Wakehurst Seed Bank

Approximate Journey Time: 2 hrs 45 mins

Time at destination: 4.5 hours

Comfort Stop: Yes

National Trust Membership price- £35.00 (to book, please call direct on 01202 767022)*

 

 

Wakehurst is a spectacular country estate and botanical landscape managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Often described as Kew’s wild garden, Wakehurst spans over 500 acres of diverse habitats, showcasing dramatic woodlands, water gardens, wildflower meadows, and global plant collections.

 

It is also home to the world-famous Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild plant conservation project on Earth, where billions of seeds are preserved in secure underground vaults to safeguard global biodiversity.

 

Visitors can explore beautifully designed landscapes, seasonal displays, extensive walking trails, and interactive exhibitions that highlight plant science and conservation. With its blend of natural beauty, scientific innovation, and immersive visitor experiences, Wakehurst offers a memorable day out for nature lovers, families, and garden enthusiasts alike.

 

Accessibility

Wakehurst offers step-free access to the Visitor Centre and Millennium Seed Bank, but some garden paths are steep or uneven.

Accessible facilities are available, though the natural terrain may be challenging for guests using wheelchairs or walkers.

 

* National Trust members must ensure they bring valid membership with them on the day.

 

 

 

 

Wakehurst, previously known as Wakehurst Place, is a house and botanic gardens in the county of West Sussex, managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, located on land owned & leased to them by teh National Trust It comprises a late 16th-century mansion, a mainly 20th-century garden and, in a modern building, Kew's Millennium Seed Bank. Visitors are able to see the gardens, the Mansion, and also visit the seed bank. The garden today covers a massive two square miles (490 acres) and includes walled and water gardens, woodland and wetland conservation areas.

Kew has leased the land from the National Trust since 1965 and much has been achieved in this time, from the Millennium Seed Bank project and the creation of the Loder Valley and Francis Rose Nature Reserves to the introduction of the visitor centre, the Seed café and Stables restaurant along with the development of the gardens.

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