Hilliers Gardens in Test Valley

Have eaten here regularly for 12 months. Always been satisfied and happy after our visit. Two weeks ago there was definite change in atmosphere, it was almost empty and staff not their usual chatty selves. Different manager. The lasagne always came with chips. That day no chips, despite confirming it did come with chips. It came with some kind of bread - not garlic! A few days ago we dropped by for coffee and cake. Again it was not busy and staff appeared strained and subdued. This new manager was on duty again. I would say he is not a people person - essential in a restaurant. When choosing our cake it was obvious one had sunk in the middle and another had a top layer 3 times the height of the bottom layer. We ordered anyway. My cake was sad, I could tell with first mouthful. Partners cake did not have flavour or decor to match its description and was sunk in the middle. We ate it because it’s always been really good but it wasn’t. When cut we could see it wasn’t up to its previous standard. As well as the previously noted faults, the filling was not spread to the edges and where mine was solid my partners was crumbly. What has happened? Have they changed the supplier and management? SO Disappointing! We looked forward to our visits so much. Please address these issues as soon as possible! It’s so disappointing. We always looked forward to our walk and coffee/cake stop or a lunch treat. Please Garden Restaurant

Jermyn House is a beautiful venue especially outside and of course a superbly beautiful walk to get there. However, I have been consistently disappointed with the cakes etc. on offer. They are stale, dry, unimaginative and in the case of coconut and lime cake, inedible. My friend had the coffee cake and she complained to staff about it too. Strangely I never have this issue if I eat the cafetiria at the entrance. You have to wait to be seated which is unnecessary and the staff seem to be surprised to do it.

We arrived without booking but we were found a table for 5 after a small wait. We ordered our lunch from the menus given to us. The waitress did not read the order back to us and so when our lunch arrived we only had chips for one not 5. These were then brought to us after quite a wait. So some of us had eaten our toasties and others decided to wait but then their toasties were cold. It was only after we had finished and were about to leave that I noticed the Specials Board. This was not pointed out to us by the waitress when we sat down. This is a nice restaurant but feel waitresses need more training on customer service.

We booked a table in the restaurant in the house. We were very disappointed, our ploughman’s came out without any cheese so had to sent it back, the baguette with it was anemic and looked like it hadn’t been cooked, we ordered a cheese and ham toastie on white bread and it came out on brown bread, the portion of chips were so greasy the little pot had lots of grease at the bottom and we had to wipe them dry on a serviette, we should have sent them back but that would have been the third time, the chips were all different thickness some skinny some a bit thicker, very odd. We also ordered two chicken and bacon toasties which tasted nice but a bit sloppy and not very big for £7.95 each, chips were £3.95 for a tiny portion. The whole bill came to £64.95 with drinks so very expensive for poor quality. Definitely wouldn’t eat here again.

This restaurant is a breath of fresh air,the staff are excellent and very welcoming. They now have a very good varied menu well presented. Such a relaxing atmosphere.

The garden restaurant is in a lovely setting and the service is great but the food is a real disappointment.We had only been for tea and cake before which were very good but the lunch was terrible.How hard is it to serve a decent toasted sandwich with a salad garnish?the cheese was tasteless,the chutney bizarrely sweetand the salad was a pile of limp leaves,rock hard tomato and cucumber with no dressing.My husbands meal was even worse.

This review relates to the Garden Restaurant & Tea Rooms, which claims to be "a warm and welcoming place for everyone" and "an ideal pit stop for families". This was certainly not my experience. The staff were not at all welcoming and, if anything, I felt that I was inconveniencing them rather than being treated like a valued customer. As for being an environment for families, where were the high chairs? My two-year-old grandchild had to sit on an adult chair and, if there were any high chairs, they were not on view or offered. Yes, I could have asked, but I had the impression that the staff would not have taken kindly to my request. Finally, I resent being asked to pay an additional 50p for milk alternatives. Fair enough if people choose to have non-dairy milk as a lifestyle choice, but when people are diagnosed as lactose intolerant, expecting them to pay this extra amount is actually discriminatory.

We celebrated my daughter’s birthday at the restaurant. Thank you to the team who were really helpful and made it a special occasion. The restaurant has a really nice atmosphere and views out on to the garden.

Excellent service and food ,and to top it all which is fantastic, no dogs. It's a shame the benches are not on the lawn however now the tent has been removed perhaps they will re introduced.

We have never been for breakfast before so thought we would have a treat for a change. We ordered our breakfasts and waited and waited and of all the people in the restaurant we happen to be the 2 people whose ordered did not get processed. People came in after us and still we waited. Not impressed we had to chase it up and it had not even been started so a further delay. I had to chase it and I am fed up with having to do this. We should have been offered compensation but just got an apology. We have been put off going again !

This afternoon I ordered a bruschetta at the Garden Restaurant. The ciabatta was rock hard, clearly microwaved from frozen and the tomatoes were not fresh as described in the menu, possibly, microwaved.

We visited the restaurant by the entrance and gift shop.Great choice of food on the menu.All tables were cleaned and cleared.We had jacket potato with cheese and salad and coffee.It was delicious and the taste of the potato was delicious.fresh salad leaves,tomato and cucumber.Coffee was tasty everything was delicious and fresh.Restaurant was clean. Lovely to see the Robin also. Staff were polite and friendly.

Pleasant ambience but rather disappointed with the choice of food and the meal. None of those delicious jacket potatoes on offer as the tea room that served them is now permanently closed. I chose the spinach and mushroom casserole-croute. The topping was delicious but the bread wasn’t toasty and crisp, just warm and very pale. It was hard to cut through with a knife and would have been better served on the side to preserve any hint of crispness. My husband enjoyed the calves liver and sides from the specials but it was served on a cold plate. Lovely crockery and cutlery. The staff were efficient and polite.

Restaurant great for views outside. Was looking forward to lunch. However, the food delivered was not as advertised or else didn't match expectations. Aubergine dish - on the menu it said served with couscous - but there was no couscous at all. The aubergine was barely cooked and the sauce was gloopy. My partner had a main course of tempura prawns - served with just three prawns! Barely starter sized. I did not complain at the time as we were eating with friends and did not want to make a fuss, but this was pretty poor. Won't be back for food.

My husband & I had visited and enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Jermyns House Restaurant Roast beef Sunday Lunch and Romsey Brewery ‘Golden Flax’ beer James our waiter and the manageress fantastic Delightful surroundings, lovely atmosphere, relaxing and fabulous food

We initially intended to go to the restaurant at the entrance near the visitors centre but it was heaving. We decided therefore to back track to the Garden Restaurant at Jermyns House, not certain of its offerings but happy with just coffee and a cake if necessary. We were delighted to find a spacious interior with tables well spaced out and sunny terrace. We sat outside, we had French Onion Soup with ciabatta and apple and plum crumble with custard. My word was this food lovely - hot, tasty and presented perfectly. Full marks to the chef. Also very reassuring to see tables wiped down as soon as they became empty. A very enjoyable lunch amid beautiful surroundings- we shall be back!

The Garden Restaurant was very good. The menu options were excellent. My wife had a special request to avoid garlic and the chef prepared a special dish for her.

Mulberry Cafe in Sunningdale has really improved the scones !! Being a customer of many years have avoided the scones as they were always undercooked. Today’s offering was great, perhaps due to the new Chef ? They have reduced the amount of lunch type food jolts staffing has been a problem. Let’s hope they now return to delicious meals again. Always a pleasure to go to this venue, especially when the sun shines, outdoor seating(avoiding the wasps !) is always a real pleasure.

We bought mom membership for her birthday and booked the Garden Restaurant Lunch Menu for 2, we had such a memorable time, EVERY member of staff took the time to come over and wish her happy birthday, we had the seafood linguine and minted lamb and they were both mouth-wateringly tasty, representing good value for money. Whilst I only took photos of the deserts I would throughly recommend, and know the annual pass won’t be the only reason. Thank you all for a lovely afternoon …. Misc. Sadly you cannot leave a tip on credit card which is a shame as we would have left more than the cash we had available

Recently visited the garden restaurant, checked the website prior to going and booked as advised. Very pleasant restaurant and good service but the menu was not the same as the website and on the day had very limited and I would say strange options. We do not consider ourselves to be fussy eaters but we really struggled to make a main meal choice. Such a shame.

Four of us had lunch here on a very hot, sunny day, following which we enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the gardens. Everything about our lunch was just right - friendly and attentive staff, bright, cool and airy decor, and most importantly, great food. Two of us had the pork belly followed by New York cheesecake, with the local brew 'Double Drop' bitter by Flacks Manor. Absolutely no complaints and look forward to our next visit. We tipped by cash as adding it to the main bill is not an option, presumably a local government policy.

Been visiting Hilliers arboreteum for decades even before the council took it over. . I have seen the changes over the years. The gardens are amazing and I have planted an arboreteum myself. However when I went to the Garden Restaurant for a coffee or a bite to eat one of the staff members was extremely rude to me so my friend and I left, I was shocked by the total unnecessary rudeness. I won’t be going to that cafe again. What a shame,

The Garden Restaurant is excellent. Nice dining room, very good kitchen, and well staffed. Selection of main courses very good and well presented. House wine very good and a reasonable price.

We had a lovely experience walking through the Gardens to the Garden Restaurant. The Spring blossom was amazing, and there were still a lot of Daffodils. We received a warm welcome, and throughout our visit the staff were helpful and pleasant. The food was lovely and beautifully presented.

We have often eaten here for lunch and the food and service is always extremely good. We try to eat outside on the lovely terrace as often as we can at Jermyns House restaurant - normally this is a Sunday. The setting and location is beautiful. W both chose the salmon with potato rosti and vegetables and it was excellent. The staff are always very friendly and efficient and hats off to the chef as his menu is always good with lovely balanced meals with vegetables.

As regular visitors, the Courtyard is a great start with coffee and very suitable for light lunch. Jermyns is also great for a quick break or reviving tea. In winter the new restaurant is not booked up so worth visiting. Plentiful staff who stood around chatting avoiding eye contact. Soup was very tasty & reasonable price but the morsel of accompanying dry bread was sad. Overall food was good but not outstanding though at least one staff member showing interest would have improved it.

Very accessible to take my wheelchair bound wife, except that there are too few disabled spots to park. Great spacing between the tables for extra easy access. Nice food, but the queue was a bit long. Would go back.

Excellent, well cooked food served at lunchtime in the new restaurant. We didn’t have a booking so took a chance that we could get a table in this well appointed clean restaurant with views from the large windows. Staff very friendly and served food quickly....

I ordered a jacket potato from the menu at the pavilion cafe at about 11.45 but was told this unavailable before 12, but i could have a bowl of leek and potato soup. This was a generous portion with nice bread, but all I could...

Christmas lunch today for four. Excellent service. Excellent lunch with large portions. Good white house wine. Reasonable prices. Thanks to chefs and waiting staff.

We popped in to Jermyns House during our walk around the gardens. It did not appear to be well-signposted but fortunately we were with friends who knew the site layout well. I enjoyed a very tasty 'Lady Winchester' loose-leaf tea which was a 'first' for...

Food options at the beautiful Harold Hillier arboretum are several; this review is for the Jermyns House restaurant. We have now eaten there twice and can give the restaurant our highest recommendation. The location is beautiful amongst the trees, the design is clean, modern and...

My partner and I had lunch at Jermyns House and sat outside in glorious weather. We chose the tempura prawns and the Greek meze as a share platter, all was excellent especially the meze, well done Chef. My partner chose the trio of ice cream...

Set next to the Sir Harold Hillier gardens this garden centre is a lovely place. The range of flowers is good, particularly the roses, they smelt wonderful. The shop is well stocked and the prices are mid-ranged. The staff were helpful which is a bonus....

A stunning setting with a great menu, which was very good value for money! This menu had a great selection of seasonal options and was delicious. Service was excellent. All in all a great venue with a lovely walk through the gardens. I will definitely...

We visit regularly as we are members and normally eat in the main restaurant whilst the new restaurant in the original house was completed. We were lucky to sit outside on the new terrace in lovely sunshine. Meals are not individually priced but as one...

On my previous visit I had a really thick tasty soup but today's offering was just green hot water. It was meant to be leek and potato but was quite disgusting. I was going to complain but the lady from the kitchen ( no apron/overall/mask)...

The food is ok if, you like small portions and over cooked veg. I had the Russian fish pie, I struggled to find some fish lost in the source, It was also supposed to have prawns, I did find some rather tasteless pinkish things at...

It seems just IMPOSSIBLE to book the restaurant! Having tried numerous emails to different addresses, numerous phone calls to different people..over 2 days now..but always on answer phone and messages left not replied to.... I see someone else on here has commented previously... It seems...

Great spacing between tables and high roof makes this a great place to eat and feel safe during Covid. Lunch was wonderful: vegetarian options were inventive and not run-of-the-mill. Lovely, friendly service was very quick. Was busy on a Monday lunchtime which implies word is...

A very reasonably priced lunch . Tasty food - I ate roast beef and yorkshire pudding and a delicious custard tart with ginger ice cream.The maitre d' recommended a lovely Helmsman wine from Australia. The food was priced about the same as pub food but...

Courtyard Cafe: Slowest service ever even though it was quiet (no idea how they’ll cope at lunchtime) Average coffee. No change from last visit, pre lockdown.

This used to be a great spot for some breakfast or lunch. Now due to the highly inflexible policies ruined. You cant have hot food outside ( in the garden ) the menu is crammed full of worthy but not very tasty options ( smash...

Always worth a visit and never disappoints. 2 cafes and 1 restaurant - wished I had time to try the restaurant so will give that a go next time I visit. The borders looked great as always and grounds always pretty. It seemed very quiet...

We had brunch at the new restaurant and the food was excellent! Mushrooms on sour dough were stunning and the vegan wilted spinach was delicious. Setting is truly beautiful (we sat outside) - and staff were very helpful. What I would say, however, is that...

We enjoyed a pleasant visit to the Gardens. We arrived at the new Garden Restaurant in time for lunch. It might be because this restaurant is new and still suffering teething problems but not sure if that is a good excuse for below average tasting...

Pick a fine day and walk the extensive grounds, take a picnic and relax in the many picnic area. The visit will take , from 2 - 4 hours. Most of the shrubs and trees are named. There are paved pathways or by choice grass...

We ordered two cups of white Americano (with hot milk) today and it was absolutely tasteless! Unable to drink it!

Hillier Gardens is a large, but still delightful arboretum near Ramsey in Hampshire. It covers almost 180 acres and it contains over 72,000 trees and shrubs. Although it was originally founded by Harold Hillier in June 1953, the arboretum is now managed as a charitable...

Regretfully nothing much has changed on the patio area .Food is left on the floor and tables not cleared this is attracting wasp which ruins the experience.Such a shame as such a wonderful place to site and take in the views. Bread was stell altogether...

Nice and relaxing place to admire plants and flowers. Restaurant served nice cakes and the Irises were out and looked beautiful.

The menu has some lovely simple meals. There is always somewhere to sit inside/outside. The service is quick. Downside - queuing. Would be good to have a queue for just drinks and ice-creams

Just love it here. So much to see, beautiful gardens with walks, different planting schemes, and things to see in every season. Good food too, with vegan options available.

We visited here with friends during half term. The weather was hit and miss and this is more of a fair weather activity but our kids still enjoyed exploring. I was impressed with how many different little play areas there are. There is lots to...

Brilliant, lovely park, tree house a hit and cafe superb, good food, clean and friendly professional staff

Achingly beautiful in places...and pretty much year-round interest. Always something new to discover...beautifully kept and nurtured...and invariably a peaceful corner away from the madding crowd.

had cake and coffee very nice if it was not raining it would have been lovely to sit in the garden but it was not to be.

So difficult to know how to review this place. I had a lovely cake and tea in the main cafe (a complete change as until recently this cafe has been dire) and a stunning walk around the gardens which looked beautiful clothed in magnolias and sunshine (but in danger of becoming too formalised at money is pumped in). I also had a horrible experience in Jermyn House with the rude superviser and an unpleasant experience with the check out person in the Plant Centre. Regrettably Hilliers doesn't know how to manage fluctuating attendances and this week-end was a classic example where no-one had checked the weather forecast. Very basic management. You mat be public sector funded but really, Hilliers, you are a commercial operation. You should know better after all these years.

Answer is no it's not. Entry is £10 and given I was paying for my adult children it meant a walk in the garden cost £40. Given I then spent over £20 in the coffee shop it was an expensive stroll. The gardens are great although I'd wait till more flowers were out if I went again. Lots of variety and plenty of interest. They even have forest pigs which seem ridiculously happy. Coffee shop is full of fresh cakes and I hear from friends the Sunday roast is excellent. So yes I had a lovely time but it hurt the wallet more than it should have.

Popped in here for coffee and cake at restaurant at entrance- not visiting garden. The coffee as always was lovely, but over the past few visits the standard of the cakes has hit rock bottom and dry as dry.I keep giving it another chance, but it is still bad. This was not a gluten free cake which I would expect to be dry.For a wonderful coffee cake try "A La Ronde" - but perhaps that is too far to go!

Enjoyed a walk round the gardens

You can eat in the Hilliers Restaurant without going into the gardens themselves. On a recent visit, just after Christmas we found the cakes to be excellent, but the rolls seemed very slightly stale - this might be because they hadn't had fresh deliveries since before Christmas itself. Rolls are served with a salad garnish and a few vegetable crisps, which is nice. A second small criticism was of the prawn mayo roll - while well filed, it was actual a prawn Marie Rose (ie. with tomato ketchup mixed into the mayonnaise) and not a pure prawn mayo filling. (The baked potato menu correctly included prawn Marie Rose as one of the filling options, but I would have preferred not to have had this in a roll). All rolls are made to order, but even on a busy lunchtime were brought out quickly.

When walking around Hilliers gardens it’s nice to stop here for a cup of tea in this beautiful old house. Or sit in the garden with the lovely surroundings. A choice of refreshments are available.

My partner and I visited these lovely gardens in the middle of October and had an absolutely wonderful day. Even at this time of year, the gardens are sparkling with colour and beauty.

We pooped in to the cafe to revise ourselves after having walked around the gardens. The tea was good and the Victoria Sponge was lovely.

We had gone as a treat for my sister who is temporarily wheelchair bound. Our first impression was not good as staff chatting at counter seemed completely uninterested in serving us food. We ordered 2 soups. The bread looked good but certainly was not fresh and we also thought the butter was tainted. To top that we found a hair entwined in a crouton. When I discretely reported my finding I was told the bread would be checked and we would get a refund. The price of one soup was delivered to our table along with a curt apology and another assurance that the bread would be checked!!! To be fair the soup was very nice. All in though, not a pleasant experience,

We went back today in the hopeful anticipation that it had improved - waste of time and money

Spent 6 hours here, first at the educational centre as part of a pre school group then off on our own to explore. A three and six year old totally occupied exploring the herb area collecting different herbs to stick on their caterpillar card then off for an adventure around the pond area and discovering the bamboo tunnels. The play area and tree house were a favourite area lots of shady places to have a picnic and cool down. We joined the flower fairy trail which was a great hit with both children. Using their caterpillar card they had made earlier, to collect the flower stamps. When they found the flower fairy table both were so excited. Neither wanted the day to end.

Called in for a brunch visit mid-Saturday morning and the place was very busy.

Called in on impulse for tasty and tender roast pork (no crackling), apple sauce, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, selection of veg and gravy. Very generous portion. Price for two with a soft drink each was just over £20 which seemed like excellent value. Cafe style, self service for drinks; order hot food at till and it is served at your chosen table. Busy on arrival at 12.30, but tables still available. Swift and pleasant service. No need to visit gardens to access cafe.

Good selection of food one person had a cheese scone/butter and cake the other person had hot dish baked potato good selection of toppings, came with small salad.. Service staff very polite and service was very quick for hot dish. all tables cleared proptly aver ,meal. .

Rambled around the extensive gardens-- peaceful and beautiful planting.An extra delight was to see " sheep" pigs.A place to visit throughout the seasons.

First reviewed this place in November 2017, at that time it was ok. Have returned a few times since and seems to be going downhill each time.

As local decided at short notice to visit on a cold winter day. stoped at cafe for soup

Came here with my girlfriend and her friend and the children we were looking after for the morning. The majority of us had Mac and cheese either with or without bacon added. The food was hot and tasty and the service was good. Everyone enjoyed their food l. Would happily return

The Cafeteria is quite basic and can be noisy, but the hot meals are very nice and good value. When I visited they had an offer where if you had a main course you could add a dessert for £1 which was a pleasant surprise! Another perk is that there is an exhibition area at one end, where there is usually something interesting to look at.

Very much enjoyed our Christmas meal yesterday. Food was of very good quality, one of the best Christmas meals I've had for a long time, and it was not too expensive either. The little goodie bag at the end of the meal was a nice touch too. The service was excellent, the staff were very friendly, efficient and prompt, and Jermyn's House was a lovely, intimate venue. It was beautifully decorated and really made us feel Christmassy. The parking was easy.... right next door and plenty of it. Needless to say, we have already booked for next year! Be warned, it is so popular that it is a good idea to book at least two months before Christmas!

very pleasant place to visit, provides good snack. tea and coffee are always good. clean surroundings, friendly staff

Went here with my elderly parents. Great day out, we all enjoyed it. Easy walking paths for prams or elderly. Has a cafe and toilets. Lots of benches dotted about for a quick break from being on your feet which was needed for my dad. Would recommend as a day out if you like good scenery and sculptures

Called in here after following the brown signs from the Salisbury road and it was way past Romsey. On arrival we went to the garden centre only to find that the restaurant was down the road through the garden centre at the Gardens. Unfortunately not a great selection of food and the jackets potatoes were dried out.

Stopped for quick lunch before going into Arboretum. Delicious sandwiches, freshly made and well filled. Would usually have a hot meal, but just needed a snack. Sandwich very filling.

I visited the centre with my parents when I was very young and it made an impression, then again ten years ago, and today we only wanted lunch but the place was so improved, I would like to see the gardens again.

Good admission fee. Busy cafe. Good gift shop. Wheelchair access. Directions on map were misleading. Fantastic kinetic wind sculptures.

Sat outside in the courtyard which has a lovely view over a valley into the gardens. Took quite a time to take a drink due to the slow coffee machine. Didn't see the sign about bacon rolls until after I had picked up cake. Couldn't see any prices on the sandwiches. Sadly they don't serve food outside. Guess one person could sit inside and one person save a table outside but then you have taken up two tables and what happens if you are on your own - then you can only sit inside for food. Noticed that there were wheelchairs available to go round the gardens.

We use the restraunt a lot but have noticed that the open patio area cleaning has deteriorated between customers .

Mary purchased a couple of baguettes filled with ham and salad. They were pre– wrapped in plastic so she could not have known they contained liberal helpings of English mustard, which is not to her liking. Nevertheless, they were nourishing and all the better for being washed down with a generous cup of coffee. This is the fifth time we have eaten here and we shall return in due course.

The gardens are very good for walking around as there is plenty of shade. It covers a very large area so be prepared to stop and rest occasionally. As expected there are many different plant species to view as you walk around the gardens, but maybe direction signage could be better. Good restaurant and snack facilities and seating.Like most large gardens it's a garden for all seasons so visitors should try to do so regularly through the year.

Choices of hot potatoes was good, but side salads would have been a winner on a hot day. Interesting ice creams called New Forest, but on the label were from Belgium.

Typical mass produced food for the massesQuick serviceHot "Ping" foodgood quantity fair qualityReasonable service by amateurs

Lovely plant sale department. Sadly we had very heavy rain so did not venture into gardens (had elderly Mother with me).Restaurant service was very good and we highly recommend the Millionaire shortbread.

All hot lunches are good value priced at £8.50 Pulled pork with sweet potato chips, salad and coleslaw was very good as was my companion's local Trout with watercress sauce, new potatoes and salad. After a walk around the grounds a lovely slice of Toffee cake and a pot of tea went down a treat.

We had tea and coffee with delicious cakes after a few hours walking round the gardens. The tea was a proper brew! And the coffee was good too. When I return I will definetly be stopping here again for more!

An amazing place to visit - we loved it. There is so much to see in so many different parts of the very well kept garden. Too spacious to be overcrowded. Great for all the family, plenty of interest for children, fantastic tree house. Good parking, easy access, lots of seating dotted round the gardens. The magnolias were stunning also the rhododendrons and azaleas. A delicious piece of cake and pot of tea in the sunshine - perfect! I only wish we lived nearer as I'd love to visit every season......

We are fortunate to have this beautiful location on our doorstep. A small garden centre and cafe lead into the most wonderful space to walk and take in some of the most amazing plant life I have seen. Many themed areas and regular outdoor exhibitions and concerts make this place a real delight.

Fair choice for snacking lunch. Beautiful homemade shortbread. Lovely dining rooms on the ground floor of the house of the gardens creator.

Very well maintained grounds with simple walks and trails to keep the kids amused. Amazing variety of plants and beautiful colour across the gardens. After a walk the children's tree house and swings offer respite for tired parents and then an ice cream in the cafe to finish the morning

Our trip to these stunning gardens was fantastic. The children loved their visit and learnt a lot of relevant things through fun games and hands on experiences. One of my colleagues told me her daughter had married in the gardens and I can't imagine a nicer venue for a wedding.We had brought picnics but some people investigated the cafe and reported it as slightly disappointing which is a pity.

This garden and arboretum is so good at all times of year that we became members. Most of the 200 acres or so are wheel chair friendly, also rough enough in places for children to let off steam, you can also borrow an electric wheelchair if you book in advance. Sturdy portable pavement electric wheelchairs are to be recommended. There's many wilder places within the garden where able-bodied walker's can have abit of a work out. Check out their website to see if the woodlands pigs are in residence. There's plenty of facilities for children if they become bored. Selection of snacks and meals available. Becoming a member gives you free access to a small number of other gardens such as Kew.

We called for coffees before walking around the gardens, which many seemed to do. The coffee was very good, the service was excellent & there was a nice atmosphere. I would have preferred a softer seat but we did not stay long & so not too bad. Many wee eating cake etc. & all seemed to be enjoying that too.

Lunch here a couple of times every monthSandwiches are usually excellentHowever now prepacked and not very niceMine was so damp it was impossible to separate the two halves (cheese salad)My wife took hers back, (egg), the staff were very sympathetic and told us they have had a lot of complaints Apparently it's more cost effective to buy in sandwiches as it 'takes too long' to make them on siteIt will not be cost effective with us, as we will not be going back