Name: Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
Rating: 5.0

Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens

Bullers Way, Abbotsbury, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 4LA, England

1-90 Years

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Description

Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens is a world-renowned garden attraction in Abbotsbury, Dorset, known for its exotic and unusual subtropical plants. The gardens combine history, nature and horticulture in a peaceful outdoor setting. It offers visitors a chance to explore a unique plant collection from around the globe.

The gardens feature famous Camellia groves, Magnolias, Rhododendrons, Hydrangeas and a charming Victorian Garden. Visitors can walk across one of the longest rope bridges in the UK, spanning 36 metres over the largest pond. Other highlights include contemporary sculptures, a specialist Plant Centre, and a wide range of rare and Mediterranean plants.

Special Winter Ticket Entry is priced at £6.95 for adults (including a free hot drink), with children aged 5–15 and under 5s free. Season tickets, Passport tickets, and group rates are also available, including Adult Season Tickets at £45.00 and Adult Passport at £20.00. Group prices apply for parties of ten or more, with separate adult and child rates.

Overall, Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens offers a relaxing and visually stunning experience for garden lovers and families. Its rare plants, scenic walks and unique rope bridge make it a memorable place to explore. With its mix of natural beauty, history and specialist gardening, it is a must-visit attraction in Dorset.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Subtropical Paradise: A world-renowned garden with exotic, unusual subtropical plants and flowers is what the Gardens are known for. The Gardens are a mixture of formal and informal flowers, world famous for it’s Camellia groves and Magnolias. Noted in Dorset for its Rhododendron and Hydrangea collections and the charming Victorian Garden. Due to the plant hunting dynasty, the Gardens today house, display and conserve plants from around the globe. An influential garden and one of the greatest collection of Mediterranean plants in the UK.
Specialist Plant Centre: The Plant Centre gives you an opportunity to take home a little piece of Abbotsbury, with a varieties of plants that have been tried and tested over decades by the Gardens. Many of the plants are home grown behind the scenes in the Gardens nursery. Cultivating unusual and specialist plants that provide a quality addition to your home gardens. From hardy ferns, to succulents, seasonal plants and even houseplants, the Gardens team take pride in nurturing and selecting a range that is different from many plant and garden centres.
Sculptures: Four new sculptures by contemporary figurative sculptor Brendon Murless have been installed in the Gardens. Titled Serenity, Emergence, Listen to the Forest II and Queen Bee, these works bring a fresh thread of discovery to a walk through Abbotsbury’s subtropical landscape, inviting you to pause and take in the surroundings with a new perspective. Queen Bee, located in the Victorian Garden, draws on the movement and resilience of wild honey bees and was created to draw attention to the challenges they face, as well as the part they play in the wider landscape.
The Rope Bridge: Step onto one of the longest rope bridges in the UK – a 36-metre span across the largest pond at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens. Opened by renowned plantsman Roy Lancaster to mark the Gardens’ 250th anniversary, the bridge celebrates Abbotsbury’s spirit of discovery and invites visitors to see the Gardens from a bold new perspective. Ourbridge traverses a vibrant aquatic habitat, home to rare and exotic plants alongside native wildlife. The surrounding environment is lush and atmospheric – warm, humid and alive with colour.

Facilities

Food & Drinks: Set among the vibrant planting of the Gardens, the new Café at Abbotsbury is a relaxed, welcoming space to stop for a bite to eat, enjoy a fresh coffee, and take in the unique subtropical surroundings.

What to see

Plant Centre at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens

A carefully curated plant collection grown by plant experts: The Plant Centre at Abbotsbury is a must-visit for garden lovers. With a range that reflects the beauty and diversity of the Gardens themselves, each plant has been chosen or grown with care. Many of the plants have been propagated on-site from seeds and cuttings collected from our 30-acre subtropical paradise. It’s an opportunity to take home a living memory from your visit!
A unique selection of plants for UK gardens: Our collection includes a wide variety of plants suitable for gardens across the UK, alongside some rare and unusual species you’re unlikely to find elsewhere! Every plant on offer is nurtured by our dedicated Nursery team, with an emphasis on quality and longevity. While we’re not a large-scale garden centre, and our stock of each plant is limited, it's the perfect embodiment of our status as specialist plant growers.
Grown behind the scenes by our expert team: Many of the plants available to buy are direct descendants of those found throughout the Gardens. Our Nursery team works behind the scenes to grow these plants with expert care and attention. Their knowledge of species and growing conditions allows us to offer healthy, resilient plants that thrive in the right setting. Popular seasonal varieties are sourced locally to support Dorset growers, while our in-house propagation focuses on maintaining a collection that stays true to Abbotsbury’s subtropical spirit.
Seasonal plants, subtropical rarities and garden staples: Throughout the year, the Plant Centre reflects the changing colours and textures of the Gardens. In spring, expect potted bulbs, camellias, conifers, ferns and tree ferns. As summer makes its grand entrance, herbaceous and tender perennials bring vibrant colour to beds, borders and patio containers. The core collection includes hardy ferns, shrubs, trees, succulents and perennials – with something for every type of garden.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Special Winter Ticket Entry

Adults: £6.95 (includes free hot drink)
Child (5-15 years): FREE
Under 5 years old: FREE

Season Tickets

Adult season tickets: £45.00
Child (5-15 years) season tickets: £21.00
Super Saver Season Tickets: £100.00

Passport Tickets

Adult passport: £20.00 (not available November to February as Swannery closed)
Child (5-15 years) Passport: £10.00 (not available November to February as Swannery closed)

Groups (For ten or more people)