Winter sights and senses at Wakehurst. As autumn leaves fall, bare trees reveal new views across Wakehurst and the wider landscape. Visitors venturing towards Westwood Lake will be greeted with inviting benches along the pathways, providing the ideal spot to take a break, sip on a warm drink and take in the expansive vistas. A prime spot is the Loder Valley viewpoint, which overlooks the 150-acre nature reserve. Whilst this area remains closed due to vital ash dieback conservation work, the viewpoint provides a unique opportunity to watch this habitat change through the seasons. In the heart of the gardens, don’t miss a golden Chinese swamp cypress (Glyptostrobus pencilis), and Swamp cypress (Taxodium distichum) providing bursts of autumn colour.
For an immersive sensory experience, visitors can lose themselves in the Pinetum, an evergreen glade bursting with timeless winter fragrances. The first signs of winter emerge, with bright cyclamen appearing across the gardens, in areas such as the Visitor Centre and Winter Garden. Entering its sixth year, the Winter Garden is transformed into a tapestry of colour and texture throughout the chilliest seasons, with November prime time to spot the vibrant red of dogwood, and glistening silver of the birches.
Events
Glow Wild | Selected evenings: 28 November to 1 January | 4.15pm to 10pm | Flexible ticket options available. Escape to over a mile of light installations, handcrafted by leading artists. Discover the iconic giant living Christmas tree, majestic flying owl, and fiery hidden dragon, all surrounded by a thousand lanterns, on Sussex’s award-winning trail. Relax by trying delicious street food, toasting artisan marshmallows on a real fire, and Christmas shopping for the whole family in Wakehurst’s Gift Shop and Plant Centre. With a new route, exclusive installations, and an enchanting Christmas Eve date, Glow Wild is the South East’s must-see Christmas light experience.
Parkrun at Wakehurst | Every Saturday from 9am | Free. Pace yourself through our scenic landscape as Parkrun is now at Wakehurst. Every Saturday morning, embark on a fun, free and friendly 5K. Participants must register with Parkrun before their first event.
Guided tours | Tuesdays to Thursdays | 11.30am and 2.30pm (subject to availability) | Free. Whether it’s your first time visiting or you’re a regular to the gardens wanting to learn more, join a volunteer-led tour to discover seasonal areas of interest, learn about the history of the landscape and discover behind-the-scenes stories of the gardens.
Workshops
Forest Bathing | 2 November | 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm | £22.50 members, £25 non-members. Based on the Japanese art of Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing allows you to slow down as you immerse yourself in the forest environment. Workshop leader Helena Skoog will show you how to use all your senses to connect with your surroundings, drawing on nature to relieve tension and nourish your wellbeing.
Carbon literacy training for schools | 20 and 27 November | 9am to 12.30pm | £150pp / £200 for two from the same school. Develop the confidence, knowledge and language to guide your school, colleagues and pupils towards a more sustainable future. Wakehurst’s experienced trainers will support educators in understanding the science of climate change and how positive change can be achieved together. This course is developed in association with Manchester Metropolitan University and accredited by the Carbon Literacy Project.
Christmas wreath making workshop | 28 and 30 November | 10am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4pm | £45 members, £50 non members. Get into the festive spirit and learn a new skill by creating a traditional Christmas wreath, decorated with seasonal accessories, to make sure your door is the best dressed in town.
Community Access Scheme (CAS) Events. The CAS at Wakehurst is an annual group membership for organisations that provide services directly to people who face physical, sensory, psychological, or social barriers to visiting Wakehurst independently. The below events are available exclusively for members of the CAS at Wakehurst.
Fungi Foraging and Poetry workshop | Friday 1 November | 11am to 1pm. Embrace autumn and wander through Wakehurst in search of fungi and poetry inspiration.
Sow and Grow: monthly gardening group | Monday 18 November | 10.30am to 1pm. Build confidence in the garden and create friendships in this monthly hands-on gardening workshop.
Nature Natters | Monday 25 November | 11am to 12pm and 1pm to 2pm. Join expert volunteer guides in an inclusive walking group, with Alliance for Better Care’s social prescribers.
Dementia walk | Tuesday 26 November | 11am to 12pm. Join a relaxing walk around the gardens, led by volunteers specifically trained by the Alzheimer’s Society.
Exhibitions
Surviving or Thriving: An exhibition on plants and us | Daily, 10am – 3.30pm | Millennium Seed Bank | This exhibition brings Kew’s State of the World’s Plants reports to life, telling the story of why some plants are only surviving, while others are thriving.
Ticket information: Gardens open: 10am to 4.30pm (last entry 4.00pm, and 2.30pm on Glow Wild nights)
Tickets: Wakehurst and Kew members: Free / Adult £16.50 / Young person: £8.25 / Children 16 & under: Free / National Trust members: Free (parking charges apply) / £1 concession ticket available.
Tickets: WakehurstKew Gardenshttps://www.kew.org › wakehurst
