How to visit and what to see in Stourhead Gardens, an orchard in the south of England

If you are a lover of large gardens, in your trip through the south of england You have an essential appointment: visit Stourhead Gardens, in the county Wiltshire, just over two hours southwest of London.

The Stourhead Gardens They are considered the best representation of the characteristic English gardens of the 18th century and during your visit you are guaranteed a walk of about two hours through an enclave with truly beautiful corners.

El english garden of the 18th century is characterized by its contrast to the aesthetic formalism of the great French gardens, the most famous example of which are the Gardens of the Palace of Versailles, although in Spain we also have several examples, such as Gardens of the Royal Palace of La Granja in Segovia.

Curiosities about the history of Stourhead Gardens

The Stourhead Gardens were built by Henry Hoare y entre 1741 1780.

The farm where they were built had been acquired by his grandfather from the previous family that had owned it for 700 years.

hoare turned that farm into a real work of art, creating a large lake that was surrounded by a large forest, with a great variety of plants.

All of this decorated with several neoclassical temples, grottoes, sculptures, bridges... In short, great landscape beauty.

Previously, in 1720, the hoare family built a manor house, Stourhead House, with the palladian style so fashionable in the 18th century.

The house was destroyed by fire in 1902, and was rebuilt in a similar style.

This is the experience of visiting Stourhead: what to see

Of course, when planning your route, keep in mind that the Stourhead visit will take you like minimum two hours If you are going to do the complete route, which is recommended.

Once you arrive at Visitors Center of the Stourhead Gardens You will begin the journey along the path that will take you to the lake, which you must completely surround.

Before reaching the lake you will see the Walled Garden, once a garden that supplied fruits and vegetables to the Stourhead House, the great stately mansion built by the hoare family, and which is now a pelargonium garden with more than 60 varieties.

At this point is when you can visit the Stourhead House.

From here, through some leafy forests you will begin the descent to the Stourhead Gardens lake.

Temple of Apollo and Turner's landscapes at Stourhead

Along the way you will have the opportunity to have an excellent view of the Temple of Apollo, which will appear on a hill in front of you.

Located on the west shore of the lake, during your walk along the paths of this shore you will pass by a corner dedicated to the famous English landscape painter Turner, who captured in some of his works the corners of Stourhead Gardens.

Once you reach almost the shore of the lake, you have to start circumnavigating it in an easterly direction.

As you advance, you have beautiful perspectives of the different natural corners, enhanced by the neoclassical style temples.

On the north side of the lake you will find the Gruta, a characteristic decorative element in the Italian gardens of the Renacimiento.

Inside this artificial cave you will see a statue known as the Grotto Nymph, based on Ariadne statue of the Vatican Gardens.

The Pantheon or Temple of Hercules

Near the Grotto you find the largest of the buildings of the Stourhead Gardens, Pantheon, built in 1754, and which was initially known as the Hercules Temple.

From this point, you will continue the route going up towards the Temple of Apollo, and it is from this neoclassical temple where, without a doubt, you will have the best panoramic views of the lake from Stourhead Gardens, which are protagonists of paintings by Turner.

Finally, you will descend towards the village of Stourton, from where you can see the beautiful stone bridge Palladian Bridge and Flora Temple.

Since 1946 the Stourhead Gardens are property of the National trust, a foundation that preserves numerous places of historical interest or natural enclaves in England.

Stourhead Gardens Visiting Hours

The Stourhead Gardens visiting hours They are from 9 a.m. to 16,30:XNUMX p.m. throughout the year.

El Stourhead House visiting hours It is, in general, from 11 a.m. to 16 p.m., although, depending on the time of year, it is not open every day of the week, and in winter the hours are from 11 a.m. to 15 p.m.

Stourhead ticket prices

As to ticket prices to visit Stourhead Gardens (2024), which includes a walk through the gardens and a visit to the mansion, is £20 for adults and £10 for children, with an additional £4,50 car park fee.

Map: where they are and how to get to Stourhead Gardens

The Stourhead Gardens are in the south west england, a two and a half hour drive from London, and just over an hour north of Bournemouth.