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Visit us
Spend a couple hours or stay the whole day. With 190 acres to discover, it is perfect for a family day out with lots of space for kids to run around and explore. Dogs on leads welcome. Garden tickets can be bought on-site in the Bakehouse.
There are weddings on the weekend at Ashridge House and we ask that you please be mindful and respectful to keep distant from the wedding party when in the gardens.
Please note that from Monday 18 November our gardens will be temporarily closed as we begin the exciting transformation of our grounds into a sparkling wonderland for our Christmas light trail, Ashridge House Illuminated. Thank you for your patience—we can’t wait to welcome you back to experience the magic soon.
Our gardens will reopen for visits in the New Year.
Opening times
Closed from Monday 18 November - New Year.
Monday - Sunday
9.30am - last entry 4.30pm.
Book your tickets below.
 "Purple floral vines over the exterior of a building drape over benches and shrubs")
 "Purple floral vines over the exterior of a building drape over benches and shrubs")
 "Spring flowers bloom in the sunshine near trimmed shrubbery")
 "Spring flowers bloom in the sunshine near trimmed shrubbery")
 "Colourful flowers bloom in the Italian garden with Ashridge House in the background")
 "Colourful flowers bloom in the Italian garden with Ashridge House in the background")
 "A pathway in front leading down into Monk's garden with trimmed shrubbery and flowers on either side")
 "A pathway in front leading down into Monk's garden with trimmed shrubbery and flowers on either side")
 "A paved pathway with flowers on either side and stone archway on the right")
 "A paved pathway with flowers on either side and stone archway on the right")
 "Colourful rhododendrons under a blue sky")
 "Colourful rhododendrons under a blue sky")
Seasonal views
No matter what time of day or year you visit, there is always something to take your breath away. It may be the avenue of rhododendrons and carpet of bluebells in the spring, the formal bedding in the summer, the glorious autumn hues or the snow covered winter wonderland.
 "Aerial external view of Ashridge House and gardens with autumnal colours")
 "Aerial external view of Ashridge House and gardens with autumnal colours")
The Gardens
 "Photo of the Italian Gardens")
Italian Garden
Dating from the Mid-19th Century when Italianate gardens were very fashionable, this garden was designed by Lady Marian Alford. The Garden was removed and laid to lawn in the 1950s and reinstated in 2000.
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Ancient Yews & Princess Victoria Oak
As depicted in Repton's original plans, a line of yews believed to date back to the early 17th century still stands today. Together with the shrubberies, they complement and impressive oak planted by Princess Victoria in 1823 to commemorate her visit.
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Rosary
Eight rose beds arranged around a central fountain are surrounded by a yew hedge and climbing roses. Jeffry Wyatville adapted Repton's original plans around 1820, and it was restored in 1999 and replanted in 2014.
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Monks Garden
The garden seen today was developed in the mid-19th century from Wyatville's original plan. it displays an armorial design representing the four families that have been associated with Ashridge. Clockwise from the top left the arms represent Egerton, Brownlow, Compton, Cust.
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Fernery & Garden
Designed by Mathew Digby Wyatt in 1864 to replace an old glasshouse, it was dedicated solely to growing ferns which were very fashionable in the Victorian era. Created at the same time as the Fernery, the garden is planted with seasonal bedding displays twice a year.
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Liquidambar Walk
The original trees were planted in 1937 to commemorate the coronation of King George VI, although parts of the avenue were replanted in 1996. This unusual avenue of trees makes for an extremely impressive display of autumnal colour.
 "Photo of Skating pond & Moat")
Skating Pond & Moat
Constructed in the 1870s on the site of a former fishpond, the skating pond is a distinctive feature of Lady Marian Alford's extension to the gardens. The moat next to the skating pond was originally filled with water but is now intentionally left dry.
 "Photo of HERB GARDEN & BEECH HOUSES")
Herb Garden & Beech Houses
Created in the late 19th century as a lavender and herb garden, it was redeveloped in 2005 in memory of Kay Sanecki (Ashridge Archivist) using the pattern Repton had proposed for the Rosary. Today it is planted with a variety of herbs to provide bees with sources of nectar. Next to the garden are two impressive Beech Houses.
 "Photo of WELLINGTONIA AVENUE & RHODODENDRON WALK")
Wellingtonia Avenue & Rhododendron Walk
The avenue of Wellingtonias was planted in 1858 on the axis with the house and has as its focal point the prospect mound believed to date from Tudor times.
 "Photo of REPTON'S ARBOUR")
Repton's Arbour
Repton's Plan for a 'rustic seat in a grove' was not implemented by Wyatville. Based on a drawing in the red book for Ashridge, the Arbour was constructed in 1998 using yew from the garden and larch from the estate.
 "photo of flower gardens")
Flower Garden
Intended as a private garden for the countess of Bridgewater, this garden partially replicates the early 19th century planting style proposed by Repton. The Garden is over looked by a replica statue of Bacchus that stood in the garden until 1928 when the contents of the house were sold off.
History
"Of all the subjects on which I have been consulted, few have elicited so much interest in my mind as the Plan for these Gardens." -Humphrey Repton, 'Fragments on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening,' 1816
In March 1813, Repton presented his proposals for Ashridge to the owner, the 7th Earl of Bridgewater, who wanted to create a garden to compliment the extensive mansion he was building. Repton’s designs included a Rose Garden, Monks' Garden, and Herb Garden, and were later enhanced with the addition of the Italian Garden which was drawn up in Thomas Wright's 1871 garden plans.
 "A page fron Humphry Repton's book with drawings and notes of garden designs")
 "A page fron Humphry Repton's book with drawings and notes of garden designs")
Volunteer
Work alongside our gardening team and help tend to the historic gardens and grounds at Ashridge House. We host a plant fair annually to sell plants that are lovingly grown by the gardens team volunteers throughout the year. If you are interested in joining and volunteering please email gardens@ashridge.hult.edu to learn more.
 "Three people tend to flowers in the garden while smiling")
 "Three people tend to flowers in the garden while smiling")
Sustainability
The gardens are managed to encourage the biodiversity and sustainability of our natural environment, a core part of Ashridge's commitment to the conservation of these historic gardens. All our propagation and growing uses peat free compost, and we recycle rainwater from the roof, as well as use the original water tanks for irrigation during the hotter summer months.
There are beehives in the gardens and we partner with local beekeepers to produce our own Ashridge honey. We have placed nesting boxes for bats across the gardens, and they roost in the old Ice House. Red Kites, which were once endangered in the UK, are now nesting in our gardens. Our trees are home to the most successful breeding pair in Hertfordshire.
 "A person holds a slab of honey comb near a wooden beehive box while fully clad in protective gear")
 "A person holds a slab of honey comb near a wooden beehive box while fully clad in protective gear")
Tickets
 "Two people walk under a canopy in the gardens")
 "A field of rhododendrons in the sunlight")
 "A field of rhododendrons in the sunlight")
Open daily
Garden Annual Pass (Disabled)
If you are a frequent visitor to the Ashridge House gardens, an annual pass is perfect for you. Price also includes 10% off purchases from the Bakehouse. Garden entry time is from 9am with the last admission at 4pm.
Ticket includes 1 free carer
Disabled Adult£40
 "Two children run through the Italian gardens")