Gardens Designed for Young Explorers
RHS Garden Wisley is one of the most celebrated gardens in the world, and it has increasingly become a destination for families as well as keen gardeners. The garden’s Wild Play area, opened in recent years, gives children the chance to build dens, splash in water features, dig in sand and explore sensory planting. Self-guided family trails run throughout the year, with themed activity sheets available from the welcome building.
The 240-acre garden offers an extraordinary diversity of landscapes for families to explore, from the Mediterranean-style Exotic Garden and the vast glasshouse to wildflower meadows and the iconic mixed borders. Children particularly enjoy the fruit fields in summer, the model village garden, and spotting wildlife along the canal and lake. The garden’s seasonal highlights — spring bulbs, summer roses, autumn colour and the winter glow illuminations — ensure every visit feels different.
Planning Your Visit
RHS Wisley is on the A3 near Junction 10 of the M25, just north of Guildford. Non-members pay an admission fee (book online in advance for a discount), while RHS members enjoy free entry. The garden is open daily year-round. There are two cafés and a restaurant, plus the RHS Plant Centre and shop. A free shuttle runs from Wisley Lane to the garden entrance. Family events run throughout school holidays, and the Glow illuminations each winter are especially popular.
