Gardens and landscape

The Valley Gardens

The Valley Gardens are on the northern shores of Virginia Water – 250 acres of landscaped garden and woodland, twisting trails and pathways.

It's a flowering forest, mixing grassy meadows and exotic shrubs that have been liberally and continuously planted since the 18th century. Today, they promise some of the best views in the British Isles.

  • Native chestnut and Scots Pine trees
  • Flowering cherries
  • Azaleas
  • Magnolias
  • Exotic oaks
  • Sweet gums
  • Tupelos
  • Asiatic rowans
  • Maples

Whatever time of year you visit, The Valley Gardens always promise a truly memorable day out.

Exploring the Gardens

A walk in The Valley Gardens is a voyage of constant discovery. It still contains some isolated clumps of native oak, beech, sweet chestnut and Scots pine that were planted as far back as the early 1700s.

Sir Eric Savill and Hope Findlay developed it further in the 1940s. Partly inspired by the garden's structure of parallel valleys, they decided to plant whole collections of particular plant groups together.

Today, The Valley Gardens, with The Savill Garden, provide a home to National Collections of Magnolia, Mahonia, Pernettya, Rhododendron Species, Glenn Dale azaleas, hardy ferns, Ilex and Dwarf conifers.

The most famous of the valleys is the Punch Bowl. A natural amphitheatre of multi-coloured azaleas, it erupts into a riot of colour in early May. It is well known by locals and waiting to be discovered by you

Every season has its attractions. Spring brings with it great sweeps of daffodils below the Pinetum and chalices of magnolia flowers. Fresh greens of early summer beckon the cool blues and whites of the hydrangeas. Autumn brings a stunning array of vibrant colours as the leaves of deciduous trees fall. In the winter months, many of the conifers in the Heather Garden turn steely blue in response to frosty conditions.

Valley Gardens Highlights

Whatever the time of year, there's always something new to see in The Valley Gardens.

The Valley Gardens gallery

Images of The Valley Gardens throughout the seasons

Video: Daffodil

Daffodils are a highlight of The Valley Gardens in early spring.

Video: Punch Bowl

The Punch Bowl is a riot of colour in early May.

Visitor Information

Read up before you visit and then relax and make the most of your time here.

What's on

Things to do

Whether you’re planning to visit on your own, with loved ones, family, friends, or as a group – there really is something for everyone.

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Need to know

Useful information that might affect your visit

  • Restoration of Lime Tree Avenue

  • Temporary Valley Gardens car park

  • Parking on roads around Windsor Great Park

  • Construction of the Virginia Water Pavilion begins