Credit: Leonardslee Gardens
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Staff Writer
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11 April, 2026
Gawping at gorgeous flowers and bragging about my step count are two of my favourite things to do. And so discovering a scenic spot in which I can partake in both of those activities in spades is pretty darn exciting for me. Leonardslee Gardens is picture-perfectly perched in Horsham, just 90 minutes from our hustly bustly capital city. Hailed ‘the finest woodland gardens in England’; the gasp-inducingly stunning spot spans 240 acres and dates back over 200 years, having been first planted in 1801. Filled to the brim with history and horticulture; a visit to Leonardslee Gardens should be immediately catapulted to the very top of your to-do list tis spring.
Leonardslee Gardens
The ancient gardens are pretty spectacular all year round, but – much like myself – Leonardslee Gardens really starts to thrive in the sunny seasons. And is particularly breathtaking in spring. Each year, a world-famous Rhododendron Celebration takes place within the grounds. It features over 300 species and hybrids of the beautiful bloom, and it begins this very weekend (April 11). The ‘explosion of colour and scent’ tends to reach its peak in late May/early June, and features some incredibly impressive displays.
Credit: Leonardslee Gardens
There’s plenty to keep you busy and entertained during a visit to Leonardslee Gardens. There’s winding woodland paths to wander through, 7 lovely lakes to admire, a beautiful ‘Rock Garden’, and one of the largest sculpture parks in Europe. The gardens are also home to a diverse array of wildlife. There’s over 70 Champion trees, a large variety of birdlife, over 100 free-roaming deer, and – perhaps most excitingly – a colony of free-roaming wallabies. If you’re lucky, you might even get the chance to see the joeys being fed in their enclosure.
If all that wandering and wildlife-watching has got you feeling a tad peckish, fear not. Because there’s a delicious restaurant on-site – and it just so happens to be the proud owner of a shiny Michelin-star.
Credit: Leonardslee Gardens
Getting to Leonardslee Gardens from London
Leonardslee Gardens is just a 90 minute drive from London, and there is on-site parking available. Non-drivers can hop on a 45-minute train from Clapham Junction to Horsham and take an onwards local bus or taxi from there.
Leonardslee Gardens is open daily from 9am-5pm. You can find out more and plan your visit here.