Step into a creative floral archive where every flower has a story and every sculpture reminisces a tale of creativity.
One of Britain’s great autobiographical gardens, The Laskett was created in celebration of the arts by Sir Roy Strong CH and his late wife Julia Trevelyan Oman CBE. It is the creative fruit of a happy marriage between two people who were at the centre of the arts for much of the latter half of the twentieth century.
In 1972, Sir Roy and Julia planted the first few rosemary plants in the garden of their new home at The Laskett in Herefordshire. A personal creation, over the decades the garden marked the history not only of their own achievements and anniversaries but also national landmarks.
In 1974 they set about transforming the bare field into garden rooms with idyllic countryside views. The garden is made up of 24 rooms and over 18 features all with some link to the lives of Julia and Sir Roy or the nation, the structure that hold this remarkable garden together. The eight long vistas give the sense that the garden is even larger than its four acres.
The paths are wide enough for a couple to wander around, making this a truly personal experience for every visitor, just as it was for Sir Roy and Julia.
Its Christmas Orchard was the preserve of Julia, who assembled a small collection of historic apples with an emphasis on those grown in the Marches.
This truly year-round garden is always bursting with something to see.
In April, fruit blossom dazzles you in The Christmas Orchard. Colours delight in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Garden where a sundial takes centre stage. Scent sedates the air in the repeat-flowering Rose Garden. Nature heals you along Julia’s Walk, a wild flower meadow with lavish planting and a pond that’s a haven for wildlife. And majestic views of the countryside and garden can be captured from The Howdah Court.
And if this isn’t enough there’s also a knot garden, the Colonnade Court, fountains, statuary and parterres as well as a spectacular array of topiary and richly planted herbaceous and prairie style borders. Also, in true Laskett style, the gardens are never allowed to stand still and alongside two beautiful mosaics a stunning Belvedere was added in 2018 from which visitors can view the garden on high, affording a whole new perspective on this special place.
In August the array of colour is just stunning. The beautiful purple-blue of Echinops bannaticus 'Taplow Blue', the orange, red and pink of Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Rosea', Crocosmia 'Lucifer' and Sempervivum, and the yellow of Inula magnifica, to name just a few, make an incredibly inviting scene against a topiary background.
In 2021 Sir Roy gifted the garden to Perennial, the UK charity helping everybody who works in horticulture and their families. Since then, a team of volunteers have supported the maintenance and development of the garden.
In 2024, a sample of the garden was taken to the RHS Malvern Spring Festival, where the stunning Show Garden picked up both the People’s Choice and Silver-gilt awards.
The Show Garden was used to demonstrate that the vision of its creators can be expressed in any space with careful design and was created to give visitors a feeling of spring at The Laskett. It used real elements of The Laskett Garden including the iconic Victoria and Albert Temple (originally built in 1976).
The Gardens are open to pre-booked visitors on Tuesdays and Thursdays April - October, 10:30am and 2:30pm. Admission is £12 per person and includes a beautifully illustrated plan and use of an audio guide narrated by Sir Roy Strong CH.
Plants for Sale
Turn your garden inspiration into reality by taking a bit of The Laskett home with you. You will see many of these plants as you walk round the garden.
The Tea Room
Tea, coffee and delicious cakes are available to purchase from our tea room and enjoyed on the terrace on a nice day, whilst taking in the beautiful views of the Herefordshire countryside.
Gift Shop
The perfect place to find something special including gifts for the home and garden. We stock a large range of contemporary cards, stationery and giftware, including our range of The Laskett inspired gifts, along with tools and accessories for gardeners.
Visitors describe it as
“What a unique garden! You can really feel the spirit of this garden live on from Sir Roy’s creation.”
“Wow what a garden, I have learned so much and have taken so many great ideas and inspiration. This is definitely one to visit.”
“I can highly recommend a visit here....a definite must see in the area”
“Like falling into a wonderland where you can lose yourself for a while before stumbling back out into reality.”
Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
---|---|
Adult | £12.00 per ticket |
Adult with Friends of Perennial membership | Free |
Children (under 16) | Free |
Gardeners' World 2 for 1 | £10.00 per ticket |
Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.
We are located on Laskett Lane, a single track road off the A49 between Kingsthorne and Harewood End.
Bus 33 from either Ross-on-Wye or Hereford stops at the end of Laskett Lane. We are approximately a 5 minute walk from the bus stop.
Season (1 Apr 2025 - 30 Oct 2025) | ||
---|---|---|
Day | Times | |
Monday | Closed | |
Tuesday | 10:30 | - 17:00 |
Wednesday | Closed | |
Thursday | 10:30 | - 17:00 |
Friday - Sunday | Closed |
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