March 2024 by Andrzej S
Brabsdale Garden, nestled near Oakham, offers a picturesque setting with various themed gardens, including a captivating Japanese garden and stylish alleys along flowers and plants.Visitors can revel in ample parking space and indulge in a delightful culinary experience at the on-site restaurant, featuring local cuisine and refreshing beer. Designed by Geoff Hamilton, a renowned British gardener and former presenter on BBC 2, the garden showcases his expertise in planting and nurturing plants. For enthusiasts, video records of Geoff's gardening tutorials are available for purchase in the local gift shop. Additionally, the garden provides clean restroom facilities. Making it an ideal destination for families seeking a memorable outdoor adventure. Don't miss the opportunity to explore the nearby Rutland Water Nature Reserve for an additional dose of natural beauty and tranquillity..Recommended.Restrooms: Clean and well maintained.Picnic area: There is some picnic area's even option to rent own cabin with bbq options
March 2024 by Hannah White
Customer service is amazing! I made a mistake with an order and they were so quick and helpful. Thank you again
March 2024 by L B
We always loved Geoff Hamiltons tv programme and eventually went to Barnsdale a couple of years ago. At last, a garden for all of us, sensibly sized, we don't all have acres, and well kept. The plants were good quality and price, and there's a handy place to eat and drink which you must try.We signed up for Nicks emails, which are truly marvelous, sensible, no twaddle, useful and down to earth. BUT what did I find the other day, a book, THE BARNSDALE HANDY GARDENER, by John Pilgrim, Sue and Nick Hamilton. As R is a superfan, I ordered it, and it's great!! Why isn't this on sale, we didn't see it when we visited, why isn't it advertised on line, Nick please talk about it in your email that you send out, it's a must to buy!!It's all about the garden and the gardening here, if you get chance to visit you must!
January 2024 by Judy Beardmore
We went to Barnsdale for afternoon tea. Very nice food. Will be going again.
November 2023 by Chris Thorne
Outstanding displays with many take away ideas you could easily create your self. Good autumn colour when we went though given recent winds it might not be so good! But i would think there is always something of interest. Good value food. Plant nursery had some unusual plants in stock. Not cheap but uf you cant buy them anywhere else.....Restrooms: A small standalone brick building in the car park. Clean and hot water quick to arrive.Picnic area: Not allowed in gardens though grass space avilable near car park.
October 2023 by Terry Godbert
It was about 2015 when my wife and i visited. I unlike my wife am not into gardening, but Barnsdale is something else. It's a wonderful display of beautiful plants, I can't pronounce any of them but my wife explained them to me. We went to the cafe and I can explain everything in there. I had a bacon sandwich and I must say I've never had so much bacon on a sandwich ever. It was cooked just how I like it (well done). We keep saying we will go back there from Poulton-le-Fylde Blackpool, so my wife can have another look around the gardens and I can have another bacon sandwich. Fantastic day was had by both.
September 2023 by Janice Hopkins
We stopped off in the cafe for breakfast after leaving our holiday accommodation. To be honest I didn't feel particularly welcomed by the young lady who showed us to a table. Left us with menus but it took her 15 mins to come back and it was a quiet day, in fact hubby went to look for her. Food was ok, some of our drinks order was forgotten but time was getting on by now so didn't bother to go looking for her again. Tables cleared but not cleaned while we were sitting there. I think ok if you're a local and known but no effort made really to welcome strangers. Sorry even when booking holidays again in the area we'll give this one a miss.Restrooms: Outside so didn't use so can't comment
August 2023 by Clive Cheeseman
Interesting experience. Very good for anyone wanting ideas for creating various types of garden.
August 2023 by Lesley Joy
Lovely gardens with beautiful autumn colours
August 2023 by Emma Maher
Lovely gardens, great location with really knowledgeable staff. Really helpful & great choice of plants. The membership is a bargain especially if you?re local. Lovely food and plenty of parking. Would highly recommend
August 2023 by Jonathan Hobbs
As someone who misses Geoff, it has taken me far too long to visit Barnsdale. A relaxing couple of hours seeing his gardens and the long time home of Gardeners' World has been a lovely way to spend an afternoon. We visited in mid-August, after the summer peak and as things turn to late Summer/early autumn, probably after its best display. We loved the day, but knocked off a star as it was, along with the tea rooms, a bit on the pricy side. Other than that, the staff were great, friendly and happy to chat. The gardens were great and I'm very happy to have visited.
August 2023 by Jackie Hayward
Beautiful gardens with different themes with the most gorgeous plants, flowers and bushes. A lovely cafe with indoor and outdoor seating in a beautiful setting. Very relaxing place to visit. Entrance fee a little bit steep in my opinion but you could spends hours wandering round and in the cafe. A great place for adults but probably kids would get bored.
July 2023 by A W
The gardens are inspiring and very well maintained. Staff are very helpful. The 30+ 'rooms' provide lots of good practice tips and ideas. The guide sheet is needed to navigate round but even that is hard to follow in places. More arrows showing a route round might help. The cafe is OK with some nice outdoor seating But indoors the decor is quite tired. The menu could do with more healthy eating options: lots of other gardens are good at this. For me there are too many fry-ups. The smells from these waft into the garden. Maybe there could be a winter menu (with more fried / hot items) and a summer menu (using salad/ vegetable/ fruit produce from the garden). Maybe it could be a 'shop-window' for food sourced locally. Food charges have increased significantly recently; earlier this year there was a two breakfasts for £11 offer, but there's nothing like that now.Playground: No playgroundRestrooms: Toilets are in the car parkDog-friendliness: No dogs permittedPicnic area: No picnic area
July 2023 by Andrew Dodd
Essentially loads of nice mini gardens! An absolutely delightful range and variety of things to see for the budding gardener. Plenty of ideas to be had!
July 2023 by Alan Thompson
Amazing gardens, all 38 sections. Would strongly recommend a days visit.For me, lost a star waiting for our meal (good meals served), and some sections of the garden required TLC.Having said that, a must garden to visit.
