Three Centuries of Landscape Design
Claremont Landscape Garden is a remarkable palimpsest of English garden history. Begun around 1715 by Sir John Vanbrugh and Charles Bridgeman for the Duke of Newcastle, it was later reshaped by William Kent and then Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. The result is a garden that tells the story of the English landscape movement in a single, compact site of about 50 acres.
The focal point is the serpentine lake, overlooked by a turf amphitheatre – the earliest known example of its kind in Europe – and a Palladian island pavilion designed by Kent. A grotto, a ha-ha and a belvedere tower add further interest to a circuit walk that can be completed in about an hour. The mature trees, including cedars of Lebanon, Lucombe oaks and tulip trees, give the landscape a timeless, painterly quality.
Wildlife & Family Activities
Claremont is popular with families thanks to its open lawns, gentle paths and resident wildlife. Kingfishers and herons are regularly spotted along the lake margins, and mandarin ducks breed on the island. The National Trust runs a programme of family events, volunteer gardening days and guided walks throughout the year.
The garden is located on the A307 in Esher, close to the junction with the A3. There is a small car park on-site. Esher railway station is about a mile away. A tearoom near the entrance serves cakes, soups and light meals.
