VISITOR INFORMATION
We care about every visitor and strive to create a friendly environment in our Grade I listed gardens that can be enjoyed by all.
DAY TICKETS
Tickets can be pre-booked in advance online or on the day at reception. *Book ahead and save both time and money with our new advanced booking discounts! Online tickets are valid for 30 days from the date of purchase.
We recommend 3 - 4 hours per trip to fully enjoy what is on offer.
For security and hygiene purposes we do not accept cash.
DOG POLICY
We encourage visitors to bring well behaved dogs on short leads with them to enjoy the gardens. We request that owners please clean up after their dog and dispose of their mess using biodegradable bags, please place in the doggie bins located in the gardens. Guests with extendable leads will be provided a short lead upon entry, with a £10 refundable deposit and their extendable leads will be returned after their visit.
Dogs are not allowed in The Clocktower Kitchen and Leonardslee House. Guide dogs only. Dogs are welcome in the Courtyard Café and Doll’s House Museum.
PARKING
Paid parking for cars and free parking for group coaches is available at the entrance of Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens. Disabled parking is located near the main entrance.
Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens is a private garden and relies on a diverse funding structure to sustain our initiatives. Support is derived from memberships, and various commercial activities, such as ticket sales, events and parking fees. This multifaceted funding approach enables us to continue our essential work in preserving and enhancing our Grade I listed gardens for all to enjoy.
PARKING CHARGES
Full day parking costs £4.80. Tickets may be bought directly from the RingGo app or at reception.
To download the free RingGo app, please follow these steps.
Free parking is available to Leonardslee members and blue badge holders. If you are a Leonardslee member, simply collect a car sticker from reception and display it in your car.
PARTNERS
GARDENERS’ WORLD CARD
Buy one ticket online for your chosen arrival date, then present your 2 for 1 Gardener’s World discount card at reception on arrival to receive your additional ticket to enter and enjoy the gardens. Offer can be used on bank holidays.
Gardeners’ World Cards are not valid in the month of May and on events days including the Easter trail & Halloween Trail.
RHS MEMBERS
Any day: December – February & July – September
Monday & Tuesday only: March – June & October – November (except bank holidays)
OPEN WATER WARNING
For your safety, please be warned that there are several unfenced ponds in the garden. It is not advisable to leave children or dependents unsupervised. The location of these ponds is shown on the map and within our leaflet.
FOOD POLICY
Only food or drink purchased on these premises is allowed for consumption on our property.
Our cafés offer a selection of hot and cold beverages, light lunches, cakes, and pastries. Vegan and gluten-free diets are catered for in our cafés.
Picnic baskets are available from April - August, where you can choose from a variety of picnics to enjoy within our gardens.
As a Heritage Site, we take extreme care in the fauna and flora of our ecosystem. Our products are carefully sourced and respectfully request that you abide by these rules.
Are you allowed to bring your own food?
No outside food or drink is allowed. The Clocktower Kitchen opens daily at 09:00 and offers a wide range of refreshments. This includes hot food, light lunches, afternoon and cream tea, a variety of hot and cold drinks, and more.
INFORMATION
The property has spaces designated for disabled parking, located near the main entrance with low reception counters to meet the needs of visitors using wheelchairs.
After passing through reception, use the exit to the right-hand side to find a flatter route that leads down to the Rock Garden, Leonardslee House, Dolls’ House Exhibition, wallabies and cafés.
Many of our pathways throughout the gardens are flat but fall away steeply in places. The lower half of the gardens should be avoided by wheelchair users and those with restricted mobility or limited fitness.
The return journey is uphill, and although there are benches throughout the estate, it requires a good level of fitness and mobility to walk back to the reception centre and car park.
Electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters are to be used with extreme caution as there are uneven surfaces and steep slopes throughout the gardens.
Leonardslee House, Cafés, Dolls’ House Exhibition, Rock Garden, and Wallabies, are all accessible by tarmac roads and paths.
Accessible toilets are located at the visitor entrance and The Clocktower Kitchen.
TYPES OF CARER ID ARE ACCEPTED
Front page of DLA / PIP (no specific rate)
Front page of Attendance Allowance letter (no specific rate)
Evidence that registered severely sight impaired (blind)
Recognised Assistance Dog ID card
Credibility’s Access Card
Compass Card
BUGGY SHUTTLE SERVICE
The Leonardslee Shuttle Service is free of charge and runs on most days. It is designed to enable visitors with limited mobility to access the lower gardens and lakes. The buggy service runs between the Clocktower Café and Engine Pond, it does not provide a tour. Buggies operate on a first-come, first-served basis and visitors should be advised that queues can be expected, particularly in May and June. This service relies on volunteers and is subject to availability.
Buggies run from 10:00 - 15:00
MOBILITY SCOOTERS & WHEELCHAIRS
Manual & electric mobility wheelchairs are available for hire on a first-come, first-serve basis.
All facilities, i.e. entrance gates, restaurants, shops and venues, are wheelchair friendly. The lower gardens are not accessible currently by wheelchair or mobility scooters due to the steep slopes that need to be climbed on your return journey.
Please note: A deposit of £20 is required for hire of the manual wheelchairs, and a non-refundable rental fee of £20 is required for our electric mobility scooters. You are welcome to bring your own mobility scooter or wheelchair. Mobility scooters can be pre-booked in advance by contacting info@leonardsleegardens.co.uk
Leonardslee House is home to Restaurant Interlude and 10 bespoke charming bedrooms with their own individual decor and en-suite bathrooms. Restaurant Interlude is located on the ground floor, which is fully accessible and poses no restrictions on persons with limited mobility. A unisex disabled toilet is also available.
Ample parking is available, free of charge, outside Leonardslee House for Leonardslee House & Restaurant Interlude guests, complete with four electric vehicle charging points.
There is a large veranda that is flat and accessible.
Please refer to our accessibility map and note that the gardens are still under renovation; as a result, we will update our maps and releases as we gradually improve the garden. We welcome your feedback after your visit as it is only by listening to your comments that we can improve our offering and services.
Who do I contact about lost property?
Contact us on 0330 123 5893 or email info@leonardsleegardens.co.uk
for lost property.
Are drones and model aircrafts permitted?
The use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) or drones, is not permitted on or over Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens due to privacy unless otherwise agreed.