RHS Garden Wisley

RHS Garden Wisley

RHS Garden Wisley
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
RHS Garden Wisley is the flagship garden of the RHS and home to some of the largest plant collections anywhere in the world. Planting schemes are continuously evolving, with something to inspire visitors on every visit. Key highlights throughout the seasons include the Rock Garden, Bowes-Lyon Rose Garden, Mixed Borders, Seven Acres, and the tropical-inspired Exotic Garden. Seasonal must-sees include a carpet of crocus in spring, blooming rose collection in summer, magnificent autumn colour and a crisp Winter Walk. In June 2021, RHS Hilltop - The Home of Gardening Science opened at RHS Garden Wisley. Head here to explore an impressive exhibition space and three beautiful gardens.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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$19.08
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  • Davis22
    Inkberrow, United Kingdom13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This was our 2nd visit to Wisley Gardens (we live in the Midlands) to see the 'Wisteria Walk', our first visit was last year and this year's display was just as spectacular. There are an abundance of staff who keep these gardens looking immaculate. We only wish that we lived closer as we would most definitely take out memberships so that we could spend more time there and experience the different seasons. The only downside is the poor selection of food in both the garden shop cafe and the restaurant and the extortionate cost of both venues.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written May 23, 2024
  • MinnieM1928
    Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom470 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    RHS Wisley is beautiful, there was so much to see when we visited in June and we were lucky is was a lovely sunny day once the sun broke through the clouds. The last time we visited Hilltop was being built so this was the first time we were able to see the building and the world food garden which are impressive. The Glasshouse as always was a delight to visit and the lilies on the canal were stunning. The only problem was getting to the gardens, the journey on the M25 was a nightmare due to roadworks which look like they will be there for a very long time! and as we were visiting from Cambridgeshire the journey time doubled for us. There are plenty of places to get something to eat and drink within Wisley, yes it is expansive but no more than any other attraction. I would recommend a visit to these gardens if you get the opportunity and if they were not so far away for us we would be visiting often.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 6, 2024
  • drmichellejie
    Woking, United Kingdom89 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    We go to Wisley regularly. Lush gardens. Great soft play for kids. Parking is great. My main criticism is the food in the Terrace food hall is absolutely pants. Dry tasteless quiche, the worse fish cake I'd ever had and tasteless mac and cheese - all these are easy things to get right! And it cost £50 for 2 adult lunches and nibbles for a baby which is a proper rip off considering it was school dining hall quality food - actually I think my old school had better food. Please improve this - it's such a shame as Wisley is so lovely otherwise.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written July 13, 2024
  • Liz
    London, United Kingdom109 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    I went to see the flower show, on this Sunday too. It is quieter than the big shows with no display gardens: just stalls and marquees selling the plants. I also visited Hilltop, a windy spot with a good cafe and interesting veg growing areas, walking uphill to it along the newly laid out Piet Oudorf walk. The weather was damp and misty but that didn't spoil the spirits of buyers or - too much - the soggy produce of the sellers.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written September 8, 2024
  • Lena P
    Uppsala, Sweden230 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Have been here several times in the last 4 years. It has been at different times during the period May-September, sometimes several times / season. It's a nice area for the kids to play in. You can have a picnic right next to it. The greenhouse offers a wonderful experience even for a 3-4 year old. It's well maintained. A new area that I experience was with a little more autumn flowers. Beautiful. Ends with a viewpoint completely surrounded by wonderfully scented lavender. It is a great “garden” and there is so much to see. What was not so appreciated by us was that they have turned the restaurant by the greenhouse into a “regular” restaurant. Was more like a picnic restaurant before, where you could go and pick up what you wanted. This time it wasn't as much running around and doing as much as possible, so the rose area and the smelling peas had to be now. The Japanese part with the different flowering trees we take in May/June, when they are most beautiful. It is so nice there and think you should visit it. Then they have a very big store if you want to shop.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written August 25, 2024
  • HMC
    London, United Kingdom2 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Superb gardens and as usual so much evidence of outstanding horticultural expertise and ongoing development. One hopes however that it won’t be at the cost of ordinary people’s ability to share in it. Prices of tickets, refreshments, goods for sale in the shop bear little relation to reality. (A shame rock cakes have been replaced by poor substitute). Look forward to Piet Oudolf’s garden!
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written April 13, 2024
  • Ros B
    Wimborne Minster, United Kingdom75 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Today I met my friend at Woking Station and caught the £2 bus to Wisley. It is such a beautiful place and as I use a wheelchair I loved the assistance bus in the centre that easily drove me and my friend to the top of the hill. Chris Hamilton was the driver and was super friendly to all people needing help. The day was beautiful and with the discount on plants I bought, I came home with more than I expected. A beautiful place so much room everywhere
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written August 10, 2024
  • Mrsdiors
    England, United Kingdom158 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Booked a couple of months ago and only read the reviews of the Xmas lights today. They were very mixed and we weren’t looking forward to our experience. However we were pleasantly surprised. We all enjoyed our time today. 7 of us aged 70 down to 1 year. However the experience was marred by the journey both off the A3 northbound and back to it southbound. The signage is absolutely dreadful and caused us a horrible journey on the way home due to the incorrect signs. It would put me off returning
    Visited December 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written December 20, 2024
  • richmond1_10
    Richmond, United Kingdom5 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing gardens but take your own food. As always a terrific standard of horticulture but equally poor offering in the catering department. Poor choice, expensive, surly staff and failings not rectified despite previous promises.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 4, 2024
  • adabournemouth
    Bournemouth, United Kingdom1,355 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Visited Wisley Glow. Was superb and exceeded our expectations. Well worth a visit. Only 4 star as the shuttle bus didn’t arrive at Woking. On return there was no bus for 2 hours so best to plan not to use this facility!
    Visited December 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 7, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles2,834 reviews
Excellent
1,683
Very good
692
Average
224
Poor
109
Terrible
126

P W
8 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
I attended the opening day of the craft fair. We have been to this for years but gradually I get the impression that the RHS does not care for craft fairs and the funds they bring in when the visitors attend. Twice they have tried to move it and now it is stuck in the furthest most corner and is of smaller size. Neither does the RHS staff seem to want to be friendly or helpful. We queued outside in the pouring rain despite all the staff being ready to open on the inside. When I work at the shows, they always let people in early if there is a long queue. This queue went right over the car park. To add insult to injury a surly and bossy young girl came and asked people not to queue under the shelter and to stand outside. The first restaurant we were advised should be open and was closed, not even any lights on inside so we made our way to the furthest one where the wind howled through the double doors (really bad design and the coffee was cold. And the toilets were still not clean and some of the soap had ran out - at 10 am in the morning! I used to love visiting the old shop with it's interesting items and spent a fortune on the plants. Now there is nothing in the over priced shop and soulless shop that attracts me, not in the over priced plant section where some of the plants are well past their best. I think the money that was lavished on the so called upgrades was a waste.
Written November 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jana R
2 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2025 • Family
Having been to many Wisley Glows since they started, I can honestly say this one was the worst so far. I pronounced the 2023 Glow bad after seeing it, but this year beats it! The very unfortunate decision to start the tour past all the awful noisy music and the food and drinks stands should keep the person who decided this awake at night. So even in Wisley, an RHS garden the tackiness and profit comes before what was supposed to be a magical evening full of beauty. The trail was short and the lights (apart from the lilly pond ones) quite underwhelming. As a group of six of us we went to The Anchor pub afterwards and had reasonably priced drinks in a very pleasant atmosphere. I am seriously thinking about giving up on Wisley Glow, which as an RHS member makes me sad.
Written January 7, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cobham25
London, UK76 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
During our we had lunch in the main cafe inside the gardens. We ordered two quiches and salad, which was expensive at £12.50 but disappointed to find the salad placed on the plate was brown and bruised. We requested a different batch of salad and whilst we were shown a 'fresh' bowl of salad, its condition was not good enough for the price being charged. We asked for vegetables instead, which we were given. Two hot drinks and two quiches with vegetables came to £29.80 - very expensive for the what it was, the amount provided and overall quality. We sat down to eat only to find the food was cold! We did not return to the counter because it was too busy and we had a young baby with us that also needed feeding. We carried on with our walk and stopped for coffee and cakes at the new centre at the top of the hill. The cafe here was absolutely disgusting! It was reasonably busy as expected, but the level of food and other debris (serviettes, disposable cutlery, food etc) on the floor was appalling - far more than we would expect for the time of day. The floor itself was dirty and in need of mopping, the bins (inside the cafe, underneath the cutlery station) smelt disgusting as well and put me off eating there altogether - heaven knows when they were last emptied! We are quite sure if a Food Hygiene inspection was to take place, the environment would fail! This is the worst we have ever seen and very disappointed. If Wisley are happy to sell/serve customers poor quality food in such appalling conditions that are visible, it calls into question what the hygiene standards of the staff, kitchens and food prep areas that are not visible to the public!

Our complaint was sent to their ‘feedback’ team the next day. Apart from an automated response acknowledging receipt, no one has bothered to reply (in 3 weeks!) We allowed fair opportunity for a response but since it has not been forthcoming, I am leaving this review.

Overall, the gardens are fantastic, but forget their cafes with high end prices, extremely low end quality and unhygienic environments.
Written February 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are sorry to hear about your disappointing experience during your recent visit to catering outlets at RHS Garden Wisley. Your feedback is incredibly important to us, and we sincerely apologise for falling short of your expectations. Please be assured that we take your feedback very seriously, and we are taking immediate steps to address the issues you have raised with the Operations Manager conducting a thorough review. We did send a response to your original complaint on 29 January and are sorry to hear this did not reach you. The team will reply to your original email again but please do get in touch if you do not receive this as it may be that the email address we have is incorrect. Once again, we apologise for the disappointment you experienced, and we hope to have the opportunity to serve you better in the future. Kind regards, The Catering Team, RHS Garden Wisley
Written February 23, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

23AMA
14 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 • Couples
Visited Wisley Glow 2022, for the third year running. 2020 & 2021 years were magical, but this year we were underwhelmed. The lights were pretty in places, but there was no lighting highlighting the architectural plants and features of the garden, which I always look forward to, just random colours, additional installations and a cartoon projected onto the main building. The longer arched walkway of warm white lights was lovely, but too crowded to be enjoyed in all its beauty. I recommend going early , at dusk, as it seemed to be quieter then, rather than waiting until after dark and dinner time, when most people seem to visit. Too many people to enjoy the beauty and peace of the garden. The music and displays were a bit tacky compared to,previous years.
Written November 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

EBarn
2 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
We went to Wisley Glow this evening. Some parts were great but it's very overpriced. It's not too bad if you're a member but still pretty expensive. I recommend eating before you go. The food is limited, expensive and not very good. The queue for the mac and cheese stall was soooooo slow. Several of the options had sold out so went with the plain mac and cheese - it was completely underwhelming. Half an hour queuing and £7 for a tub of pasta in a very plain, bland cheese sauce. My husband had a "bratwurst" in a roll from another stall and although that queue moved quicker, the sausage wasn't anything special either.
Written December 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your dining experience at RHS Garden Wisley during Glow. We’re sorry to hear that the food options and quality did not meet your expectations, and appreciate you providing this valuable information. Your comments about the limited options and slow service are important for us to consider as we continually assess and improve our offerings. We will ensure that your feedback is shared with the relevant teams for further review and consideration. We do hope to be able to welcome you back to RHS Garden Wisley soon, where we hope that we will be able to provide you with a more positive experience. Kind regards, The Catering Team, RHS Garden Wisley
Written December 19, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Gareth Michael
Argentina130 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022
We visited Glow in 2019 and it was a lovely evening and a wonderful display of lights. As such we decided to book for early 2022 as it was fully booked for the end of 2021. We managed to get a late booking which was fine, however staff failed to tell us on arrival that they would be starting to cordon off areas from 8pm, half hour after we arrived.
After waiting at the Cafe where they had plenty of staff around, but most were engaged in personal conversations and did not realise the one till they had open was forming a large queue. I paid for a grossly overpriced sandwich and eventually managed to get to walking around the park where we enjoyed a walk around and got to see the new displays that were on this year, the light and sound display was particularly good and the glasshouse is always a must see. They also had a tunnel of lights which many people were taking as a great photo opportunity. A shame that some of the other guests there were particularly rude and even one family refusing to take a photo of us which seemed extremely bizarre as helping to take photos of each other seems to go hand in hand with the family experience of the event.
Written January 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello garethmichael, Thank you for your feedback. We are glad to hear you had a great day, however, were sorry to learn of your experience or our cafe. We endeavour to provide every customer with a good experience and all staff are engaged in maintaining the high standards we expect; these are constantly under review and please be assured that your comments will be accordingly carefully considered. Regarding the route being cordoned off at 8pm, we are sorry that you were not notified properly of this closure. We will take on your feedback and ensure that we make last entry timings clearer for future events. We are very glad that you enjoyed the Glow display and hope to welcome you back again to the garden soon. Kind regards, RHS Wisley Catering Manager and RHS Wisley Events Manager
Written January 7, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

now_i_wonder
Berkshire, UK44 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
It's been about 8 years or so since we last visited RHS Wisley and safe to say there has been a few changes! A brand new entrance and gift shop/garden centre area makes for a (slightly over commercial) but better entrance to the gardens.

In sweeping away the conglomeration of buildings the frontage of the Grade II Wisley lab building is revealed, and at last the visitor gets to see both sides of this iconic building. It looks so much better for it.

The new Hilltop area looks stunning and the new Hilltop lab building, Terrace and Wildlife garden replace the old, dated and very tired area that was left over after they removed the old glasshouses. The area is new but needs time to settle.

It was a gloriously sunny spring day and we needed lots of time to see the gardens, from Severn Acres, the Glasshouse to the Orchards, Boses-Lyon Rose Garden, Howard's Field (which again has been revamped) there are lots of beautiful gardens and areas to see.

Although there are now many more catering outlets and facilities at Wisley (there was only really the Food Hall and posh Restaurant when we last came), as others have said, the prices are shocking and the food very ordinary.

Like so many other gardens and attractions, catering is a let down. The places to eat at Wisley are modern and spacious, and if you only want tea or coffee or an ice cream then it's not too bad. But when they charge £8 for 2 muffins, or a ridiculous £18 for 2 small salads - then frankly bring a picnic which is what we did.

For a long time you were never allowed to bring picnics or any food in the gardens at Wisley. Thankfully that has been relaxed, and in so doing it brings the gardens alive with a band playing (on the day we visited) in the bandstand at Severn Acres and families chilling on the lawns, it's one of the best ways to enjoy one of Britain's best gardens.
Written June 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Janeylou D
Camberley, UK76 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Solo
Walking in the rain with a good mac, waterproof shoes and time to just wander up and down paths and between trees. The sheer exhilaration of all the smells, coupled with the sound of rain in the leaves and the fact that everyone disappeared indoors ..... PRICELESS!

Any time of year is a good time to visit with something for all. Waiting on a bench under a huge oak eating lunch while I await the 2 o clock lecture on maggots (don't ask ...)

One warning, though. Bring your own food. A filled baguette will set you back the best part of £7.00.
Written July 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Julie P
United Kingdom2,028 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Family
It's many years since I last visited so can't remember much. The house is now open as a museum, charting the history of plant collection and plant science as well as developments in an interest in gardening. You can wander round the various sections of the garden, which includes the glasshouse, hilltop views and various borders. Several cafes are dotted around including the world food cafe where I had an excellent quiche with couscous and iced mocha. Plenty of parking, large shop and plant sales. For anyone who can visit regularly, an annual pass would be a bargain as it also allows 1 free guest.
Written June 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mee
11 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2024 • Family
Shockingly bad food and drink on offer at extortionate prices, It was really inedible and a total waste of money. The place was like a ghost town manned by AI staff hell bent on herding the few people there around “ the route “
This year was a massive disappointment, After previous years of being great fun with a lively atmosphere, this year there were hardly any stalls and poor attendance, making it an eerie rather than cheery experience. Not to be repeated unfortunately.
Written December 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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RHS Garden Wisley (2025) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Reviews)

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