The World Garden – Lullingstone Castle
The World Garden is set in the beautiful and historic beautiful Kent countryside within the grounds of Lullingstone Castle, one of England’s oldest family estates offering a visit filled with heritage and horticulture.
A feast for the senses, the garden pays homage to the amazing achievements of 19th century plant hunters, who risked life and limb in pursuit of the plants we now cherish in our UK gardens – almost 80% of the plants grown are not native to this country! Over nearly two decades of dedication by Tom, his volunteers, family, the local and wider plant community have helped shaped The World Garden, not forgetting his inspirational Granny ‘Crac’ who filled him with passion for plants and adventure from an early age. The World Garden has so many delights to discover and explore, with the latest additions including: ‘Australis’ an expansion of the Cloud Garden and the new ‘Orchis’ orchid house. The new temperate house ‘Orchis’ showcases over 100 rare and beautiful orchids, donated from the UK and is also home to the World’s deadliest plant ‘The Stinger’! The indoor garden delights continue with the new Hot ‘n’ Juicy” hot house, showcasing a wondrously diverse collection of sumptuous cacti & succulents mostly from the arid regions of North America. Whilst the ‘Hot & Spiky’ house, features over a 1000 prickly wonders and the chance to wander around the Cloud garden, a temperate house that transports you to the South American rain forests with its tropical flora and sounds.
Set within 120 acres of beautiful Kent countryside, Lullingstone Castle is one of England’s oldest family estates, dating back to the time of Domesday. An historic family mansion frequented by Henry VIII and Queen Anne. It is also home to the UK’s first ever ‘World Garden of Plants’, containing some 8,000 plant species, cultivars and hybrids planted in their respective countries of origin, the vision of modern-day plant hunter Tom Hart Dyke. Tom was kidnapped in Colombia in 2000 on a plant hunting mission for orchids and to help him endure his nine months in captivity he began sketching out a map of The World Garden. On his release he returned to his home at Lullingstone Castle to start work within the walled garden to create the first World Garden of Plants.
Standard Admission Prices https://www.lullingstonecastle.co.uk/opening-times-and-admission-prices
Adult £9.00
Child £4.50 (5-15 yrs old)
Senior citizen £7.50
Family £20.00 (2 adults & 2 children or 1 adult & 3 children)
House Tour Admission Price
£2.50 extra per adult (excluding World Passport holders and Historic Houses members)