Upcoming Events

Saturday 1st July, 10am - 4pm

Castle Community Celebration
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Sunday 25th June, 11am – 4pm

Plant Fairs Roadshow 2023
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26 July

NGS Open Day
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Featured Events
Experiences

Elizabethan Garden


The gateway which leads into this prestigious garden is set within Grade II listed walls.

These date back to at least 1570, the era of Elizabeth I and give the garden its name.

By Victorian times the condition of the garden walls, along with the castle, had fallen into decline. In 1910 the castle and its estate were bought by Lieutenant Claude Lowther who began the painstaking process of restoring the site to its present-day splendour.

The garden’s two impressive lawns are known as the Croquet Lawns and Queens Walk, the path dividing the lawns, is bordered by English yew hedges and English lavender. In front of the castle eight Irish yew trees stand at the top of the dry moat.

The two deep borders which frame the lawns are mainly planted with herbaceous perennials providing a rich variety of colour and texture from early spring into the autumn. Spring colour is afforded by the stunning pink tulip like flowers of the two Saucer magnolia trees in each of the borders.

Growing against the walls on either side of the steps at the far end of this garden are Vielchenblau rambling roses, producing an abundance of clusters of magenta blooms in early summer.

  • Wheelchair Accessible
  • Dogs Welcome on Leads
  • Two picnic lawns

Explore the Gardens & Grounds

Take a look at some of our other gardens before you visit and smell the flowers and see the views for yourself.

Explore Gardens & Grounds

Events run throughout the year for the whole family.


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Exclusive experiences to enjoy only at Herstmonceux Castle.


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