There is much to see at Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens. Whether you are looking for rock gardens, ornamental gardens, or a funfair, there’s a lot to see and do. The gardens are open daily from 8 am until 5 pm so you can visit at your leisure.
Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens
The gardens offer a variety of attractions and activities. Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens is the place for you if you’re looking for a relaxing day out. The area is filled with nature and wildlife. You’ll find several walking trails to enjoy as well.
The grounds are home to seven lakes and a wallaby colony. You’ll find a beautiful mix of woodlands and rock gardens. There are also several species of deer and a rare colony of wallabies. You can visit the park year-round and learn about the local wildlife.
There’s also a vineyard at the estate. The estate was the first in the UK to plant Pinotage grapes. You can taste award-winning South African wines at the estate’s winery. It also features a wallaby enclosure and a picnic area. The winery’s wine-tasting experiences are of incredible value.
Rock Garden
If you’re looking for a Victorian rock garden, you’ll love this one in the Woodlands. This estate also features a dollhouse museum, a wallaby colony, and wine tastings. Depending on your preferences, you can spend the entire day there or just a few hours.
The Rock Garden at Leonardslee Gardens was designed by James Pulham & Sons in the 1890s, who specialized in natural rock gardens, follies, and ferneries. Sir Edmund Loder, who founded the gardens, was interested in flora and fauna and wanted to create an area where plants could grow naturally. The Rock Garden was built from large stone and a concrete-like material called ‘Pulhamite.’ The ‘rock builders’ used various methods to create the garden, but the most popular method was combining large stones and a concrete-like substance called ‘pulhamite.’
In addition to rock gardens, the Rock Garden at Leonardslee Gardens is home to a collection of unique plants. Originally, the estate was a lightly wooded estate. Sir Edmund Loder planted many exotic plants in the garden. The gardens were also home to gazelles and wallabies.
Ornamental gardens
Leonardslee Gardens is a Grade I listed garden with several lakes and rock formations. It recently reopened after a 10-year closure. You can visit the gardens to admire beautiful trees, including Chusan palms and rhododendrons.
One of the most outstanding features of the gardens is the Ornamental Rock Garden. The garden was created by a Victorian landscaping firm specializing in natural rock gardens. The craftsmen used large rocks and a concrete-like material called ‘Pulhamite’ to create an outstanding display.
Visitors can see hundreds of different species of plants and animals. More than 100 wallabies, including several albinos, live in the gardens. They’re particularly entertaining in the spring and summer when males compete with females. Three species of deer are also resident in the gardens.
Funfair
The Funfair at Leonardslee Gardens offers a fun, family-friendly way to enjoy the grounds. Visitors can enjoy live music, a circus performance, and food stalls. The festival also features a magical trail through the 240-acre Grade I-listed estate.
Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens is located just north of the A281 through Crabtree. There is car and coach parking available on the premises. The car park also offers disabled parking. Drivers who have disabled passengers should set them down at the ticket office before parking. Leonardslee is also served by the number 17 bus, which runs between Brighton and Horsham railway stations.
Drink
A Michelin star restaurant at Leonardslee Gardens and a tasting menu changes with the seasons. The gardens inspire the menu and use locally sourced produce and foraged ingredients. You can enjoy a drink during the summer months at the garden bar. The estate also hosts special events such as tea and wine tastings.
The gardens have been described as one of the finest woodland gardens in England and are part of the Grade I listed Benguela Cove group. Its stunning scenery is stunning throughout the year, and the vineyard is now planting South African Pinotage. The first estate Pinotage is expected to be produced in 2020. This will anchor the estate’s identity with the Benguela Cove group, which has most of its properties in South Africa.
The gardens and lake are also home to an award-winning restaurant and a cafe, the Clocktower Café, which opens daily at 9 am. This cafe offers hot and cold drinks and cakes and pastries. The menu features local produce and is gluten-free. You can also bring your picnic lunch if you wish to eat outside.
Street food
Leonardslee Gardens is a beautiful place to go on a sunny day, and there are plenty of options for street food at this garden festival. The grounds are perfect for walking, and you’ll find a wide range of stalls selling everything from freshly made burgers and hot dogs to fine wines and artisan gin. There’s even a boutique market with arts and crafts, homeware and gardening stalls, and children’s clothing. The gardens are also home to a variety of musical performances.
The gardens are home to a renowned South African boutique winemaker. Penny Streeter’s vineyards produce over 70,000 bottles of fine wine. In addition to the wine, you can also enjoy a delicious menu at the newly refurbished Leonardslee House restaurant. The rooms have high ceilings and are furnished with period furniture and beautiful wallpaper.
The gardens are home to many plants and animals, including azaleas, rhododendrons, and wallabies. The grounds have a popular walking trail. The estate also has a renowned dolls’ house exhibition and a wallaby colony. A Michelin-starred restaurant opened in 2018 on the estate.
House
When visiting a beautiful English country house, indulging in afternoon tea is one of the most wonderful things to do. At Leonardslee House, you can expect to enjoy the finest cuisine and spectacular views. It’s the ultimate tea experience. To get the most out of your visit, make a reservation in advance so you can make sure to visit at the right time.
A 19th-century Italianate-style house near Horsham, West Sussex, the House in Leonardslee Gardens has a beautiful setting. The house was built in 1855 and is one of the most beautiful houses in Sussex. The house is Grade II and has ten bespoke bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms. The house is also in a great location, close to Gatwick airport and Horsham.
The gardens are home to a colony of wallabies introduced to Leonardslee in the late 1800s. They roam freely on the grounds and have their enclosure during the breeding season.
