimum of 50% of the energy requirements using renewable resources. In line with this, heating is provided using air-source heat pumps.
We want to ensure that Winkworth Arboretum remains a horticulture gem and treasure of the local community. The old visitor facilities (car park, cafe and toilets) were no longer adequate and struggled to cope at busy times. We needed to address this in order to meet future visitor expectations.
This first-class year-round facility will generate additional income, providing us with financial stability. The additional financial resource will enable us to continue to care for the Arboretum so that future generations can enjoy its unique beauty and tranquillity in the changing seasons.
Winkworth the wait
We submitted a planning application back in 2020 for new visitor facilities based on consultations with stakeholders, visitors and the local community. Whilst the planning application was approved the pandemic put the project on hold. We reignited the project in 2022 and contruction started in April 2023. Unfortunately, the original contractor went into liquidation and abandoned the project midway through construction. Work restarted in July 2025 and the new facilities were finally opened in June 2026.
The building will provide modern and welcoming facilities that our supporters, and the place itself, deserve. Our staff and volunteers will have the space and resources they need.
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Surrey is home to historic houses and acres of countryside to explore. Nearby properties with cafe and facilities include Hatchlands Parks and the Devil's Punch Bowl. Local countryside properties include Hydon's Ball and Heath, and Witley and Milford Commons.
Follow winding footpaths and stumble upon hidden glades and wetlands at Winkworth Arboretum. With more than 1,000 different shrubs and trees, immerse yourself in colour and nature all year.
Discover how Winkworth Arboretum came to be and find out about the man whose forward-thinking vision is responsible for the sweeping swathes of colour you see today.
Come out and play at Winkworth Arboretum. Whether you’re joining in with outdoor activities, walking the dog or creating some wild art there’s plenty of fun to be had.
We believe that nature, beauty and history are for everyone. That’s why we’re supporting wildlife, protecting historic sites and more. Find out about our work.
