Wakehurst

Set in the heart of the High Weald near Haywards Heath, Wakehurst is a breathtaking 500-acre wild botanic garden managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Once a grand Elizabethan estate, it’s now a living mosaic of ornamental gardens, sweeping woodlands, meadows and wetlands.

At its centre stands the historic Wakehurst Mansion, surrounded by landscapes that shift from manicured formality to untamed natural beauty. Each season paints the grounds anew - from carpets of bluebells in spring to fiery autumn canopies - making Wakehurst a haven for walkers, plant lovers and families alike. Its natural play spaces, wildlife trails and lakeside views add to its sense of immersive wonder.

Beyond its beauty, Wakehurst is home to one of the world’s most important scientific projects: the Millennium Seed Bank. Hidden beneath the Sussex soil, millions of seeds from around the globe are stored here for conservation and future research, safeguarding plant life for generations to come.

This fusion of science and serenity gives Wakehurst a distinctive spirit: a place where visitors can both lose themselves in nature’s splendour and glimpse the quiet, crucial work being done to protect it.