Venue Description

Discover Hestercombe Gardens in Somerset, a unique combination of 300 years' worth of garden design. 50 acres of lakes, temples, cascades and tranquil woodland walks, plus formal terraces, vivid colours and outstanding views. Coplestone Warre Bampfylde's Georgian landscape garden, beside the Victorian terrace and shrubbery and the stunning Edwardian garden design by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll. All of their gardens have undergone substantial and well received restoration works and today exist as gardens in greatly contrasting styles that continue to grow and develop within their borders. The picnic area has several wooden benches and it is an area where you can enjoy your own picnic lunches and settle back awhile and let the kids hit the little playground. Their award-winning visitor facilities include the welcoming Stables Restaurant and Cafe with an airy courtyard for high summer. The Gift Shop is full of beautiful things for the home and garden and the Plant Centre is well stocked with a wide variety of plants. Both areas are free to enter, as is the Visitor Centre with the Stables Restaurant and Cafe.

Accessibility

The majority of Hestercombe’s historic estate was built at a time when little thought was given to making places accessible, so we have made reasonable adaptations as far as we can within the limitations of a listed building and grounds. There are still some areas that unfortunately cannot be accessed because they include steps and stairs, but we have marked out an all accessibility route in yellow on our Guide Map. On the Guide Map, we have marked routes suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Although we are unable to provide specialist helpers or assistance, our staff will endeavour to help wherever possible. If you normally require assistance and help please ensure that you bring a helper with you. Both people with disabilities and their helpers pay half-price admission, but if you’re a member with disabilities, then your helper will also have free admission.

Accessibility Guide

Accessibility Guide Link: https://www.hestercombe.com/your-visit/accessibility

Awards List

Partner Gardens members and BBC Gardeners’ World offer-holders must bring their membership cards or vouchers with their booking references in order for their tickets to be valid. Our Partner Attractions are The Bishop’s Palace, Wells, The Garden House, Forde Abbey Gardens, Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Dartington Trust Gardens and Exmoor Zoo. Please be aware that Partner Gardens members need to have full membership to receive half price entry. Hestercombe is an RHS Partner Garden, and RHS membership cards are valid for entry from 1st October to 31st March. See the RHS website for further information. We also now participate in the Historic Houses scheme. Please pay on arrival if using a Gardeners World 2 for 1 voucher.

Toilets

We are delighted that the accessible toilet in Hestercombe House has now received accreditation as an official Changing Places Toilet. A Changing Places toilet provides sanitary accommodation for people with multiple and complex disabilities who have one or two assistants with them. The facility includes a height-adjustable, adult-sized changing bench, ceiling track hoist system, adequate space for the disabled person and up to two assistants, peninsular toilet with space both sides for assistants, privacy screen, wide paper roll, large waste disposal bin, washbasin and back rest on toilet seat. The project was jointly funded by the Somerset Community Foundation and Reflect PMLD to whom we are incredibly grateful.

Staff

Information about the staff has not been added for this venue.