Discover the seasonal highlights in the garden and take some time out to pause in the Quiet Orchard.
Mirror Pool
The Mirror Pool has been an iconic site at Upton since its installation in the 1920s and, apart from its brief covering during the war, it has sat glistening silently for thousands to enjoy.
In 2017, the team undertook important conservation work to restore it to its former glory.
The pool is fed from a natural spring in the corner of the garden, so with rainwater and the spring, the pool filled up within six months of the work being completed.
Plant life has started to re-grow gradually and you can see a selection of waterlilies and reeds surrounding the pool, which has encouraged birds and insects to return to.
Herbaceous borders
Kitty Lloyd-Jones was the pioneering garden designer Lady Bearsted chose to redesign Upton’s garden in the 1930s.
Her commission at Upton marked the start of a flourishing career, and the herbaceous borders remain a legacy of her knowledge and craft in this form of planting.
Bog garden
The bog garden was once part of a sequence of different size breeding pools for carp.
It incorporated a unique design of slow-moving water through the rills and down the falls which cascaded into a large tranquil pool set in the centre, before flowing through into the larger pools.
The planting areas were established and filled with a selection of moisture loving plants to complement the layout.
Sun-tolerant plants
Today, the bog garden’s perimeters have dried out and only the central parts remain moist for most of the year.
This has led to planting a selection of shrubs and herbaceous plants on the outer beds which tolerate the sun and drier soil conditions.
The lower area features more unusual moisture-retentive plants which will thrive in the wet ground.
Autumn in the garden
Discover autumn colour at Upton's gardens. You can see the blues and purples of the aster collection in September and the reds and oranges of the shrubs in the dry bank in October.
Looking down over the terraces, there will be a display of reds, purples, oranges and yellows from the berberis. The brightly coloured berries hang in clusters from the shrubs and when they naturally fall, they provide food for the wildlife.
Throughout September and October, our garden team will be working on the main terraces, trialling Mediterranean grass species to explore how they cope with warmer, drier summers and changing climate conditions. During your visit, you may see the team at work and they're always happy to share more about the planting trials. To allow this work to take place and give newly seeded areas time to establish, some terraces may be temporarily closed, with parts of the garden closing earlier from mid October to support reseeding.
Upton's National Aster Collection
A national collection of asters and Symphyotrichum species has been grown and cared for at Upton since 1985. Three particularly important species are grown here: Aster amellus, Symphyotrichum cordifolius and Symphyotrichum ericoides, as well as many cultivars.
The collection is planted on the west side of the kitchen garden in three rows so that the plants can be viewed whilst they are in flower.
The best cultivars are planted in a traditional mixed border together with other late-flowering plants to give autumn colour and structure.
The orchard is a peaceful place with a great variety of birdlife; you can see, hear and enjoy the sounds of nature without any distractions. It is our silent space where you can take some time out and connect with nature.
The team is often asked why we leave the fruit on the trees and the ground in the orchard. Over the colder months of winter, the fruit sustains birds, animals and insects while food is in short supply.
Turn off your phone and immerse yourself in the spectacular surroundings. Throughout April and May, the trees start blossoming, a sight not to be missed.
Our Partnership with Silent Space
The Silent Space project is a registered charity which runs nationwide, offering spaces for quiet observation and contemplation in a world that's constantly on the move and demanding our attention. You can find out more about their work at www.silentspace.org.uk
South Lawn and Yew Tree Terrace
As you walk across the south terrace, take a moment to savour the views to the parkland beyond the South Lawn.
The avenues of sweet chestnut trees (Castanea sativa) can be seen in the distance, and the Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani), planted in the 17th century, cling to the bank on the west side of the wall.
Wildlife in the garden
The woods and lakes that form part of Upton’s natural landscape are a haven for wildlife. As well as the more common species that you might see in your own garden, many unusual and scarce species visit the gardens including great spotted woodpeckers and occasionally a red kite.
The surrounding woodland is rich in bird life. The trees and undergrowth make a perfect habitat for nesting and foraging for food. Listen and look out for green and great spotted woodpeckers drumming as well as the noisy rooks. You might also hear a medley of birdsong from blackbirds, robins and threatened species such as the blackcap, song thrush and spotted flycatcher.
During warmer weather you might be lucky enough to spot a white admiral butterfly. Much rarer than the red admiral, the white admiral is locally distributed and feeds on patches of nettles along the woodland boundary.
The ponds and lake at the bottom of the garden are tranquil spots for wildlife watching. They attract numerous types of birds that feed on the insects from the water. In the warmer months swallows can be seen and sometimes hobbies flying low over the water. If you're really lucky, you might spot the flash of blue from a feeding kingfisher.
Upton is in the heart of rolling Warwickshire countryside which encourages wildlife into the garden including many mammals such as badgers, deer, mice, rabbits, shrews and voles. Buzzards, kestrels, falcons, owls, yellowhammers, fieldfares, skylarks and redwings are some of the farmland birds that you might see at Upton.
The woodland, waterways and surrounding countryside all provide valuable habitats and feeding grounds for the long-eared, pipistrelle and serotine bats that are night-time visitors. It’s not just the natural landscape that encourages wildlife into the gardens. The gardening team manages the gardens in a sensitive way to create ideal habitats for all types of wildlife.
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Woodland walk
The woodland is a haven for wildlife and a great place for the little ones to run wild and have some fun. Step into the woodland near visitor reception and you’ll discover logs to climb on, walk along and jump over, as well as tunnels that lead you round and rooms under the holly trees.
As you follow the path you'll discover more about our wildlife, before ending up at the Pavilion Café for a well-deserved treat.
Things to do outdoors
Upton social walks
What a View walk runs 19 March, 14 May and The Temple Pool walk runs on 17 April, 19 June and 15 October. £5 per person. Advance booking is required.
Discover the Warwickshire countryside surrounding Upton House and Gardens and meet new people on these gentle-to-moderate walks.
Build your confidence of walking in the countryside in the company of a small and friendly group of people. Our volunteer walk leaders will guide you along the public footpaths surrounding the Upton estate, known for spectacular views, and introduce you to the nature and history of the local landscape. Warm up afterwards with a hot drink in our Pavilion Cafe.
These are social walks, designed for anyone looking to meet new people and explore new places.
We offer two routes, which alternate monthly:
The 'What a View' walk is a gentle 2.3 miles (3.7km), (approximately 1-1hr 30 mins), around the Upton estate.
The Temple Pool walk is a stunning 4.8 miles (6.7km), (approximately 2 hrs 30 mins) skirting the edge of the historic Temple Pool designed by Gothic landscape designer, Sanderson Miller. Difficulty level: moderate - includes some moderate climbs. This runs on 17 April and 19 June 2025.
The walks start and finish in Upton's visitor car park. Each adult ticket includes a regular hot drink from the Pavilion Cafe.
Discover more at Upton House and Gardens
Find out when Upton House and Gardens is open, how to get here, things to see and do and more.
Discover more about the history of Upton House and how following its acquisition by Lord and Lady Bearsted in 1927, they set about improving the estate and hiring garden designer Kitty Lloyd-Jones to improve the garden.
Stop by the Pavilion Café on your visit to Upton House and grab a bite to eat, a hot or cold drink and a slice of cake. Buy a souvenir of your visit in the shop, or pop into the second-hand bookshop for a new read.
Entertain the whole family over autumn and winter at Upton House. Discover unique stories in the house, go on an adventure in the gardens and stop for a bite to eat in the Pavilion Café.
Find an inspiring garden in Warwickshire to explore, at beautiful places renowned for their formal planting, walled gardens and framed views round every corner.
