The Lost Gardens of Heligan

The entrance fee is pretty expensive for a walk around some gardens. That was our first impression not really knowing anything about the place. However the more we explored the vastness of these gardens (over 4 hours, it’s a big place), the more we came to appreciate that to maintain these gardens to the incredible standard they are they probably need to charge even more… The gardens do fantastic work with wildlife and plant conservation which is a strong theme you can feel throughout and is great to see. A personal highlight was “the jungle” - which was nothing short of extraordinary!

We experienced the magical Heligan Night Garden which is a separate ticketed event to the standard Lost Gardens entry. All the stewards from the parking attendants, those on the trail and those when we departed were knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. The accessible parking was close to the entry and this and all the usual parking is free for night garden customers. There are a few ridges from rain in the car park and some trails so take care in a wheelchair or mobility scooter. The night gardens were pretty from the entrance and of course we took far too many photos of the beautiful and creative installations. One super bonus that doesn't appear to be advertised until you check the small print on the back of the leaflet you are given on entry, is that your entire party have a complimentary daytime entry for the gardens until 31st January after you attend the night gardens. The one-way layout of the trail was really well thought out. The accessible routes did not miss any of the installations. The refreshment facilities had queues but plenty of space to sit outside and in the undercover areas (the weather was kind) to enjoy a drink or snack. The Stewards House was serving more substantial meals and warmer inside. The timed entries seemed to allow space for everyone to see the installations and manoeuvre about. The barn was open for goat & donkey petting and taking festive photos in a sleigh or with cuddly polar bears and we toasted marshmallows over a large firepit and enjoyed a created snow shower in one area. We really enjoyed the evening and the families with children around us seemed to be doing so also. The exit is through the gift shop of course.

Lovely safe place to go with the kids, lots of amenities, lots of different things to do. The way the trees are trained in the garden area is stunning. The rare breed of farm animals are cool to see, the jungle is amazing (but not suitable for everyone because of how steep slopes are), and the children's play area is enormous.

Great place to visit with something for everyone. We choose to visit here over The Eden project as its dog friendly in all areas and we didn’t want to leave our dog all day. There were acres of beautiful gardens, sculptures and tropical jungle. There’s a farm animal area and wooden play park for the kids. Brilliant day out and cherished memories made. Only issue is paying for parking when you still have to pay for entry. Not a big issue but it would have been nice to expect this prior to turning up and knowing you will be required to park in the farm shop premises next door. This is not very clearly communicated and it made parking more complicated than necessary. Definitely worth a visit!

Great day out with the family, including 3 year old daughter. Gardens are vast, well kept and themed with plenty of variety - from the flower gardens to the jungle section, there's plenty to see and do. Lovely little farm section with the usual animals to pet. The play area in the centre of the estate was excellent and our daughter loved it, the climbing frames were great quality and the bouncy trampoline was fun for everyone! Ample free car parking spaces. Great customer service from everyone we dealt with. We spent 6 hours at the Lost Gardens, which is great value in our opinion. Be prepared for a good workout and bring some sturdy walking boots if visiting when it's wet!

Absolutely beautiful! Went for the night garden experience, and would definitely recommend, was really really busy... avoid the food, by the time you get your drinks the food was Stone cold and the roast potatoes were awful, but everything else was lovely.

Lovely place to visit and much bigger than we expected! Unless you spend in the cafe at the farm shop on the way in or out (not the farm shop) you do have to pay for parking as well which I thought was a bit of a pee take. You can't exactly get the bus there so you pay admission AND parking. It was a nice afternoon though.

We visited this beautiful garden twice (2018 and 2025) - and it was definitely a good idea to come the second time. Such a lovely huge and well kept garden - you should plan at least 4 hours if you want to discover most of it. Plenty of things to find for both young and old visitors. There is also a huge playground for the kids. We enjoyed taking lots of photos from insects and animals. Besides the hanging bridge with many people waiting to get access, the garden is huge enough so it never feels crowded also on busy days in holiday season.

Our third visit to these wonderful gardens. Each time we find something new and, I am sure, if we visited many times the same would be true. I must admit though, as we get older, there are parts that are strenuous to explore. Thank goodness we did the deeper parts earlier in our lives. One difference this time, which we didn't know about until we had parked up, is pre-booking. We had to book in on my iPhone and wait until a slot was available. No problem. Also, more food and drink outlets throughout the gardens.

Tourist trap. Poorly managed. All about the benjamins and they've let it go to s*** since the last TV show aired where they spent 10 minutes talking about the pineapple pit and they didn't even bother to keep it up/use it. Too difficult and costly? You know they did this before WWII... with less resources and technology than you have at your disposal, right? Really, just watch the TV show on the gardens because now instead of trying to restore it to its past glory, the management grow flowers to sell. If they took all the flowers in their gift shop and planted them in their gardens then maybe they'd be a step closer to restoring anything. But they've had this land for many many years now and they only do the bare minimum to get ppl there. Great history and potential but the management needs to step up! If you're a gardener, you'll be sorely disappointed.

As a day out with the young kids this would be a great day out. As a trip heading to see the sculptures was a little underwhelmed. There could have been more. What they have done to restore the grounds is a remarkable work in progress. The cafe was very very overpriced. Theme park prices.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan is a FANTASTIC day out for the family. I visited here my family recently, and was amazed by the family activities they have there. The gardens were fascinating as you could see all types of wildlife and explore the wilderness with ease. They have a huge field were I sat and ate some Cheese twists from a nearby Morrisons. I live very far away (300+ miles) from here, so it was a lovely treat to visit, and I was not let down. I would recommend this site of natural beauty to ANYONE, as I believe it could even mesmerize bored children.

A beautiful gardens with an amazing back story. The 'memorial' in recognition of the workers & gardeners that left Cornwall to fight for their country and paid the ultimate price is particularly of note. Finally, the restaurant and farm shop are the best in the area so enjoy!!

I wandered around these lovely, peaceful, totally enchanting gardens and could only wish that my late mother might have visited. She would have loved it. We did too. Somehow they have retained an air of mystery and even though you meet other people on the numerous walks around, you still find hidden corners and spaces that allow you to sense what it might have been like when first completed. Others much more qualified than I have spoken of the different sculptures and types of garden, so my offering is much more about the feelings of the place! I think the fact that they are still independent of any 'corporate' influence has a lot to do with it! Long may it continue and thus the entrance cost is fine!

Having just got back from a weekend away and visiting here, we came away gobsmacked. It really is a lovely place, the gardens were beautiful and all well sign posted. We bought the guide book too which helped identify the different plants and trees and helped the children too as they had to work to find out what something was. It was a bit chilly but there is so much to see that you're constantly on the move so don't seem to notice it so much. There was adequate parking, disabled facilities and a lovely tea shop.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan were rediscovered and restored by the creator of the Eden Project - Tim Smit. If you're down in Cornwall then both gardens are worth a visit. The Lost Gardens are a large, open site. The garden is divided up into sections, and I certainly didn't see all of it when I visited. There's a lovely walled vegetable garden, planted up year round with heritage crops and managed as closely as possible as it would have been when this was a working estate. There are also formal pleasure gardens, restored to their former glory with sympathetic planting and landscaping. And a tropical garden where you can get lost in a jungle that thrives in Cornwall's mild climate. Visitor features include ample car parking, a cafe and a gift shop - but make sure you take directions along with you, because it's not the easiest place in the world to find!

Beautiful place to visit with so much to see. The grounds are huge, I think I will go back a second time to make sure I see it all. Be prepared for some steep climbs if you intend to walk the whole grounds. Definately visit the tropical gardens and walk along the boardwalk, very interesting. The tea rooms served delicious food and cakes. Many plants and other items for sale in the gift shop.

I've been to Heligan a couple of times and it is gorgeous whatever time of year you go. It is a lovely contrast to Eden and although some people do both attractions on the same day I would recommend taking a separate day for each as if you look round both of them properly there is an awful lot of walking involved! The Lost Gardens of Heligan is a bit like wandering around the private gardens of a manor house but as the house isn't open for visitors an awful lot more care has been taken in making the gardens interesting. The walk is at times a little steep but this is marked clearly on the map they give you when you buy your ticket. Particularly interesting is the wildlife centre, which was featured on Springwatch and the vegetable and flower gardens which are being grown using Victorian methods. There is plenty of parking and the restaurant is really nice. The shop offers good value for money particularly for plants and is lovely for gifts.

A fantastic place. The Gardens themselves are fabulous and take hours to get around. The icing on the cake was the fantastic cafe with the great food and lovely staff. A rude ignorant visitor shouted unfairly at one of the girls but she stayed professional and laughed it off afterwards. A credit to her employers. We popped back into the cafe at 5.30pm to get some scones and there was an end of day sale on. We got lots of loot!

This place is absolutely amazing. I did not think going here would be my kind of thing but suprisingly its great! There is loads to see, walking around. Its is truly something you must do. There are some very steep routes to go round , the map tells you about them but belive me they are steep. Its just a super day out where you need your camera. So much to photograph adn take in. They also have a really nice cafe which sells lovely food. I had bought for me the cola cake recipe. Which you can buy from them and it tastes amazing!!

I fell in love with Heligan on my first visit. The Woodland walk with the superb tree sculptures is a treat on its own. The tranquil Italian Garden is a delight and a great stress reliever.Walking through the ferns an trees you expect to see some prehistoric mammal hiding in the undergrowth. The walled garden and potting sheds give you an insight to the ingenuity of the Victorians, and we could use many of there brilliant ideas to advance our own green credentials. There is always something to see all year round. The Garden Centre offers some unusual plants and ideas to take home

Rediscovered accidentally in 1990 the restoration of this remarkable Lost Garden is truly a sight to behold. The most spectacular part for me was the newly created valley which is made up of a series of interconnected lakes and takes you from a rural British landscape on a journey to tropical jungles. Also of particular interest are the restored horticultural structures such as the pineapple house which in it's day was a true engineering feat. Don't be stingy allow yourself a full day here, and tuck in to some lovely lunch or delicious cream tea at the excellent cafe. The good old British weather is the only thing that marred an otherwise perfect day here. Take a brolly with you just in case!

It is just amazing the size of the plant leaves, almost from a deep jungle or another world. Haven't been more than once and that was a few years ago. I am sure they must have updated the cafe (I think there was one). I would thoroughly recommend going to see these most beautiful lush gardens.

The part of the gardens known as the jungle was very impressive with loads of mature tree ferns (oh how I wish I could grow one in cold Derby!!) and other similar plants. The less exotic gardens made me realise just what Derby City Council could make of the gardens at Elvaston Castle if only they would spend some time and resources doing what the owners here have done in trying to uncover and restore a late 19th century treasure.

Love this place. Had a much better day out than at Eden Project. Can't wait to go again.

Absolutely smashing day out. My wife had been there before but it was my first time a fe wmonths ago. What a place! Astounding gardens - highly recommended. the shop is very well stocked and quite reasonably priced and the cafe does a nice cream tea. I think you can even just go into the shop without entering the gardens if you like, to top up on honey etc. Word of warning to anyone (like me) who has allergies - pack some anti histamines, as there is a lot of green!

I loved this place. We went in March and the weather was lovely and the Gardens not too crowded. The Gardens are were discovered in the recent past in a derelict and overgrown state. Since restoration they are now a working example of gardens of yesteryear with former greehouses, outbuildings and formal and informal gardens laid out as they would have been pre-WW1. There are examples of original messages and relics made and left behind at that time, which makes this a fascinating and historic day out. There are lovely walks around the grounds and I would recommend a day to see everything including bird hides, river walk and sub-tropical gardens.

Wow, this place is amazing. You can appreciate the beauty of the gardens after they have found, but you can still understand the history behind its past. It is suitable for all ages and is really enchanting. I would say these are definately one of the best gardens to visit in duchy. Admission prices are justified and well worth it. On site facilities are good and you could easily spend a whole day here time and time again.

Can't find them. Are they lost? Help!

This place is amazing. Jurassic park meets modern day gardens. Great for the whole family.

A wonderful peaceful place to go, especially for gardeners. I loved the wide and unusual range of plants as well as the overall feel that your exploring a bygone age.

Fantastic attraction, beautiful gardens. How do they grow Pineapples and giant rhubarb in England? Feels a lot more peaceful than it's big brother The Eden Project down the road. Good value entrance fee only 11 pound and 6 quid for the nippers, the family ticket was even better at 29 quid for 2 adults and 3 kids. They could have done with opening more than one ticket office window when we visited as there was quite a queue. We walked round the grounds for three hours and still didn't see all of it, we'll have to visit again. Reading the history of the gardens and the project of returning them to their former glory is fascinating. The jungle garden and the mud maid were our person highlights. Now the one disappointment we had was that the garden tearooms stopped serving food at 3 o'clock. After a long walk round the park we were really looking forward to some of the home cooked food similar to what we saw that was on offer when arrived. It was the only black mark on lovely day at the lost gardens.

Beautiful gardens with enough areas left near to unrestored state to give you a flavour of the mammoth task that has been undertaken here. Friendly staff around seem happy to help. The restaurant is a particular treasure, far better than the run of the mill attraction eatery.

This place along with the eden project you must try out if you are in to all of your flowers etc

if you like gardens and a little bit of walking this is a must. These gardens have been lovingly restored, how they knew they were there is a mystery to me. I love the way you can get a little lost on the winding paths and the foliages hides you from other visitors, a much more personal experience than the Eden project. and lots of photo opportunities to boot. i would also recommend the cream teas as you work up quite an appetite going up some of those hills. also the vegetable gardens are amazing and very inspiring if you fancy a bit of grow your own, if only i had the space.

This is without a doubt my favourite place in the whole of south cornwall. We live only part of the year in cornwall and this is always the first place we visit when we come down. I can see it across the valley from my home and the house is so beautiful - I can only imagine what it must have been like for the family who lived there privately. The gardens have something for every one and even older relatives should find it easy to get around. Parking is usually not a problem but of course it gets very busy in the summer months since that TV programme. Reasonably priced and you can get good values food and drinks. owever, the highlight for us is always taking a picnic.

This really must be one of the most peaceful places in the world! i could stay in here forever!! beautiful gardens, but arranged to look as if they naturally grew in the way they do!! magic!!

I visited the lost gardens four years ago and long to return. It was a lost garden overgrown, hidden and rediscovered by an inheritor of the land together with Tim Smit who is the mastermind behind the Eden Project. This was his first garden too, and must hold a special place in his heart. Whereas the Eden Project is educational in the formal sense, this place is educational in the broadest sense as it will provide as much as you are willing to invest. I spent an entire day there by myself and wanted to stay a week to fully explore. The garden has been restored to how it must have been at it's zenith - just prior to the First World War. Look for the messages, photographs and stories about the gardeners - most of whom went to War and failed to return, or if they survived never returned to Heligan causing the decay and disappearance of this magical place. Don't miss out on any of the tours on offer - I did the what did we catch in the traps last night? tour, which mainly turned out to be moths but the guy who did it was so knowledgeable it was fascinating. Also the jungle is a must, containing huge bamboos and giant plants from the southern hemisphere introduced in the Victorian heyday of plant collection (you may well think you're in Malaya)! I loved the place so much, I bought the book by Tim Smit and would recommend it highly.

One of my favourite places in Cornwall. We've been several times now and it never fails to disappoint. Unlike the Eden Project, which I find too preachy, this is an elegant restoration of a turn-of-the-century garden. The kitchen garden is fantastic, like a giant allotment, but at every turn throughout the garden there is something different and interesting. Poignant too, for example where the names of gardeners are written on the walls before they left for the First World War, never to return. A great family day out (and you need a whole day) although younger children might find there to be too much walking, particularly if you visit the jungle down in the valley. And from experience I would say that it isn't worth attempting with a buggy.

This place is amazing. Jurassic park meets modern day gardens. Great for the whole family

My second visit to Heligan after a gap of over 5 years. Things have certainly changed but very wet weather and limited dry areas prevented full enjoyment. Great for the gardens but not so good for the hundreds of visitors struggling to find shelter and stay dry. Compared to the Eden Project there are limited options for food and drink. I know the venue is aimed at restoring the gardens to their original glory but if they also want to attract thousands of visitors they should really plan for better facilities. Another feature I enjoyed first time around was the interaction with the staff there, but this time the people we came across were not so forthcoming. I think many of the staff originally were volunteers, either unpaid or lowly paid but with a real passion for the project. Perhaps now they are your more typical employees, there to do a job but with no real desire to pass on any enthusiasm to the visitors - which is a shame. However there is no doubt that the whole complex is amazing and inspiring, especially the jungle area. When you look at the gardens in their original, neglected and reborn states you can't fail to be impressed. You'll go home inspired to spruce up your own garden and made more of an attempt with your vegetable garden.

great day out for anybody and a very good farm shop on the way out.