We got here mid- late afternoon, so the heat of the day had passed, but it was still sunny enough to appreciate the garden. We entered the house first, which is small but cosy, and feels lived in. Part of it is used for student visitors so isn't open. There are "rooms" to the gardens, so you can wander around different planting schemes. It's not big, but it was full of colour. As a gardening school for pupils from across the world, it has a reputation to maintain. We sadly didn't find the cafe, as we wanted a drink, but it seems it's back outside near the oast houses and car park and it was near closing time. Consequently we didn't find the shop either. There are toilets in the car park.

Why didn't I like Great Dixter? More importantly why didn't Mrs B like the Dixter? Well, it could well be that April, particularly the April we had is not a good time to visit the garden. But after saying that this was the third garden in three days and the one we liked least. Mrs B didn't like it because she felt it was overstuffed with plants (which was Mr Lloyd's way I think), not as well kept as she expected (it isn't an NT garden) and she didn't like the constant repeating of the same plants in each garden area (again a lloyd way I think). I didn't like it because I felt it lacked "good bones" I like a bit more structure than this and we didn't get the delightful colour palette I expected (again an April thing?).And it isn't as big as I thought. What I really disliked was the overwhelming feeling that I had stumbled into a cult for Mr Lloyd and his high priest Fergus who were pontificating that this is the way to garden when it isn't. It might be the way they garden but I couldn't afford to garden like that, neither money nor time. I usually come away from every garden with an idea or a plant to try - nothing stood out from this one. Except the delightful cafe which served very reasonably priced and excellent quality food. We wouldn't return. Ever.

We have lost count of the number of visits that we have made to Great Dixter and went again a week ago. As always, it didn’t disappoint, full of plants & colour, no room for weeds! Fergus Garrett and his team do a marvellous job in preserving and maintaining such a lovely garden for future generations to enjoy and of course, we will return.

An amazing day spent visiting this OUTSTANDING Gardens and Tudor buildings. What a varied set of garden spaces from tropical themes to sunken gardens to very full herbaceous borders to huge swathes of wildflower meadows and topiary sections to orchards. The list goes on and on. The house of three huge rooms on display were stewarded by knowledgeable guides who happily filled in the historic background. One of the best gardens we’ve ever visited. HEARTILY RECOMMENDED.

When I took up gardening about ten years ago now, Great Dixter cropped up a lot in conversations with gardeners, so I’ve always wanted to go. What a fantastic afternoon I had. I’m still only a keen amateur but I’ve gone through my bulbs in pots stage, to bulbs in the ground, to playing it safe with rhododendrons, and I’ve hit the stage of wanting plants which are different, and which won’t mind difficult conditions. What has this got to do with Great Dixter, I hear you ask. Well, it’s simply heaven for giving you ideas. The staff are so helpful, the shop seems to sell every plant going, and even the plant labels give information; preferred growing conditions, whether they are pollinators etc. I had the most wonderful time. Then, on top of all the outside stuff, was the house itself, which no one had told me about so came as a great surprise; a wonderful barn of a main hall and half open for tours while the other half houses student gardeners. Beautiful. I now have a garden stuffed with new plants such as euphorbias which will serve as a memento of my visit for a long time. Loved it.

Wow…my partner and I were bowled over by Great Dixter House & Gardens! The gardens are fabulous; packed with an immense range of plants, from the tiny little creeping plants filling the gaps between flags, to huge tropical ones, and so many in between. One of the best things, for us, is that the gardens are not ‘manicured’ and neat, they’re full, abundant and bounteous, brimming with life…plants, birds, insects…wonderful. We had no idea, before we arrived, that Christopher Lloyd was so passionate about biodiversity, and this is the fantastic result. Every single member of staff we spoke with was friendly and helpful, whether it was answering questions about plants and wildlife, the history of the house, or the delicious food in the café. We spent the whole day there (yesterday) and, if only we lived closer, would definitely invest in the Friend membership scheme. Thank you so much for continuing Christopher Lloyd’s legacy…long may it continue.

Visiting Great Dixter in 2015 and 2016 made a profound impression on me. The garden was vibrant full of colour with a definite structure to it. I had never seen such a beautiful striking garden before. Having just visited the garden a few days ago I found it had changed completely. It is more flowing less vibrant colours are present and has a meadow natural feel to it. I fear it has lost somewhat the presence of Christopher Lloyd in the garden.

Clearly, it's a famous and beautiful garden, but it is managed in a way that is inappropriate for the huge numbers of visitors. As other have remarked, the paths are incredibly narrow, often with the foliage spilling out into them and making them even narrower. This is great for the cottage garden look, but it is a challenge passing others if you are elderly (as the majority of visitors seem to be) or in any way infirm. In addition, one of the yew hedge gaps near the house is so low and dark that I banged my head quite badly on a branch inside. Lovely garden, great rewilding in places - but the paths are just too crowded and narrow.

Smaller than we had expected with far too much 'rewilding'. Ornamental gardens pleasant but we have seen a lot better elsewhere. Very few plants were labelled, making it hard to get planting ideas. Vegetable garden very poor. Nursery was pretty good and prices reasonable. Overall, like many places, I suspect they are somewhat trading on their reputation.

The gardens are in my opinion the best. Packed full of flowers and unusual plants it is a gardeners paradise. There is a great outdoor but under cover restaurant which serves delious home made food. We had broccoli and stilton soup with a chunk of homemade foccacia. One of our party had quich and salad the dressing was fruity and tangy another had the foccacia sandwich with palma ham, pesto, mozzarela. later we stopped for tea and cake. Everything was first class and the staff wer great too.