We had a splendid time at Basildon Park. The house is beautiful, my favourite room was the Seashell Room. Volunteers from National Trust were so friendly and full of historical information. We didn’t get a chance to have a long walk outside but we did manage to have a lovely short one after picking up a bite at the cafe. Look forward to coming back for a longer walk & a visit to the gift shop.

Fine manor house with plenty of woodland and pasture to explore. There’s ample parking which is a good thing as it’s only really possible to get there by car. The manor has great architecture and is very well maintained. There’s a cafe there but the food is a little below the standard I’d expect for a national trust venue.

2nd time visiting, 1st time visiting around christmas and I was very impressed. I thought the decorations were gorgeous and very well done. I liked the ballet theme and how they incorporated in small details and music. We have national trust but actually I would pay the entry fee for the holiday decorations. Car park well organised, staff in house very friendly and knowledgeable. Various cafe options. Also loved the exhibition detailing all of the filming done on site such as Pride and Prejudice, Bridgerton, Downton Abbey and the Crown

Basildon Park is such a charming mix of history and glamour! Built in the 18th century for Sir Francis Sykes and later owned by James Morrison, the house even fell into disuse during WWII before being rescued in the 1950s by Lord and Lady Iliffe. I loved exploring the rooms and viewing framed personal family photos and other mementos. It was also fun discovering the home’s on-screen fame—right now there’s a 20th anniversary exhibition celebrating all the films and TV shows shot here, from Pride and Prejudice to Downton Abbey, and The Crown. The National Trust has done a great job keeping both the house and its lovely grounds inviting, so it’s easy to imagine life here across the centuries.

We went to see the christmas decorations and they did not disappoint. The house was beautifully decorated, each room was themed around a different ballet play. Followed by some delicious cake and coffee from the coffe shop.

Lovely NT property in stunning surroundings. You can see why so many film makers have chosen it! Stunning house interior including one of the UK's last surviving Georgian ceilings. Nice courtyard team room in the house too. Highly recommended.

Beautiful house with an interesting history. Exciting to visit if you're a fan of historic drama showa like Downton Abbey or Pride and Prejudice. Has lovely walks around the parkland. Loved the sea shell collection - never seen anything like it. Was amazing to see the Downton Abbey dresses on exhibition.

Love Beale Park, well maintained gardens, great for adults and kids, good food and lovely animals to see. The only thing that was sad was the reindeer enclosure. They were all walking round in a big circle and you could see on the floor where they do it out of constant habit and boredom. They definitely need more room and stimulation. Would be definitely nice to see an improvement there

A perfect day out with kids! Beale Park has so much to do — a great outdoor play area, an indoor soft play, and even a little train that takes you around the park. The small water pool is brilliant for kids of all ages to splash around safely, and there are plenty of animals and birds to see too. The Wild Café has tasty food at reasonable prices, plus there are ice cream vans around the park which is always a hit with the little ones. Entry fee is fair for everything that’s included, and they also put on different shows to keep everyone entertained. Such a fun and family-friendly place — highly recommend!

Fantastic day out with my teenage son. The park was really quiet and lovely to walk around. We did the Feed the Ring Tailed Lemurs experience which was great. The young man who took the experience was fantastic and really knew his stuff. We bumped into him again later when he was feeding the otters and he took the time to tell us about them and answer our questions a real asset to the park. Also, had a lovely lunch in the cafe watched by the peacock trying to get in the door. We will definitely be back.

Very very nice place. A lot to see and do with your children. Animals, sand pit area, a pool, a miniature train to ride, an inflatable giant pillow and much more. There's a whole day to spend there and a very good reason to visit it over and over again. Nicely maintained and looked after , shame it didn't have a lot of photos on Google maps as we didn't bring our daughter's swimming costume. Free parking, a cafe and a lovely ice cream from the ice cream van located nearby the miniature train.

Fabulous day out, £20 for 2 adults. Lots of beautiful grounds to wander round, fantastic playground, bouncy cushion and splash pool for smaller kids to play in and enjoy. Cafe was very busy but there are loads of shaded areas for a picnic. There was a lovely ice cream van with gluten free whippy ice cream I could have in a tub. The little train was a lovely way to see the whole park. Wished I’d booked the feeding of the capybara as sadly this was booked up already. Highly recommend.

Wonderful place! Stroller friendly, have kids entertainment for all seasons. Nice selection of animals. Restaurant menu is very limited unfortunately, would be nice to have proper meal options besides sausages and chips or chicken strips and chips.

Absolutely loved this place. A really interesting selection of animals, including some unusual ones. A trip on the little train is included in the price, and the train carriages have roofs so it's good if there's a rain shower. The weather turned in the afternoon and it's nearly all outside so be warned. I used a mobility scooter and although it worked pretty well, there are some muddy paths and uneven surfaces. I also had to park and go into buildings quite a lot, so be aware if you're a wheels user.

We visited Legoland on a Sunday afternoon and stayed in one of the woodland lodges before a full day in the park. The process of booking the stay was fairly convoluted on the website, but from that point, there were clear instructions and links for all our passes, which were very handy to have on the official app! Sunday in the park was manic and not at all quiet, with 40 min queues for all the main rides (including the underwhelming Dragon rollercoaster). Flight of the sky lion is a great ride, but please sort the queue system out for people with the fast access pass (some of which have paid extra). We waited longer in this queue than people were in the standard entry! I don't think the clearly hungover lad running it could cope with figuring out what to do. The site is quite sprawling and despite there being a train that runs from the entrance into the middle of the park, it isn't always in operation, so prepare for the walk back up the winding hill! Food offerings are standard over-priced fried theme park fare unfortunately, with little imagination in the variety on offer. Breakfast at the woodland lodge clubhouse was fairly decent on the other hand. Our lodge was clean and spacious, with the skylight projector in the kids room being a nice touch. The treasure hunt also went down a treat. You might want to take earplugs though, as the Heathrow flight path is directly above, so sleep was fairly limited to the hours of 11pm -5am. It could be so much better in places, but overall it was still an enjoyable outing that was worth checking out.

Great theme park, I enjoyed the rides, we didn’t wait to wait too long to get onto the rides and there was 2 that we did a couple of times. Kids loved it. The Lego mini land was great, loads to see and a lot of detail gone into it. Food was expensive but always is at these places. We’d happily return!

Bad: Rides waiting time: I'm starting with bad because I want people to first know what they are getting into so they can make a better decision. The rides have massive queues, the resort is not very organised in terms of crowd management. The queues are massive, like there's at least 60 minute of waiting for almost all the rides, unless you have ultimate ride pass forget about managing to do even 3-4 rides in a day. And their opening times are only 10-5, which is definitely not enough for the money you pay. I had ultimate pass and still I couldn't do all the rides and it felt such a stretch - is it worth the money though : absolutely. As we didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes for any rides. But it's ot for people who can't afford to pay for those passes. Food: If you are vegetarian, forget about eating here, not many options to eat, a Pizza place, that's beyond expensive £23-£24pp - with very limited vegetarian options, a burger place that does serve vegetarian burger, and the waffles place can't handle crowds and they close the shop when they can't handle the load. Face paint: rude staff and poor face painting skills Good: ultimate pass is rhe best way to enjoy the park, we loved all the rides we took. Miniland is awesome and so is their train. Staff is helpful (if you find them).

Visited Legoland with my two kids (1 and 4 years old) and we had a really good day out. Went during school time so there were hardly any queues, which was great! The park was clean and tidy with plenty to see and do to fill the day. Not much for the 1-year-old, but our 4-year-old loved it and went on lots of rides. Overall a fun family day out and would definitely go again when they’re a bit older.

The kids absolutely loved it. It was definitely a fun outing that everyone in our group really enjoyed. The ride times generally seemed to work out pretty well, and you can definitely make a great day out of it if the weather stays nice. The pizza and pasta buffet was efficient and there was plenty of food to go around.

Had a really good time with my 2 daughters. They both enjoyed the experience. Seeing how much stuff was built out of bricks was awesome. Some really good rides. Had to queue a bit but expected on a busy day. Would definitely recommend and 100% come back again

A very nice amusement park. It needs some social spaces/facilities like cafes or restaurants. Theme park is nice. Mini land is very cheerful area. Priority parking is extremely convenient but general parking is a bit far, consider this if you have any mobility difficulties.

Virginia Water to Windsor Castle,, 6.5 miles walk. Amazing view on the way. Park is so convenient at Virginia Water car park,, it charge me almost 16 pounds for the day. From the car park, using toilet, u can start ur walk to the park,, if you follow the path, it will take u all the way to Windsor Castle. On the way don't miss the amazing Deer park, cow pond and many more attractions. Best view from King's George statue to Windsor Castle. Make sure to book a return ticket from Windsor Castle to Virginia Water,, avoid bus while u can. There's many toilet facilities available. Ice cream ban, café an, restaurant and a playground.

Extensive park with easy walks around the Virginia Water lake and beautiful gardens. The park is home to many interesting features, including The Cascade (a dramatic artificial waterfall) and Leptis Magna Roman Ruins at the eastern corner of Virginia Water. The totem pole near The Valley Gardens was an impressive feature, as is the towering obelisk near the upper pond. Wildlife seems to thrive here - I saw lots of birds and a grass snake by the lakeside. Late spring is the best time to visit, when the azaleas and rhododendrons in The Valley Gardens are in full bloom, providing truly stunning displays of colour. The Punchbowl is a must see at this time of year. Parking is fairly expensive at £3 per hour, but there's plenty available across multiple sites, and the facilities are immaculate. A high end café at Virginia Water offers a good range of drinks and cakes, with more substantial lunch options available at The Savill Garden visitor centre, where there's also a large shop. Impeccably maintained toilet facilities are located near the main entrances. The park is free to visit, but The Savill Garden is charged separately - visitors purchasing a ticket are entitled to a refund on their parking charge. If you've got a couple of extra hours The Savill Garden is well worth a visit, particularly in May when the flowers are at their peak. There's plenty to see including a tropical glasshouse, Mediterranean garden and rose garden. Windsor Great Park is easily a full day out if you explore everything it has to offer - set aside another day for Windsor Castle and you can enjoy an excellent weekend here.

Visited Virgina Water on Saturday. The park is vast and is connected to Windsor Park. If you have the legs you can walk to Windsor castle. The park has a big lake, lots of beautiful gardens, waterfall and few cafes. The park is run by crown and not by local council. The price of food and drink at main cafe near the car park is very reasonable. Highly recommended.

Very beautiful place to visit in summer... ❤️ Parking at Virginia Water is really convenient, with a large car park right by the entrance—though it did cost nearly £15 for the day as I remember. From there, it’s easy to access the toilets and start your walk into the park. The main path is well-marked and takes you on a scenic route that can lead all the way to Windsor Castle if you're up for it. Along the way, you’ll pass some truly lovely spots like the Deer Park, Cow Pond, and several other picturesque attractions. It’s a perfect place for a relaxing day outdoors!

Beautiful park, best location for walk & cycling. Car park is hardly 5 mins walk from the park.

Beautiful park for strolling and exploring. Also very interesting when the polo is on particularly if you are a horse lover.

It is the most beautiful place in Surrey for me and my dog to enjoy the most wonderful walk. Come rain, sunshine, high winds, it is so reassuring and good for the soul to be at one with nature, and being able to see deer, pheasants, swans, kites and everyone else’s dogs!

Another local National trust site I was yet to discover, what a place this is! I've never seen so many families out with the pet dog in my life! The dog to geese ratio here was close 😆 A rather full Sunday car park on arrival so I would recommend getting here early! If visiting on a weekend. Great day out.

Beautiful place, very dog-friendly (four legged friends allowed in the downstairs seating area in the café, so you can stay warm and dry while you eat your lunch!) the house is gorgeous - no dogs in there though! Plus some stunning walks around the lake and lots of history to absorb as well. Definitely one of our favourite National Trust places!

A fantastic house and walled garden to visit. Good parking with really nice volunteer staff to explain basic information on walking to the house and walled garden there is a longer walk along the riverside that includes the bird hide. Some wonderful rooms decorated in the style of the day with wonderful artwork and ceramics. I was particularly interested to see some very early maps of the UK with mileage indicated between important towns and cities. You’ll need a minimum of 3 hours to explore this beautiful house and grounds.

Car park spaces are a bit tight and the signage could be clearer. We ended up part way into the disabled section by accident because there was nothing marking it until the very end. Not a huge issue but worth noting. The walled garden is lovely and the information signs are good. It would be helpful to have a direct cut through to the seating area rather than walking the long way round. The house itself is beautiful but the information inside felt limited. We were told volunteers would answer questions and I am sure they would but that relies on knowing what to ask. There was not much detail on the architectural features or what makes the house unique, and very little to help you understand its long history. It feels like a missed opportunity. The real disappointment was the tearoom. The layout is confusing as soon as you walk in. It is not clear where to queue and you end up weaving through tables before finding everyone crowded by the self service cakes. This was just before closing, not peak lunch, yet it still felt chaotic. Staff were polite in wording but the service felt forced and not very welcoming. Cutlery was tucked around the corner on a messy counter under the stairs which did not help. Overall it is a lovely property with lots of potential but the visitor experience, especially in the tearoom, needs improving. A rethink of the whole layout is needed and strong hospitality management would help bring it up to the standard the setting deserves.

Really nice place to visit with friends or family. Full of history and stories, the volunteers are there to help you on any questions you may have. Walk through the gardens and visit the house. Take same time to do the trails around the woods. Some places are wheelchair accessible. Definitely a well spent day here. Expect National Trust prices so if you have a membership it would be better for you. Plenty of parking available and free.

Lovely walk, not too far or strenuous. Adequate parking available but we did arrive early and it had filled significantly while waiting for the rest of our group to arrive. Beautiful scenery and well maintained. Toilets were clean. We came for a halloween event which was very sweet, fairly short but perfect stroll for 5 year old and 2 year old.

Very interesting house tour with very knowledgeable volunteers. The cafe had a good choice of both hot and cold items for lunch. Ample parking even when visiting on last week of school holidays.

The Versailles of British gardening If Kew is the King, then Wisley is unquestionably the Crown Prince beautifully groomed, impeccably mannered, and dripping in horticultural old-money charm. The borders are magnificent. The glasshouse is a cathedral of tropical splendour. Even the ducks appear to have degrees in botany. You don’t visit Wisley you take pilgrimage. Spring brings tulips arranged with mathematical perfection. Summer is dahlia heaven. Autumn is a masterclass in fiery foliage. Winter? Even the frost looks curated. The gift shop deserves its own postcode and a security guard you will leave with at least one book you didn’t need, a mug you don’t have room for, and seeds for plants you cannot pronounce. This is simply the Wisley effect. Bring: Comfortable shoes A packed lunch (or a willing wallet the café is delicious but not for the faint-pursed) A camera, because the borders humiliate your own garden mercilessly If you love plants, go. If you don’t love plants, go anyway you will by the end.

Absolutely beautiful gardens — always something new to see in every season. The Glasshouse is stunning, and the Hilltop Centre is full of great ideas for sustainable gardening. Everything is so well cared for, and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Lovely cafés and plenty of space to relax and wander. A perfect day out for garden lovers or anyone who enjoys nature! 🌿🌸

Stunning day out with the family, to be in awe of nature. Mind-blowing how many different trees/plants/flowers there are around you (all labelled!) and how exquisitely they are maintained by the RHS Wisley team. Managed to get discounted tickets and thoroughly enjoyed our relaxing day of walking around all of the different gardens. The indoor glass house is also amazing in what feels like a rainforest climate! Definitely one to check out for the day to get in the clean air and appreciate the incredible creation around us! Ample free parking available.

Beautiful gardens and grounds. So much to see and a lovely walk through the open areas . Plenty of things to do with their library and activity centre. Great places to eat and a massive garden centre with gift shop. I had a great day out.

Do love a visit to Wisley. Loads to see nice (but expensive) cafe’s. The garden centre is very good (but again, pricey) and the glass house is a big highlight - especially when they release the butterflies at certain times of year. The new centre on top of hill is a nice educational addition. If you’re local membership is better value if you are visiting often.

I haven't visited since the makeover...what a transformation. Joined an excellent guided walk (no extra charge) and really enjoyed the late Autumn colours. The shop is now in full Christmas mode and almost overwhelming but great if you have time. Only reduced a star because the doors both sides of the café kept auto opening every time someone walked past. The food was delicious the two girls behind the counter must have been frozen but were both absolutely delightful and helpful, staying cheerful and made a stonking hot chocolate which we needed to ward the cold in the cafe off! Even enjoyed watching goldfinches on the teasels in the carpark.

It was good, but not the best lights ever. Im probably spoilt as we have done Longlete, Windsor and blenhiem.... But they made a great effort in the greenhouse and the lights on the lake matched the music well. We good night out.

A real gem. Hands on, so great for kids. We spent 2½ hours in the museum. Our grandchildren 10 and 12 loved it, we found it very educational for them. We had a light lunch in the cafe which we can recommend. All of the staff were friendly and helpful throughout. Free parking, and plenty of it. Milestones often have extra attractions running in school holidays.

A fantastic day out at Milestones Museum! We spent four hours there and the time just flew by — there was so much to see and enjoy! The exhibits were excellent, beautifully curated, and full of fascinating details. But what truly made the experience special was the staff. From the reception to the café and the shop, every team member was welcoming, professional, kind, and clearly passionate about both customer service and the museum itself. Their warmth and enthusiasm made all the difference. I highly recommend Milestones Museum for a day out with family — it’s a place of great learning, wonderful staff, and outstanding exhibits. A truly fantastic museum!

Great museum with plenty to see. From a modern exterior, you walk into a piece of history. You can have an audio guide to find out more about the exhibits. There were a lot of people in costume walking around and explaining everything. The sweet shop lady and the barman were very friendly, in fact all the staff gave a friendly smile. You can purchase a ration book and get your choice of ration sweets from the sweet shop, a really nice touch. There are lots of vehicles from fire engines, trams, cars etc. Several places to eat, the garden pavilion or rooftop cafe. There is also a 1940s pub. Wander around the shops fully of memorabilia, take a walk along the pier complete with penny arcade machines... you can exchange modern money for old pennies. They teddy bear museum was very cute. There are also costumes for you to try on as you walk around and get the perfect selfie. A very enjoyable place to visit, made extra special thanks to the staff.

Hadnt visited for 10 or 12 years so it was interesting to see changes and additions. A very quiet afternoon with hardly anyone there so taking pictures was easier and pleasing. Lady who runs the gramophone shop was very pleasant and informative about what was on display. Will visit again in the future.

Really good fun! Loads to see and do to keep kids entertained, as well as interesting seeing and reading for adults. Love it. Didn't eat in the cafe but it looked great.

This is not an ordinary museum with exhibits in the glass cases (well, you will find some of these here), but very thoughtful and detailed historical reconstruction of the town through the time, with streets, shops, houses, garages, workshops, local transport, interiors with daily living attributes, seaside holidays attractions with working arcade games and the teddy bear museum. 🧸 Perfect for kids, as placing exhibits in context enables much better understanding of past life. You can enjoy a pint in the working pub, buy some old-fashioned sweets in the sweet shop, get some great coffee and cake or a proper breakfast/lunch in the cafe. The staff/volunteers are dressed up in the historical outfits, and they really care to give you the best experience. Tickets are not cheap, but at the moment there is a promotion on lovetovisit.com. There are discounts for kids, students, seniors, and disabled people who can bring their carer free of charge. The museum is fully accessible, with lifts, accessible toilets, and wheelchairs provided at the reception for anyone with mobility issues. Tickets are valid for the whole year, so you can revisit as often as you like and take advantage of different special events.

Purchased tickets online at a cheaper rate of £10 (for a limited time) entry is only after 1pm. advertised as a 'quieter less busy' time which would suit us. Unfortunately when we arrived there were three coach loads of screeching six year old running around like a massive ADHD experiment. Luckily they departed after a while so we were left in relative peace. Exhibits are very well displayed with plenty of the relevant information. Plenty to see so give yourself a good 2 to 3 hours. Usual expensive cafe, Americano coffee was okay but £3.50 for a tiny slice of cake that would dissolve before it hit your stomach was a bit steep. Gift shop selling good old British memorabilia (all made in China) worth a look but definitely not at full price.

Beautiful place, peaceful, relaxing and for myself besides landscaping if I see animals around - "my day is made" - I was so happy to see cows, sheep's and special ones for the Hatchlands House is donkeys 🥰. You can have cafe, tea, some food in cafe shop. Sadly, the House was close due some work. Although, definitely I will be back and hope will explore more. There is so many path to walk around, great place for kids to play. Really recommend.

This is an excellent home to visit if you are interested in music and paintings. The paintings are incredible and to see pianos that belonged to Chopin, Mozart, Lizt etc was very special. It was also interesting to see Shakespeare's portrait and the link he had to Hatchlands. Unfortunately internal photography wasn't allowed. The gardens were not at their best, but hopefully in summer they will look fantastic!

We got free vouchers to visit the park. It was well maintained, with lots of space for the kids to explore — especially since they were currently hosting The Very Hungry Caterpillar trail, where children could explore and have their pictures taken via a QR code. Overall, it was a pleasant visit despite the extremely hot weather. The kids had fun!

Lovely place even in the rain. Nice cafe in the old kitchen. Great assortment of drinks on offer and the date flapjack and lemon drizzle cake were delicious. The dog was pretty pleased about the dog biscuits on offer too. We couldn’t go into the house because of the dog, but it’s a nice place to walk around.

Absolutely fabulous house with fantastic interiors, so much to see and appreciate BUT you can't take photos inside so can't take memories home with you hence low score. All the usual National Trust facilities on site , small formal garden and large estate walks available.

Absolutely stunning collection of pianos and harpsichords, many of which have connections to famous composers. Download the app on entry to get all the information about each one. Excellent. NB. No photos allowed to be taken inside as it's a private collection.

Visited last year and returned to see the house dressed for Halloween! It was very good, especially the music room 👻 Did a short walk off the parkland and really enjoyed the views of the house. Would return again

Nice selection of birds, so many pretty varieties that we had never seen before. The parrots and cockatoos were entertaining with their chatter and whistles. There are a couple of walk-through areas where you can get up close to the birds. The main cafe area at the entrance is nice with outdoor seating overlooking the gardens. There is another cafe/kiosk, but this was closed when we visited. They are building a new play area which looks like it's going to be quite large. We spent around 3 hours there slowly walking around. For the kids, there is a dinosaur trail. The car park is large and free. Toilets and baby change areas were clean. There is quite a large gift shop. We had a nice half day wandering around.

Larger than expected but very interesting. There are all sorts of birds and plenty to see. For those with children, there are plenty of play bits for them to play and for those without there are benches where you can sit and watch the birds. The park is accessible for wheelchair users. Visually impaired folk will definitely benefit from taking a sighted guide.

Good place to visit after the upgrade made for kids but could have also added play center for toddler separately. The dinosaurs were good additions. Food-wise need to have more options and for the entry price paid the experience is bit on lower end with the birds. The bird world itself has not been updated fully and they seem old n neglected. Finally the parking facilities are lacking with very small spaces considering most visitors are with toddlers and kids and are of low quality.

I am disabled and cannot walk. Please see the end of the review for the only problem i had. Visited today with my wife daughter and her husband and two granddaughter's. We had a great time loads to see and do the birds are great and well displayed. The granddaughter's loved the play areas. All the staff are great. Helpfull, polite and a credit to bitdworld. on the whole it was easy to get round on a mobility class 3 mobility scooter. I have only one complaint and that there was a problem and that is with the disabled toilets it may not sound much but if you are like me on A Class 3 mobility scooter and cannot walk at all it is impossible sitting on one of those scooters and opening a door towards you. I do wish the people who designed these toilets would actually try to get in there whilst at on a large mobility scooter. It takes away your independence completely when you can't even open the door to get in. To pull a door open and hold it open while you driving is completely impossible. I really really wish that somebody would actually try it to see what I mean. Is bad enough being stuck on one of those things without having to ask a complete stranger to hold the door open for you. Please would one of your staff get hold of one of those scooters and try it.

New park is amazing. The kids loved the activity sheet and the dinosaur trail. Can't wait for the new play barn. Food was fresh and good. Only down side, they do not have a changing table for disabled guests, but we were told we could use the first aid one.

A popular day out for us or even a quick stop after nursery to run off extra energy. We invested in the membership this year and have visited Birdworld very regularly to explore every nook and cranny it has to offer. The bonus features of the dinosaur trail, bird bath and adventure play have been a treat too. There are so many beautiful birds and really helpful information about them to learn and raise awareness of endangered species, as well as regular talks from the team who present it so well. The birds are well looked after and the park is so pretty with greenery, flowers, water features, bird photography and beautiful interactive displays of information. There is lots to do for all ages. The paths are wheelchair and buggy accessible and plenty of loo facilities around the park. Lots of parking space and the check-in process is simple and quick even on busy days. Even when the park is busy it doesn’t feel crowded as there’s lots of space to run around, and benches to sit on.

Perfect for all. Not too long to walk around (you could probably rush it in half hour) took us a couple of hours to see everything, but there's plenty of extra play areas and games to keep kids entertained. Special experiences like feeding the penguins are extra, but well worth it.

Fantastic place to walk the dog/dogs. I highly recommend Alice Holt. There are plenty of walking paths, and cycle paths for all abilities. If you are more adventurous Go Ape is also available here, for tree top fun. For children there are play parks and the Gruffalo walk which includes beautiful carved caricatures from the books. There is also a lovely cafe on site.

Great facilities, marble run is a great new addition but the cafe has gone downhill and isn't a patch on what it used to be. Terrible vegan options and eye watering prices, make sure to bring your own food. Parking is also expensive, but in line with all forestry England sites

Lovely place. Autumn leaves looking gorgeous. Disc Golf was great fun. It was good to have a focus of a 'different' activity - and take exercise at the same time.

Nice place with lots of activities. However, parking is expensive £8 for just over 2 hours!!

Lots of trees, a great little cafe, lots of climbing frame things for kids and adults. It's just a great place to go for a walk or a bike ride.

Family trip in February. Car parking is well organised but not cheap. Great trails and plenty of exploring possible. Facilities are excellent, even with a dog wash station if that’s something for you! Play areas are very good and entertained the children for a good while. Highly recommend this place. Best time is later in the afternoon to miss the crowds.

Absolutely fantastic place. Beautiful scenery and walks designed for all ages with directions so you cannot get lost. Great play trail for the little ones to keep them entertained. Lots of space to park (bit pricey) but it hasn't put me off wanting to go again.

Amazing... It's amazing. So many sculptures set in glorious woods. Very accessible for wheelchair users and plenty to see even though there are areas accessed via steps, it did not feel that the wheelchair user had missed out. Great to be able to take the dog. Great to have full access to QR codes to learn more about the sculptures and their price No food/drink on site, ending the visit with a team /coffee would have made the trip perfect!

When i started the walk around the park I was a little overwhelmed by the number and various sculptures. However as you get into it the meandering path goes through many hidden spaces revealing the hundreds of works of art there. Some have been there for 23 years since it opened and have blended into the environment whilst others are strikingly new and shiny contrasting with the autumnal tones of the forest. If you want to do this properly and allow some time to watch and think I'd suggest you allow 3 hours but you can see all of it in about 2

An unexpected gem! Loved our Saturday afternoon stroll in this fabulous sculpture park! My camera roll is filled with incredible sculptures - I would have taken home all of them if I could! The only point I would say is that the park is (or feels) larger than it is, so you should probably wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for the 2-mile walk around. The placement of the sculptures is brilliant, too - very enjoyable experience!

Wow there are some lovely sculptures at the park. Some very large and some small but all so incredible none the less. The only negative I have to say is it’s not very pushchair friendly (other than the disabled route) and my 2.5 year old found it a little boring.

There are many things I love about the Sculpture Park, but most of all, it’s the fact that it is constantly evolving. Every time we visit, there is something new—whether in the layout or the display. One thing that never changes is the warm welcome we receive; we are always greeted with a smile, and the staff make us feel really welcome. The sculptures are a versatile collection—diverse in material, style, and texture. There is something for everyone, beautifully displayed in lovely natural settings. Our most recent visit was for the event Spirit in Stone - celebrating Zimbabwean craftsmanship. Everything was well-organised - with drinks, catering, gentle live music, and lovely, attentive staff. The artworks were stunning and displayed wonderfully. Happy to hear that such events will be organised again, and we will gladly attend again. In the meantime, the park is well worth a visit—an inspiring place to enjoy nature, art, and beauty.

We spent a wonderful 3 hours strolling round with our dog, taking in all the fabulous sculptures. Some parts need a little care / updating but overall a wonderful way to spend a morning

A wonderful experience!!! Friendly staff and incredible art. A peaceful wander through the lush woodlands. I will be back in the winter as it will be a completely different experience. Highly recommend.

Really enjoyed our Thomas day out here, my 2 year old daughter loved it! Tip; don’t ride the Alton train as it wastes a lot of time and we were told there was nothing at Alton station (the website does state there are activities on there but the train guard said there was nothing there), so we opted not to bother and had a lovely day playing the garden games, playing in the park & funfair and riding the miniature train. 🚂 Thanks for having us!

Autumn Steam Gala is worth visiting, not just for steam enthusiasts, as they offer enhanced timetables with visiting and home-fleet locomotives. Heritage stations, workshops, and special rides like Brake Van experiences which you pay extra. Well-maintained stastions and facilities, detailed displays of locomotives and rolling stock, and enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers. It's possible to view the workshops, and restoration areas, to get behind-the-scenes views and appreciate the hard work that goes into running and maintaining the line. Great day out.

I got this as a gift for my dad's birthday and we both thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Train - Beautiful exterior and interior, views were amazing throughout the journey, was able to get off at Alton to stretch our legs for 10 mins before getting back onto the train to go back to Alresford. Food - Fish and chips was delicious, they give you water bottle, packets of salt and pepper and vinegar as well and a cherry flapjack. Make sure you take your own sauce, this was not included. Staff - Were polite and friendly throughout the experience. Parking - There is a car park on site but will advise you to get there early as its quite small and limited space, paid £3 for 3 hours which isn't bad. The only thing I would say is registering with the representative at the beginning of the journey could be better planned, but overall really good experience and will recommend to friends and family.

Took my grandson for a ride from Alresford to Alton. Like stepping back in time. All the staff are dressed appropriately, and all were very helpful and enthusiastic about what they were doing. Was a lovely day and well worth the money. My 2 dogs were welcome as well and free to travel.

Lovely preserved railway. It was a great to ride the steam trains through the countryside, and being able to stop off and explore the different stations that give a glimpse into days past. I visited for the retro road and rail though and this was disappointing: there were very few classic vehicles, and the '40s display at Ropley just consisted of a couple of American army vehicles at the top of the car park (it took ages to find it too as no one seemed to have a clue where it was, even the staff I asked didn't know anything about it, and there was no signage!). I returned for the visit of Sir Nigel Gresley, which was much better. Had a lovely day.

Private operated Steam Charter Train on the MHR (Mid Hants Railway) on the morning of Saturday, 25 October 2025, prior to timetable passenger service trains operating. An opportunity to experience and photograph railway scenes from a bygone era in delightful countryside, on a former section of the Southern Railway line known as ‘Over The Alps’. Credit to all staff and volunteers for maintaining and operating this lovely section of preserved railway line with hordes of nostalgia.

Went on the RAT (Real Ale Train) last night. Booked a private compartment for 6 of us including food. Very enjoyable evening. Some of the ale was a bit cloudy at times and the food wasn't able to be served on the train due to technical issues, but the ataff handle it well and were all very helpful. Other drinks were available, small choice but just enough to give some alternatives.

Local project full of middle age history along with the Round table. Impressive. Worth the visit and definitely worth supporting. We did the three venue option when buying tickets and thought very reasonable. Reccomended.

Definitely a must visit. It’s all that’s left of the old castle and dates back to the 1200s. The Round Table on the wall might not be from King Arthur’s time but it’s still really cool to see. Loved the stained glass windows showing all the kings and key figures, and the Norman medieval architecture is just stunning. It’s full of history and the whole place just feels majestic. We did the three venue ticket and thought it was great value. Definitely worth supporting.

Everyone focuses on the Round Table. That's fine, but don't skip the rest. The staff are very helpful and friendly, and quite willing to spend the extra time explaining the various tickets, what is where, and what the photography rules are etc. Do take a look at the garden, the giant family tree at the other end of the hall from the table, and the long gallery. The cafe is good for a quick drink and snack, but if you're planning on a meal, plan on a restaurant. That's not meant as a criticism AT ALL Just trying to help you plan.

A must-visit for history lovers! The Great Hall in Winchester absolutely blew me away. It’s one of the best-preserved medieval halls in England, dating back to the early 1200s. The architecture is stunning – huge Gothic windows, soaring stone columns, and a real sense of grandeur. The highlight has to be the legendary Round Table hanging on the wall, believed to have been built in the 13th century and painted during Henry VIII’s reign. You can really feel the weight of history here – once part of Winchester Castle and a key seat of royal power. Super informative displays, friendly staff, and a beautiful garden outside. Highly recommend!

Had a "touristy" day. Don't believe I've ever been here before. Now I'm wondering why not. Fascinating! Great to see the Round Table in all its glory. And for the pleasure of many a woman you can get fairly close to the costume worn by Colin Firth when playing Mr Darcy in the BBC adaptation of Pride. & Prejudice. That's got to be worth the entrance fee in itself!! Tickets last for a year so I'll be back in the next few months for sure.

Winchester's Great Hall is an awe-inspiring 13th-century survivor, the last remnant of William the Conqueror's Winchester Castle. Built by Henry III, its scale immediately impresses. The star attraction is the legendary King Arthur's Round Table, though dendrochronology dates it to the late 13th century – still, it powerfully evokes centuries of myth. This hall witnessed pivotal history: Sir Walter Raleigh's 1603 condemnation, the "Bloody Assizes," and once even housed the Domesday Book. Its magnificent hammer-beam roof and historical resonance make it a captivating and essential visit for anyone exploring Winchester's rich past.

A once great castle stood in Winchester but sadly most of it is long lost. The one remaining gateway is part of the ticket price for the hall. A large table sits on the wall called King Arthur's Round Table but it is much later than when he would have been around.

A lot to see and take in, both in the large interior areas, as well as small details and specific features as well as having a exhibit about the building's history. Worth a visit. Easily spent about 1h and a half looking at burrial sites, architecture, history and art.

A beautiful cathedral, worth a visit to see the architecture, carvings and stained glass windows. Jane Austen is buried in the cathedral with her memorial stone in the nave. Those interested in history will find plenty to see. Anyone in search of a peaceful place with find it here. There is an entrance fee but it allows free further visits for 12 months.

It is such a nice spot to just have a sit down, not very loud and obviously has a incredible architecture! During my trip to Winchester I stopped by here a few times - the inside of the cathedral is beautiful and worth seeing but tickets are overpriced. Also if you enjoy books, there is a great shop round one of the sides that has something for everyone📚

The guided tour that comes with the admission price is easily worth it. I was bowled over with our guide's (Michael) depth of knowledge and fantastic anecdotes about the cathedral. The ticket is open for a year. There's so much more to find out about this splendid building we will probably be back. Winchester's nice to walk around too. Probably best to avoid peak times.

The staff was really friendly and the cathedral is pretty big and beautiful, definitely worth the time. We chatted for 15-20 min with the staff member in the library (yeah they have an amazing library with beautiful old books) he told us really great stories and gave us some insights on how big of a work goes into working with these. The cathedral overall is really detailed and has an interesting story, it even has a small museum inside.

The great cathedral is the primary reason why we wanted to visit Winchester and it did not disappoint. We jumped into one of the tours being offered at the ticket entrance and had such a great experience. The tour took just over an hour, and we spent another hour afterwards exploring the massive space, checking out some of the many sacred and historical items on display (including the Winchester Bible), and paying our respects at the Jane Austen memorial with the added bonus of occasional organ music in the background. A perfect way to spend a half day.

Highly, highly recommend visiting and taking the guided tour! The volunteers were enthusiastic, welcoming, and very friendly. There was so much history to see, including an exhibition. We had Robert Little as our tour guide, and he truly brought the history to life. He was very knowledgeable, passionate, and engaging in his storytelling! One of the many details I enjoyed was when he pointed out some of the different architectural styles, such as Norman or Gothic. Since the ticket is valid for a full year, he even recommended joining tours with other guides to get different flavours of information and perspectives. Overall, definitely a fantastic experience!

Decent medium-sized Zoo, with a wide range of animals. Giraffes, snow leopard, rhinos, Lemurs, ostriches, and more. Catering prices were reasonable. Layout not very intuitive though - plan your route around. On a fairly steep hill. Staff friendly and helpful.

Brought the family here on an inset day so it was quieter and we all had a wonderful time. I thought the grounds were very clean, the staff was friendly and helpful. Only complaint is the food and drinks are quite pricey but that's expected. Next time we'll opt to bring our own lunches as they offer picnic areas.

This was my first trip, and we visited as a large group but split up in to small groups. Tickets were pre-purchased in advance, which made entry quick and easy. There was plenty of car parking available. Staff I saw were friendly & helpful. Despite low expectations set by friends, I found this place to be fantastic. The animals appeared well cared for, and we managed to see all the ones we hoped to—and more. There are lots of picnic spots and climbing areas for children, which made it very family-friendly. Food and gift shop items were reasonably priced. The only downside was that it was a hot day and all the drinks we bought from the cafe there were warm due to broken fridges—an issue we were told has been ongoing. While this didn’t ruin our experience, it did feel like a waste of money. I’d recommend bringing your own picnic and would definitely visit again.

lovely day out with the little one. thoroughly enjoyed. lots of animals to see and lots of areas for the little one to explore. some food bars with "normal" food would be nice. chips, hotdogs, burgers etc. but bought own picnic so was ok.

Big zoo, plenty to do, been wanting to take the kids for ages and didn't disappoint at all. Easily can spend 4-5hrs there. A lot of walking due to size of zoo. Plenty for kids to do, nice little parks and a cafe area with a good view. Will be going back at some point.

What a great Zoo as Zoos go. Animals have plenty of space in their enclosures with many of them being out to be seen. The Lego feature currently on show is great with guess the mammoth bring much entertainment. The little zoo tour on the overland train is worth doing. Be prepared to walk a few steps and enjoy.

Had a brilliant day out here. The park is really well designed so there's a chance to see the animals from different sides. Staff are all really friendly and helpful.

Lovely spot for fishing, walking, visiting cafe etc. Good location in small village but with sufficient facilities to stay for a week without needing to visit a big supermarket etc. pitches are decent size and the lakeside pitches offer ideal situation for fishing and camping, in relative privacy. Staff are friendly, helpful and responsive to questions. Only issue for me was the service at the ‘Cafe on the Lake’ . Staff were not organized, working together and long queues resulted. Also noted the apparent manager criticizing a member of front house staff open.y in front of customers, which I never like.

This is a great camping/caravan/motorhome site and fishery. Also a working farm. Extremely dog friendly, got a play area for kids, safe for cycling. Toilet/shower/laundry facilities are excellent. I highly recommend it 👌. I haven't rated rooms because I was in my motorhome.

Love coming back to Sumners Pond. Cafe just gets better and better. Love the location. Staff really friendly. Food delicious. Lovely environment. Happy memories of family holidays here.

Every year for a long time there was no holiday that didn't include a visit to this campsite, of course with a tent, usually at bluebell park. Because there is a playground there and the kids love it, and unfortunately it was the same this year.Unfortunately, this year it turned out that nothing was left of the beautiful forest where the kids liked to walk at night with flashlights, but somehow they managed to get through it at the end of the visit, new holidaymakers arrived, I don't know why They chose this place because they had adult children and immediately started being loud and drinking alcohol openly, they lit a fire where it is forbidden and no one came to tell them they couldn't. I got up around 11 p.m. I got up to tell them to be quiet because we can't sleep, everything in the house stinks now, the clothes and car all have to be washed. We had to end our holiday early, even though it was paid for, because the stench of the burning fire and loud conversations at night after drinking alcohol were unbearable.

This is a great place for fishing walking and has a lovely cafe I haven't stayed here but I know they have many different styles of places to stay in from a simple tent to a full on lodge Very friendly staff with a great selection of food in the on site cafe and a well stocked fishing ahop on site too.

In general this campsite is okay. There is a lot of fishing opportunities if you like to fish and a few paths for biking or for walks or runs. However a lot of the forest got cut down since last year and I am quite dissapointed because riding a bike is close to impossible there now and children can't play their usual games in there. You can still go on walks there however. The showers near the playground had freezing cold water so I had to walk far away to the other showers for warmer water which were much better quality. The people next to my tent were very loud late at night and had an open fire which i saw them using the wood from the forest and I know is forbidden, but when I tried to call the campiste number they didn't pick up. The location is great because there is a small shop nearby where you can pick up food and toiletries if you need it. If you have children you can ask for a spot near the playground so you can easily watch your children while they play with friends or siblings. There is also horses, cows, bulls and ducks which you have opportunities to feed if you ask the reception.

Recently stayed in a shepards hut at sumners pond. Wanted a romantic getaway but not quite as expected. Only once I had booked did I find out that we could not book into 4pm due to lack of cleaning staff. Hut tidy but I would exactly say clean. Lots of dead insects on floor and on paintwork, outside deck covered in dead leaves and acorns. Also no correspondence from sumners pond to inform us that the cafe was closed on a Monday from 3 and no catering van so had to drive to find evening meal. The hut is not suitable at all to bbq so definatley had to get own food. Shower block described as new, is definatley more tired than new. But if using early in the morning were clean.

One of the best Trust houses we have visited. Great art works everywhere in the huge rooms. It was nice to have some seating to relax and enjoy. The grounds are well kept making it a pleasant walk from the car parking area. Seats in the cafe were limited during the rain showers, as one would expect.

Another National Trust gem! Had a wonderful day there. So much to see and wonderful walks in the grounds and deer park. The art collection is outstanding and as usual the volunteers in the house were great. Had an interesting talk in the square dining room about the history of the family. Found the kitchens fascinating!Great cafe too. Highly recommend.

Visiting Petworth House is a great way to spend a few hours. Impressive artwork, including many Turner paintings, sculptures, a Chapel, a deer park, servants quarters, well kept gardens and a cafe with plenty of seating. I found the Main House interesting, and the furnishings gave an idea of how life may have been, but I always like visiting the servants quarters, as they give me more of a feel for the character of the House. The Guides were very informative and came up with interesting facts which added to the experience. The House is about a ten minutes walk from Reception, with a slight incline in places. There is a large car park which was showing as "full" when I arrived, but I, and the cars following behind, managed to find a space.

Petworth is a NT place with huge grounds and a large house. The ground are beautiful and lead down to a lake from the house. The ground here can be quite boggy, even in good weather so be wearing suitable footwear. The house itself is large and you can walk round a lot of it but because the family still inhabit it, a lot of it is still private. They do open up certain extra spaces at points so worth checking out, for example in Oct some of the upstairs is open. Opposite the house are the servants quarters which have been turned into some viewing space alongside a bookshop and cafe. Also there are toilets in here, the only other toilets are before the entrance. There are NT volunteers around the house and they were all very friendly and helpful. The house is quite a walk from the car park however so you will need to be able to walk a distance or use one of the wheelchairs you can borrow (probably best to try and book one). The gardens are spacious and varied from the open space down to the lake by the house to the woodland and dogs on leads can be walked here (not in the house). Definitely worth a visit, in the colder months probably and hour or twos visit but in summer we have spent several hours here exploring the grounds and having a picnic etc.

My first National Trust to visit and this place did not disappoint. Very lovely art displays inside, interesting history, good restaurant, friendly staff. There’s a super big walk outside the actual property which we also did, a lot of deer around the area which was lovely to see. Lake area also beautiful. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a nice summer activity.

A truly wonderful day trip to the picturesque village of Petworth allowed us to stroll through its cobbled streets, full of charming cafés and many art galleries displaying antiques and beautiful pieces of art. There’s a convenient parking area and a spacious café within the Petworth House grounds — a perfect place to take a break and look over the map provided at reception. The interior architecture and the abundance of artworks take you back in time, while the gardens outside are stunning and beautifully maintained, offering a heavenly atmosphere in every season. Definitely worth a visit — take your time and enjoy every minute!

Very accessable by public transport via Pulborough station and the 1 bus although you need to get your timings in sync. Superb parkland and interesting in interiors if a little lacking in natural light. Superb staff input and loved the 2nd hand bookshop. A brilliant day out.

A must see. The castle is huge and very interesting to visit. One can see the different periods of time of its occupation. The interiors exhibit very well reconstructed rooms. The garden is very rich and diverse. The stumpery was our favorite part, in particular thanks to the autumn colours. Full tour of the castle and gardens took us about 3 hours.

Stunning castle for history, art, and design lovers! Walking through the castle and keep felt like entering one of my many childhood drawings. The weather was lovely and the gardens made me si happy—there are greenhouses to visit, a rose garden, ponds, and so many wonderful interiors for a great day trip from London. Thank you!

Such an incredible experience! Visiting from the states, so I don't get a lot of castle tours, but this one was simply exceptional. From the gardens, to the castle tour, to the guides, and the cafe, we left with an amazing experience and tons of stunning shots! Highly recommend planning for a sunny day to enjoy the beautiful gardens. Truly an unforgettable experience! The setups were stunning to see and the staff was more than friendly and informative. Plus, the food was great! We shared a sausage roll and pasty, but ate it too quickly to snap a photo! If you're in the area, or wanting to make a day trip to the south, can't suggest Arundel further! It took us three to four hours to clear the grounds and castle altogether- it's worth the ticket!

Lovely place. Bit pricey, but the castle and grounds are huge, so you can spend most of the day there. It's really well set up, with a specific route that takes you through the whole castle and learn about its history. The gardens are equally stunning. Great visit. Would recommend.

Google's 50 picture limit means I can't show you the superior quality of this place. My favourite castle in the country, somewhere I've always wanted to visit, and by a long way the best one I've ever been to. I loved every second of being in here, I'd do it all again. The Duke of Norfolk is a very lucky man, to own this place must be a very special experience.

11th century castle has impressive grounds and you can explore the castle. Very informative volunteers who are happy to showcase the part of the castle they are located in. Beautiful gardens. The gift shop is lovely. One of the first houses to be fitted with electrical lights. Closes soon in early November

The most beautiful castle I've ever been too. Have visited before pre baby and did the whole castle, but attended again recently to visit the gardens only as had the baby in the pram which is not accessible in the castle for prams. It was absolutely stunning and better than I remembered. Looked extra lovely in the sunshine. Gardens were beautiful. The garden cafe was great, friendly lady there. Toilets also clean and spacious. We also met the lovely little puppy Titus who was wondering the grounds with it's owner.

Amazing place! First you walk through a small museum with the information boards and the artefacts displayed. Then you follow a walkway to admire the mosaics. After that there's the garden with information boards about the palace that dominated this place 2000 years ago. Just fascinating!

Must see place if you are interested in roman Britain. Big collection of the artefacts and lots of floor mosaic to enjoy. The museum itself is not dog friendly, but if you take turns, you can spend time in the gardens.

Visiting the Roman Palace at Fishbourne was a truly wonderful experience. The site is perfectly maintained, and the reconstruction of the gardens is beautiful, created in line with what is known about Roman culture and society. However, what impressed me the most were the mosaics inside. They are preserved in a remarkable way and offer a fascinating and varied insight into Roman artistic culture and the use of mosaic decoration. The archaeologists have done an outstanding job in replicating what life must have been like at the time, making this place an authentic and captivating journey into the past. Absolutely worth visiting.

My brain wasn't ready for the astonishing existence of this place and the profound secrets that it holds. It is literally mind altering to see it and read the information so excellently provided, and, as we did, to meet an eminent architect who happened to be working as a volunteer that day, who allowed us to handle artifacts that were handled by Romans 2,000 years ago! The incalculable scope and importance of this ancient site, which was only uncovered in the mid-1960s, has left me reeling. I can't stop thinking about the courage, ambition, brilliance, discernment, and audacity of the Roman conquerors of the first century, (and wondering what has become of us as a species since then.) Don't miss it!

Updated 20250626 Another lovely day here. Again a fabulous informative really by a staff member (didn't catch her name sorry) with much embarrassment when I identified an amphora handle as a knee joint. Hohum. Also lovely to talk to the conservator who had just finished fixing a delightful little jet hair pin. Just wonderful to spend time with people who love their jobs. Calm informative and peaceful this place. Informative boards in the museum, lovely to walk over the various hypocausts and mosaics. As a school trip we were entertained and educated by Tom whose encyclopaediac knowledge of Roman clothes and armour brought the artifacts to life. Some of the signs are a bit tired hence the four stars, so folks get yourself down there to give more money to this place so they can update the boards. Little cafe is lovely, doing ice cream and very good coffee. I mean VERY good coffee.

Absolutely incredible to see 2000 year old mosaics! The staff are so passionate about the experience and the purpose of the museum. I felt so welcome. Yes, the interpretation is a little dated but most people don’t realise how expensive it is to refresh. Balanced against the overall costs that the organisation must face in conservation, buildings maintenance and staff pay, they are really doing the best they possibly can. I would go every week to support them if I could. I booked online, and opted to gift aid my ticket. On arrival the lovely lady told me that this meant my ticket was now an annual ticket.

Great place for the UK if you want to see some real roman finds. Well presented little museum, but the star is the hall built over the roman palace, with some noteworthy mosaics and informative panels to understand more about the original building. Decent cafe and shop on site too.

Chichester Cathedral – Timeless and Tranquil Chichester Cathedral is a stunning blend of Norman and Gothic architecture, with soaring arches, intricate stonework, and a peaceful atmosphere that invites reflection. Entry is free, though donations are welcome, and the space feels both sacred and accessible. Highlights include the Marc Chagall stained glass window, Roman mosaics beneath the floor, and the tomb that inspired Philip Larkin’s poem An Arundel Tomb. The free-standing medieval bell tower is a rare feature, and the guided tours are well worth joining for deeper insight. Whether you're drawn by history, art, or quiet contemplation, it’s a beautiful stop in the heart of the city — dignified, welcoming, and full of quiet surprises.

Wonderful gothic style cathedral. Many modern pieces are to be found inside from the last century which allows for a good balance of new and old. Entrance is free but a donation is suggested plus you can also purchase a range of gifts from the Cathedral shop.

Beautiful piece of architecture. It's dog friendly, and entrance is free unless you want to donate towards the cathedral upkeep. Cannot visit Chichester and miss this gem.

I've visited the Cathedral for Choral services over the years, but today I had the opportunity to just wander around at my own pace and actually notice things I hadn't noticed before. Although not a large Cathedral, Chichester is still impressive. Highlights include historic artwork and tapestries and Marc Chagall's stained glass window. There is a section of flooring showing Roman mosaics. The bell tower stands separately to the Cathedral, which I think may be unique The grounds are beautiful and there is a stall with cameras monitoring the progress of the resident falcons and their chicks.

Beautiful cathedral with stunning architecture. Friendly and welcoming staff.

Simply magnificent. The building stands majestically in the centre of the town. Absolutely dominating the landscape. We felt drawn in whilst not being regular church goers this was akin to an evangelical experience. All my senses were heightened and I felt there was a higher spirit guiding me. I came out a changed man and will spend more time doing my charitable volunteering and supporting needy causes. Peace be with you.

Stunning blend of history and architecture, with beautiful stained glass, intricate carvings, and a peaceful atmosphere. The free entry and welcoming staff make it a must-visit. Don’t miss the striking spire and serene gardens. A perfect spot for history lovers and quiet reflection.

Nothing can prepare you for the spectacle of the ship. I walked into the darkened space and found a window to look across at this 500 years old ship. Rooted to the spot, my mouth went dry and for some reason tears started. What followed was an onslaught of sensory stimulation. You get an insight into the people who built the ship, the men that crewed it and the life they had. When was the last time you were THAT close to Tudor England, to timbers felled in the 1400's, to the pursers boots and the shipwright and carpenter that you can almost, almost touch and feel? Incredible. Not so incredible were the out of order and dirty toilets. Men and womens. Also, the tour guides need to hush up a little. Shouting instructions in a cathedral of Maritime Tudor times just isn't appropriate. Some of us want to drink in the place, in peace.

Fascinating visit. Guides were friendly and knowledgeable. Was somewhere I had wanted to visit for many years. Receives a 4 because on that particular day conservationists were inspecting the ship and so I didn't experience the videos or atmospheric conditions that I'm informed usually make it a more memorable and engaging experience. I appreciate such work needs to be done but perhaps outside of visiting times or slightly reduced ticket price on such days.

An absolut must see if your fascinated with nautical stuff. It's a state of the art museum displaying everything to do with The Mary Rose Tudor warship. The 4D experience is marvellous to watch. Arelly atmosphere here as you immerse your self back in time with the tour guides. Staff are super friendly, disabled friendly, toilets on site kept really clean. Lovely gift shop.

My husband and I visited The Mary Rose Museum on 25/10, as part of a belated birthday gift - and it didn’t disappoint. We thoroughly recommend booking the 2hour 1:1 guided tour. The exhibition itself is amazing and you could spend hours inside as all the displays are informative and tell a story that captures the imagination. However, we were lucky enough to be guided by Bob- you’ll recognise him by his costume and friendly rat he carries on his shoulder - and Fred (as a bonus). Bob, although knowledgable about the history of the period, also had innumerable anecdotes up his sleeve. He’d thoroughly done his research and had met with people who’d been part of the original dive team, the team who’d brought up the Mary Rose and the crane driver teams. He also had a dry sense of humour. We were privileged to go behind the scenes and also handle some of the artefact's themselves. A truly memorable experience thanks to your magnificent guides who volunteer week in week out.

We got the ultimate ticket for the naval docks - the Mary Rose seemed like an obvious 'must do'. I was a little worried... (a) its bits of old boat, and (b) how were the kids going to be when they realise the boat isn't even in one piece...!? Thankfully I didnt need to worry as we all really enjoyed the visit! At the beginning you wait round a little, this is because there is a small walk through video - this helped to 'set the scene' of the last moments of the Mary Rose, particularly for the kids. After this you could pretty much go at your own pace. The kids had a couple of little activities to do whilst browsing the museum (things to look out for etc.), and because it was October half term there was also some activities (we watched a session about medicines which kept the kids interest!) The kids also enjoyed the 4d dive part nearer the end of the visit. For myself, I actually really liked the main display area - not really sure what it was about it I liked, but the use of ambient lighting, sounds etc. was very well done and added to the experience. Well worth a visit!

Over 20,000 artefacts and a 4D cinema experience, it is a time capsule of the Tudor period. This is an impressive museum, which includes the hull of this Tudor warship. You need an hour minimum, preferably 2 to 3 hours to see and read everything. Well worth a visit. Highly recommended.

An absolute must when you’re in the location. A truly remarkable survivor. The museum is different every time we’ve visited. So much to see and learn. The technology is incredible.

Definitely worth the visit and the money. Got the ultimate explorer which allowed unlimited access for 12 months. 1. 10.15 to 11.30 am - HMS Warrior - (Definitely say hi to the lad on table 27) 2. 11.30 to 12 noon - snack break (better to carry snacks from home) 3. 12.15 to 1 pm - Harbour boat tour (included with ulimate explorer ticket) - they take you round the dock and give an overview of the surroundings There are tours every quarter past (10.15, 11.15 etc) 4. 1 to 1.30 pm - Mary Rose - I didn't find much to see here apart from the ship - the 4D cinema is not actually 4D, there are no glasses 5. 1.30 to 2.30 - HMS Victory- they give you audio guide to listen to 6. 2.30 to 3 - Lunch (fish and chip cost 15 and chicken cojouns and chips cost 13) 7. 3pm onwards rest of the places Had to skip water bus due to shortage of time, hence couldn't see the submarine and firepower museum. Note: if you are traveling with kids/elders be mindful because some of the steps are steep. Overall it was grand.

Great day out, but come more than once to see everything. If you only came once for a few hours, it would not be good value. The boat tour was great, really good commentary. Other boat trips to various attractions often full. Lots of places to eat and drink. Without fail, all of the staff are friendly and helpful. Only negative is that the only way to get a map of the place is to buy a guide book!

What an eye opener to learn the history of the Senior service that is the Royal Navy. The displays in all the various buildings are very informative about how the RN has evolved over its history. Loved the displays about how the apprenticeship courses leant how ship building was carried out in the Dockyard. Also it was wonderfully to go aboard the three warships that are HMS Warrior,HMS Victory and the Mary Rose. At the present moment the Victory is having a major refit due to be completed by around 2033. You can still go aboard her but some restrictions are in place. The Warrior and The Mary Rose are definitely worth a vist. Toilets available around the exhibits and a lovely coffee and gift shops are available.

We arrived at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with no real idea of what to expect – luckily, one of our travel companions knew exactly what this remarkable place was about and became our personal guide through history. The morning started with rain (as it should in England), but by the afternoon the sun came out, giving us the perfect setting to explore the ships and round it all off with a boat tour of the harbour. Standing on decks that once carried sailors across the world was both impressive and humbling – a living reminder of naval history brought to life. The whole experience was well worth the visit: history, atmosphere, and the sheer scale of the Royal Navy’s past glory. And as every proper British adventure should end – we closed the day in a nearby pub, with a cold pint and classic fish & chips. A perfect conclusion to a perfect day.

That's our second visit and this time we stayed for 4 days - which is necessary if you want to see everything and was absolutely worth it. It is really a great museum and the volunteers/employees are all very helpful and nice. The only downside is that it lacks documentation in French (and other languages) apart from the audioguide on the Victory. Being the only person proficient in English in our group, I've spent the four days orally translating everything which was a bit tiring :-D even though that's my usual day job - so I would suggest adding a few signs in other languages for a start.

Need more than a day to see everything. The Victory audio guide tour was superb, and the Mary Rose museum beautifully done. Cafe a little disappointing, no hot snacks on a VERY wet afternoon, fruit scone tasted like it had been on the Victory! Could do with better info on what parts were open or closed and when things closed that day.

Excellent value for money, harbour tour was good length and detailed knowledge of the area. Didn't manage to do all in one day but purchased the year ultimate explorer pass and with blue light discount (purchase on the day as it's cheaper) it was well worth the money. There's lots to explore and look at as well as the boat rides /tours.

The ship is being renovated so we didn't get to experience the wind blowing through our hair whilst visiting, all the more reason to come back when it is finished renovating in ~10years! Audio tour was very informative and immersive!! The staff was ready for all the questions we managed to come up with and they were all very approachable! Special thanks to the woman that demonstrated how the canons worked back in the day on one of the few original cannons still aboard! We absolutely loved our time there and would have gladly spent another hour just talking to the great people on the ship!

HMS Victory is a legend of naval history – and seeing her in person is unforgettable, even though she is currently under long-term restoration. For the past three years the work has been ongoing, and it will continue for almost another decade, but this makes the visit even more fascinating: you don’t just admire a historic ship, you witness the painstaking process of preserving her for the future. Walking her decks, knowing this was Nelson’s flagship at Trafalgar, is both humbling and inspiring. Even behind scaffolding, the spirit of history is alive – a living monument to Britain’s maritime heritage.

We used our multi attraction ticket from Naval dockyard to visit HMS Victory - its situated next to the Mary Rose museum which we did just before doing the HMS Victory. A very different experience, but equally a good one! Kids really enjoyed looking at the different areas and got on quite well using the audio guides. Lots and lots of information if you use the guides! HMS Victory was undergoing some much needed work on our visit so bits of it was covered - but this didn't take away from the fact that we was onboard such a marvellous ship. You also have the option of popping into the area set up that is doing the work to find out more about how the ship is being looked after. A great experience - glad we did it!

Really fascinating to learn all about the history of the battle of trafalgar. There is an audio guide around the ship which is really informative. The ship is being restored so there is a lot of scaffolding. It was great day out.

What an amazing ship! How on earth was this built without modern technology is unbelievable. At present going through a lot of remedial work, but all decks are open to the public. See the spot where Lord Nelson was shot, and the place he actually died. Give yourself at least two hours to visit. One of the best attractions in the country.

HMS Victory is truly iconic. I’ve seen it so many times on TV, and it felt incredible to finally step aboard in person! After the ticket check, you can pick up an audio guide and follow the route through the ship, which gives a clear picture of the Battle of Trafalgar and Admiral Nelson’s story. It even marks the exact spot where he fell. Standing on deck, imagining one of the most significant naval battles in history, is a truly special feeling. Huge thanks to the staff for their excellent preservation and restoration work!

An interesting tour but sadly the Victory is being restored so you can't see her in all her glory. But as the entrance fee includes all areas within the docklands still worth a visit

Loved this! Bought a day ticket, which meant we could go back anytime during the day. As it was a bright, sunny day, the views were wonderful. It was very busy in the morning due to school groups, I would recommend going later in the afternoon. Much less busy and a more relaxing visit altogether! The glass floor was fun. We had tea and cake in the cafe and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience - we even forked out for the photos and have been able to download them at home as well. Obviously a sunny day helps make the experience better!

I was lucky with the weather and had gorgeous views all round. It was fun watching ferries and other shipping coming in and out. One ferry had some nail biting moments entering a narrow port area! Next time I will book an afternoon tea up in the clouds.

Very nice (if you’re not afraid of heights), but very small/underwhelming. A small glass floor you can step on. Overall a very short visit but a fun experience.

Great views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight and also of Portsmouth and the surrounding countryside. Quick lift brings you up to the different viewing platforms - of which there are three. Walk across the transparent floor if you dare - don’t forget to take your shots off - not for the faint hearted or those with vertigo! Very much enjoyed the visit. Cafe/bar is expensive due to the view. There are loads of places in Gunwharf Quay to eat and drink so wait until you leave the tower.

I came to visit Spinnaker tower on the 17.10.25. I did not realise it was the towers 20th Anniversary. It was well worth the time and money being up in the tower was absolutely amazing, you could see the isle of Wight, Southampton and even Gosport. The view from up above is simply breathtaking. We will definitely be coming back during the night.

Great, if a little pricey activity to include on a trip to Portsmouth. Fabulous views on all three levels IF you time your visit to when it's clear. For Best value book 24 hours in advance. The Coffee ☕ lounge on the middle deck is well worth stopping by. Team member Caroline, who was on Coffees during my visit, deserves a huge shout out as she is very customer focused, hard working and welcoming.

I visited the spinnaker tower a couple years after it had been built i remember seeing the designs when I was a kid at school in geography there were several designs. anyway after visiting the spinnaker tower today they did a brief history about portsmouth which is "interesting " to say the least. the staff were nice enough and helpful and the views very nice and visible

Beautiful gardens. Free parking (must be under 2.1m as there's a barrier. We went on a busy bank holiday and whilst we had to park in the overflow car park there was plenty of room still. Lovely walk around the gardens, took us around 1-2 hours with adult children including stopping for a short sit down. There's a pond there, quite shallow but watch young children. It has an enormous fish in it which even my adult kids loved spotting and in May loads of tadpoles which younger kids would enjoy spotting. There are plenty of shaded as well as open spots to walk around and what seems to be a small visitor centre at the start (it wasn't open when we went so can't comment on it). Not somewhere to spend the day but certainly somewhere to stop for a short walk if you have time. The toilets are not pleasant and it could have done with a map of the place at the start so you didn't miss any of it and I understand why they don't want dogs but it's also frustrating when there is a wide open hill next door to walk your dog but you can't then take them into the gardens. All in all however definitely worth stopping off. There's also no right turn into there so you have to do to the roundabout and back to turn into it if heading from east to west.

What a find , free parking , free entry to this stunning little oasis of a garden. Really worth a visit , hope to go another day when plants are for sale . Great for a quiet picnic lots of benches and accessible too . No dogs .

Lovely gardens. So much shade which is cool to stop and rest under. All the trees are labelled so you can learn as you go around. Toilets are available at the start of the gardens but there is also a cafe and pub.

Amazing place. 100% worth visiting, you can see beautiful plants and chill out. Plenty of space n benches. Perfect place to relax 😊

A beautiful place. Recommended to me by a dendrologist I know. This place was set up by a gentleman and his wife who created a garden on chalk!!! Not very large, but there is a nursery nearby for coffee and Highdown Hill which can be walked from Highdown Gardens car park. Has a very gradual incline so is quite easy. Very popular with dog walkers. We sat at the top on a beautiful, hot, sunny late afternoon in June and saw skylarks 😊 hovering above

Really worth a visit. The gardens are magical and there are trees covered in silk and silk worms. Fascinating to see. It is such a peaceful and wonderful place.

Beautiful Garden! Highly recommended for a family walk or picnic. Peaceful, clean with loads of different trees and flowers. There are a lot of spots to sit down and relax.

What a beautiful well preserved Victorian pier. Well worth a walk along and to view the lovely art work. We walked on their when the sun began to go down - the sun shone through the art.

The pier is delightful, full of charm & nostalgia. I'm not sure if it mixes into the modern-day equation? Victorians used to " take in the air" in seaside resorts with piers. For me it's beautiful.

Very agreeable place for breakfast, not been later in the day, but the the breakfast set up is good, fast and tasty. Took my parents and sister, friendly staff, cool view out the windows (you're at the end of the pier) and free parking on a Sunday. Nothing super special but worth the trip

We were staying in Worthing for a few days in July and this was walking distance from our house rental. It’s a beautiful pier with restaurants and art decorations. We lucked out that was a beautiful clear day and we had a glimpse of the sunset.

Great fun in the arcade, some good 2p machines and ticket machines. Massive shout out to staff member Lewis, he was brilliant, gave us great advice and help with the ticket gifts.

Nice and clean beach with less crowded than other Beach 🏖️, it got some sand on some part of the beach. We will get lot of free parking spaces, and good restaurants near by. Overall highly recommended for a day our or a weekend relaxation.

Nice sunny day to visit worthing pier . Didn't know you can go fishing off the pier , had lunch at the restaurant at the pier end . Nice food worth a visit

This model village has to be one of the sweetest places I've ever visited. It's family run for several generations and you can feel the love and companionship through the ages when you walk around the village, see the attention to detail and care taken, read the lovely guide and go into the craft gift shop. Great venue and an unusual activity. There's a little cafe too and a couple of photo spots.

Wasn’t too sure what to expect - and it turned out to be fantastic. There for over 90 mins and you can go round as often as you like. There is an easy to follow suggested route, or you can just wander. The models are really good and do match the original buildings Highly recommended

Nice afternoon, I've been to model villages before including this one, gardens always well presented.. prices were a little high for the size I feel been to bigger ones and price was lower. But for a nice autumn 🍁 afternoon it filled a hole.

The model village Godshill is an intriguing little gem, the model village is so beautifully made and maintained and the gardens are outstanding, all maintained to a very high standard. The staff were very friendly and welcomed our little fur baby. The gift shop has lovely trinkets to keep as memories of our morning here.

We took our five year old grand daughter to this amazing venue. She had been before but only as a toddler in a pram. We ordered our tickets online and turned up to meet a very polite & helpful young lady in the ticket office. Picking up a free quiz sheet for our grand daughter to fill in we began our journey around the mini version of Godshills quaint village as well as other nearby landmarks. Our grand daughter thoroughly enjoyed her walk around the village looking for the clues to answer the questions on the sheet. Although there were lots of people visiting there was no feeling of being overcrowded & we were able to stop & take numerous pictures during our stroll without getting in other people's way. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable walk with our grand daughter & a great way to spend a morning.

Just got back from my visit and what can I say about this place other than what a beautiful place this is to visit. I personally wasn't expecting much but was pleasantly surprised. The village not only incorporates Godshill but other parts of the island on an amazingly wonderful level. The water features running through the village and model train station and tracks are great. The grounds are kept beautiful by the friendly staff there and you can tell they take pride in what they do which is refreshing. The £8 entrance fee was a good price and we spent about 40 mins walking around. They have a cafe, shop and toilet facilities on site. There is no parking here so park a couple of hundred yards up the road on the old smithy car park....it's free. This is definitely a must if visiting the village of Godshill.

It's one of the must see places in the Isle of wight. Beautifully recreated model of the lovely Godshill village and Shanklin village with huge attention to detail. This place represents all the houses, pub, cottage, restaurants, which you can still see in these places. The amazing thing about this village is it's well maintained, clean, well thought of in terms of design and people involvement. I was impressed that you can take a pram and it fits perfectly in the narrow path. Well worth a visit.

Absolutely fabulous place to visit. Plenty of free parking, lovely little cafe and shop. It was great to see the donkeys being cared for so we'll. Plenty of opportunity to walk round and meet the donkeys, lots of benches to sit on and take in the views. Highly recommend.

We absolutely love coming to visit the donkey sanctuary on all our visits to the Island! I have been visiting since I was a little girl and now get to bring my little boy along. We sponsor Myra and always love trying to find her amongst all the donkeys. Great way to spend a couple of hours even in the rain!

Spent a wonderful couple of hours here which was absolutely perfect for an animal lover like me! Loved reading about all the donkeys, ponies and the mule, as well as the ex-race horse currently taking a break there. They all look so content and friendly, and it’s comforting to know that they’ll be well looked after for the rest of their days.

Loved visiting the Donkey Sanctuary, it was a great way to spend a couple hours while on the Isle of Wight. We loved seeing how happy the donkeys looked, they seem to be well taken care of. Also loved reading about the different donkeys, their back stories, and who their best friends were haha! Its free to visit, and even the doubters in our group left saying how much they enjoyed the visit! I would absolutely recommend this attraction if you find yourself on Isle of Wight.

The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary is such a heart-warming place to visit. The donkeys are clearly so well cared for and loved, and it’s wonderful to see them happy, relaxed, and enjoying their surroundings. You can get up close, give them a fuss, and really see all their different personalities – it’s impossible not to fall in love with them. The sanctuary itself is beautifully kept, with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. There’s no entry fee, just donations, which makes it feel even more special knowing every penny goes straight back into caring for the animals. The café and gift shop are also great little additions and make it easy to spend a good few hours here. It’s a peaceful, feel-good experience and perfect for families, animal lovers, or anyone who wants to do something wholesome while on the island. Definitely a must-visit – and the donkeys will completely steal your heart! ❤️🐴

Lovely! Came here a few years ago and had no hesitation coming back. Plenty of parking (even for our motorhome) and a lovely walk around all the fields to see the donkeys and ponies. Plenty of info and bios of all the donkeys. Well worth a visit. They don’t charge for entry so please donate what you can.

A really beautiful place that is well worth visiting. They look after the donkeys here so well and you can see that they are all happy and treated so well. The shop is full of so much that I could quite easily have bought everything. The guide we had for the talk was really funny and a great host. Would highly recommend to everyone.

Lovely little experience. Great walk and lovely scenery. A bit pricey to get in but you can go in multiple times throughout a 7 day period so actually really worth it.

Shanklin Chine is a really beautiful and peaceful place to explore – the gardens, waterfalls, and lighting in the evening make it feel magical. It’s a lovely walk and there’s a real sense of history too, with some interesting information boards along the way. Perfect for a gentle stroll and to take in some nature away from the busier parts of Shanklin. That being said, it did feel a little pricey for what it is – the walk doesn’t take very long unless you really take your time. Still, it’s worth visiting at least once, especially if you’ve not been before, as it’s such a unique and picturesque spot.

This was a much nicer way of getting back to the top of the high street! A fun walkway with quirky footpaths to follow and as I went during Halloween there were dinosaurs and skeletons all around. Apparently at night the street lights go on so it’ll be more spooky but fun. It can be difficult to climb certain bits, the steps at the very top are hard but good railings and a bench half way helped! Lovely waterfall at the top too. You can get a 7 day pass for returning during that time. Nice gift shop.

Excellent location & super value for money. Great gift shop with friendly & helpful staff. Nice coffee shop too. Beautiful waterfall & nature, a must visit with free parking available.

Great little gem, kids loved it. Dog friendly and was great that we can return unlimited times for upto 7 days on your original purchase ticket. We amended the Halloween event and loved it.

Enjoyed the experience and outdoor lighting ambience. Great place to spend in about 40 minutes for horror and vibrant walk at Shanklin Chine. They also offer tickets which is valid for 7 days and multiple returns.

Though the walk down to the beach is lovely, it doesn't take long. ( 15 mins ) It has a few steep steps, not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies Went late September, so there was a Halloween theme, some the skeletons were somewhat comical. Is it worth the entrance fee ( 12.95 ) no not really, quite disappointing really.

Absolutely blown away with the amount of effort that has gone into the gardens & grounds ! Such a lovely day out ! Make sure you take a whole day for it to enjoy it properly! Such beautiful smells and scenery! Also noticed you can use the grounds as a wedding venue : ) which would be stunning !

What a beautiful garden. The majority is wheelchair accessible which was tried and tested by one member in our party who has a power chair that is midwheel for stability. They tried grass paths, gravel, tarmac slopes etc and had no trouble, they didn't fancy trying out the stairs. We saw stunning flowers from Turkish Sage to myriads of Echium flower spikes 0.5-4m in height. Stunning. As we arrived a lady was being collected by ambulance but how the staff had managed her care was impeccable, her privacy was of the primary importance as was her dignity.

Only did the outside bit, totally didn't realise you could go inside too! 🫣😅 So will definitely be heading back to do that. Absolutely beautiful, so many off the patch tracks to explore. Cafe was really nice and lovely to sit outside and admire the views. 10/10

Arrived expecting it to take an hour - 3 1/2 hours later we left (incl 1/2 for a coffee in Steephill Cove). It’s massive Some great plants, interesting trails, open grassed areas and fantastic trees. Still didn’t get it all done so will return when next on the Isle Those who say the garden is overgrown and/or unkempt should have talked to the staff as to why …and nearly forgot all the red squirrels Highly recommended

Had just visited this local place as residents and we're amazed how hot it was around the grounds with amazing wildlife and plants. We could of gave it 5 stars but we were disappointed that there was not enough water bowls for dogs around the grounds only found some near the terrapin fountain and café plus on the entrance/exit but other then that we had to improvise with a plastic cup. We will come again but this time will being our own water bowls/trays for our dog. Also there was only card payments in the cafe no other ways of paying so no methods of cash payment for paying for the food and drinks on the premises. If you like plants and trees then this place is the place to be. Plenty of parking and suites all walkers dogs and electric scooters for the disabled.

I was quite surprised by how shabby, unloved and neglected this garden is, so did some research. It was bought from the Isle of Wight council in 2011 by an American businessman and there the investment, care, and any real botany appears to have stopped. The sad part is that because the garden is in a microclimate, there's real potential for a cultivated and educational display of plants which don't normally grow outdoors in the UK, but there doesn't seem to be much willingness in laying this on (Overbecks in Devon, also in a microclimate, does do it and does it much better). The approach to managing these gardens has been given a brand: "The Ventnor Method". Well you can give neglect a brand if you want, and trot out a load of guff about sustainability, but it's fundamentally still neglect. One might surmise the aim here is to take the £15 per person entry fees and spend as little as possible on actually running the gardens - we were there on a weekday afternoon and the place was practically empty with barely a gardener in sight. There's no real signage, you'll get a map if you're lucky from the rather harassed staff in the shop, and left to find your way around. The tropical house is a disgrace with complete overgrowth everywhere, areas cordoned off, a very sad looking roof, and a yarn that's been spun about nature reclaiming a post industrial space (read: neglect). There is a single toilet on the ground floor of the visitor's centre, and two flights of stairs down to the main toilets in basement level 2 which are hidden behind a set of closed doors. The lift doesn't work, and hasn't for months. It's not all bad: a Mediterranean themed garden is very pleasant, bursting with plant varieties and a haven of insect life: the pollinators were busy in action which was a joy to see. But again, the paths were overgrown, and a small amount of trimming and management would have just made it easier to get around. The cafe is popular and served a delicious menu of soup and cake.

Very pleasant through the gardens, there also a nice view point great pictures of the beach. Then the walk up to the waterfall leading into the old village