The Walled Garden

Garden Design

Winner of the Christie’s Historic Houses Association ‘Garden of the Year Award’ in 2007, the 5 acre Walled Garden is one of Houghton’s most popular attractions.

In 1991, the present Lord Cholmondeley set about creating a new area within the walls of the old kitchen garden as a memorial to his grandmother, Lady Sybil Cholmondeley. With help from his then head gardener, Paul Underwood, and – later – award winning designers Julian and Isabel Bannerman, the space was divided into several contrasting ‘ornamental gardens’. These include a spectacular double-sided herbaceous border, an Italian garden, a formal rose parterre, fruit and vegetable gardens, a glasshouse, a rustic temple, antique statues, fountains and contemporary sculptures including Jeppe Hein’s “Waterflame”, Stephen Cox’s “Flask II”, and Richard Long’s “Houghton Cross” currently positioned on the croquet lawn.

Garden Season Ticket

Our 2023 garden season ticket costs £30 and includes unlimited entry during opening hours to the walled garden, old stables, model soldier museum, deer park, shop, and café. If you wish to enter the house or sculpture park, you can upgrade your ticket on the day by paying an additional £10. Only the named ticket holder can use the ticket and they must bring it with them on the day of the visit. The ticket is valid for the 2023 season and cannot be used at special events.

If you are interested in purchasing a garden season ticket, please ask at the ticket office during your next visit. 

2024 Season
We will have Garden Season tickets on sale again once we re-open in Spring 2024. There will also be a full admission season ticket. Unfortunately, we are not able to sell them online.

For garden season ticket full terms and conditions, click here.

Walled Garden At Dusk events

Join us after hours in the Walled Garden for a glass of wine and an evening stroll. During the event, taking place between 7pm-9pm, our head gardener and assistant gardener will lead optional garden tours. Tickets are £25 per person and must be pre-booked. There are limited numbers available, so we advise you to book soon. The events run on Friday 21 June and Friday 26 July.