Kelsworth Botanic Garden: Visitor Guide

Welcome

Kelsworth Botanic Garden was founded in 1862 and today holds more than 6,000 different kinds of plant from around the world. The garden covers eight hectares, and most visitors spend between two and three hours here. This guide will help you plan your visit.

Entering the garden

The only entrance for visitors is on the southern side of the garden, through the Ticket Office in the south-east corner. Annual members should show their cards here. To the west of the Ticket Office is the plant shop, where many of the plants grown in the garden can be bought. Further west, filling most of the south-west part of the garden, is the tea pavilion, which serves lunches and afternoon teas on its terrace.

The Main Walk

From the Ticket Office a short path leads north to the Main Walk, a wide gravel path that crosses the whole garden from east to west. A narrower path leaves the Main Walk in the middle and runs north between the rock garden and the glasshouse.

The middle of the garden

North of the Main Walk, on the western side, is the Lily Pond, where the giant water lilies flower in late summer. To the east of the pond is the rock garden, planted with low-growing plants from dry, stony places. On the other side of the narrow path, taking up the whole eastern part of this area, is the tropical glasshouse, which is kept at 25°C all year and contains banana plants, orchids and a small waterfall.

The northern edge

The Rose Garden is in the centre of the northern edge and is at its best in June and July. To the west of it, in the north-west corner, is the alpine house, a small glass building that protects mountain plants from winter rain. In the north-east corner is the bamboo grove, where paths wind between plants up to ten metres tall.

Visitor information

The garden is open every day except Christmas Day from 10 am until 6 pm, or until dusk in winter. Adult tickets cost £9.50, and children under twelve go free. Picnics are welcome on the lawns, but please do not walk on the flower beds.