The Forgotten Gardens of Easton Lodge
The Forgotten Gardens of Easton Lodge
The Forgotten Gardens of Easton Lodge
4
About
The Gardens of Easton Lodge is an idyllic (Historic England, Grade II) registered haven which has been partially restored to its former glory by a team of dedicated volunteers. These historic gardens date back over 400 years. Their most renowned owner was the Countess of Warwick, mistress of the Prince of Wales before he acceded to the throne as Edward VII. The Countess commissioned Harold Peto to create stunning formal gardens and a treehouse, in 1902. Abandoned in 1950 after the demolition of the house, the gardens were then forgotten. Today the 23 acres of gardens have a magical atmosphere, as the splendour of a century ago is gently revealed through restoration. The Gardens are open to the public on Thursdays (Mar to end Nov) and (ONLY) 9 open-day Sundays a year. The open days remaining in 2021: 17th October. Specially arranged group visits are also available. Please check our website for more details.
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1-2 hours
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4.0
61 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
21
Average
7
Poor
3
Terrible
2
Cathy W
3 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
Absolutely loved the Gardens. So be well worth visiting. Quite a treasure to have come upon them. Staff volunteering they’re very very friendly. We had a very interesting chat with one of the gardeners about the history of the gardens.
Written 7 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janie121
Rayleigh, UK27 contributions
Aug 2023 • Business
I organised a group trip to the gardens. Our coach was met on arrival. We enjoyed a guided tour in small groups the had tea/coffee and cake (dietary requirements notified in advance). The staff are all charming and very entrant knowledgable about the gardens and history of the Countess of Warwick. Work is very much ongoing to restore the gardens but it is a charming place to visit. There are only portaloos on site as no mains drainage but these were kept clean. The tea room does a limited range of cakes and snacks again the volunteers make the best of the facilities. Very pleasant sitting under the shade on a hot day. Well worth a visit.
Written 28 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LJ
Braintree, UK13 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Visited on the first open day of the season.
The gardens are nice & very interesting historically. Information is dotted around the site on signs to read at your leisure.
Volunteers were friendly & hard at work during our visit.
My only gripe is the entry price. £5 to visit on an open Thursday & an extra £1 for a map of the gardens.
Times are tough, money is tight & I understand a lot of work has gone into restoring and maintaining the gardens but considering it only took roughly an hour for us to walk around and the size of the location I found this a bit expensive.
Parts of the garden are closed on Thursdays as they belong to the neighbouring Warwick House & honestly I was a bit dissapointed by the fact.
In fairness this is stated on their website but I don't personally see what difference it makes having this part of the garden closed when it is simply behind a rope fence or 'private' sign.
We didn't check the cafe as we didn't feel we'd stayed long enough for it to warrant a visit.
Overall I would say it's a nice location, pleasant to walk around on a sunny day but don't expect to make a day of it. You could probably get more for your money elsewhere.
The gardens are nice & very interesting historically. Information is dotted around the site on signs to read at your leisure.
Volunteers were friendly & hard at work during our visit.
My only gripe is the entry price. £5 to visit on an open Thursday & an extra £1 for a map of the gardens.
Times are tough, money is tight & I understand a lot of work has gone into restoring and maintaining the gardens but considering it only took roughly an hour for us to walk around and the size of the location I found this a bit expensive.
Parts of the garden are closed on Thursdays as they belong to the neighbouring Warwick House & honestly I was a bit dissapointed by the fact.
In fairness this is stated on their website but I don't personally see what difference it makes having this part of the garden closed when it is simply behind a rope fence or 'private' sign.
We didn't check the cafe as we didn't feel we'd stayed long enough for it to warrant a visit.
Overall I would say it's a nice location, pleasant to walk around on a sunny day but don't expect to make a day of it. You could probably get more for your money elsewhere.
Written 22 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
klon71
1 contribution
Mar 2023 • Friends
Charming gardens which are being restored by an enthusiastic group of volunteers who made us very welcome on our visit. Plenty of hidden corners for kids to explore, relaxed rustic feel and everyone was very happy to enjoy some simple, unpolluted space. Delicious homemade brownies and bacon rolls - will be back for more in the Summer.
Written 2 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robin
Bishop's Stortford5 contributions
Feb 2023
This is a wonderful place to visit, restored and looked after by a brilliant team of friendly, dedicated volunteers. The informal atmosphere, calm and tranquil gardens, and delicious cakes make for a great family visit. Thank you for restoring this hidden part of Essex. We look forward to our next visit.
Written 2 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ClaudiaJBAK
London, UK7 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
We booked tickets for us and our two children plus our friends and their children for a snowdrop day- it is shocking that they even charged for entry. The gardens are completely run down and the whole event felt very thrown together. We are local to the area and will not be returning.
Written 12 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StarsForEyes
Cambridge, UK106 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
We really enjoyed our visit to the gardens on a sunny autumn afternoon. Liked the informal vibe, in contrast with places like those managed by the National Trust (nothing against their style, just preferred this!) and the volunteers are doing a great job. Interesting archive (34,000 army vehicles were parked on the site during the war!) and very reasonably priced little cafe, we had tea and cake looking out over the lawn. There was also produce from the lovingly restored walled garden for sale. Will come again.
Written 27 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kenny
Bishops Stortford, UK461 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
Visited because of The Countess of Warwick Country Show. August Bank holiday Monday, nice weather and the crowds came. There were literally clearly several thousand people here, all at £7 a piece apart from those who could simply walk in without paying. We were expecting something special, but the peripherals were so dreadfully organised. We were hungry but couldn’t see any signage to food outlets. We only found 3 food outlets. The first one was near the lake. There was a huge queue but not moving as no food coming out. I asked when food would be available and was told ‘sorry, I have no idea’. People seemed happy to wait but why wouldn’t they, there’s nowhere else serving food.
Everything here to eat and drink was on the scale of a church hall fete. Totally unequipped to deal with the huge volume of people. There were vans serving coffee operating one small machine and everywhere had issues with payments as everyone wanting to pay by card took so long due to the lack of any reasonable signal. I did not find anywhere selling water! Whilst the exhibits of vintage vehicles etc was good, the organisation was nothing short of a joke.
Everything here to eat and drink was on the scale of a church hall fete. Totally unequipped to deal with the huge volume of people. There were vans serving coffee operating one small machine and everywhere had issues with payments as everyone wanting to pay by card took so long due to the lack of any reasonable signal. I did not find anywhere selling water! Whilst the exhibits of vintage vehicles etc was good, the organisation was nothing short of a joke.
Written 29 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This review is not of the Gardens of Easton Lodge. We have asked Tripadviser to remove incorrectly posted reviews, but they have refused
Written 16 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mike J
Colchester, UK10 contributions
Aug 2022
Kew Gardens it isn't, and why should it be. A fantastic rustic experience surrounded by fabulous countryside. We visited on a sunny August day and strolled lazily around the grounds, climbed up into the summer house, patted the elephant, had tea and cake sat on the wall overlooking the sunken Italian garden and bought some freshly picked mulberries.
To a person, all the volunteers were cheery, welcoming and had time for a chat.
it is an enormous task for the volunteers to look after the grounds and they do a great job. The gardens are not manicured, they are lived in and don't make you feel so bad about your own little patch.
Please pay them a visit, support the work they are doing and have a glorious relaxing few hours. You can even take your own picnic and dog.
I am now like a dog with 2 tails!
To a person, all the volunteers were cheery, welcoming and had time for a chat.
it is an enormous task for the volunteers to look after the grounds and they do a great job. The gardens are not manicured, they are lived in and don't make you feel so bad about your own little patch.
Please pay them a visit, support the work they are doing and have a glorious relaxing few hours. You can even take your own picnic and dog.
I am now like a dog with 2 tails!
Written 18 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hoppityskip
Essex, UK13,803 contributions
May 2022
We went having booked. Sad to see the negative reviews as this is a lovely small venue run as a charity and that ought to be recognised not reviewed as a commercial enterprise.
Superb grounds absolutely NOT manicured.
Lovely cakes. The open day is well worth the visit.
Good marshalled parking very basic but clean portaloos.
Not expensive at all.
Superb grounds absolutely NOT manicured.
Lovely cakes. The open day is well worth the visit.
Good marshalled parking very basic but clean portaloos.
Not expensive at all.
Written 22 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
juliecat2013
Boreham, UK126 contributions
Do you take debit cards ?
Daisy W
Takeley, UK
Hi
Yes we are able to take debit card on entry to the gardens, however the tea hut doesn't have a card machine but we are able to give you cash back if you ask on entry.
Thanks
Jane E
6 contributions
Can you take a picnic and will there be any refreshments available on the 16th September?
Happiestgardener
Colchester, UK112 contributions
Hello,
Yes picnics are allowed and there is a small tea room selling hot drinks, cakes and bacon/cheese sandwiches.
Further details can be found on the website under 'open days' - sorry it won't let me post the link.
Hope that helps.
Jane
mariagreen2018
Chelmsford, UK
are gardens open for snowdrops,when
Daisy W
Takeley, UK
The snowdrop open days are the 18th February and the 25th February 11.30am - 4pm (last entry 3pm) we do have a website which has more detail on as to when our open days are and entertainment that will be on. Many Thanks
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Claim your listingTHE FORGOTTEN GARDENS OF EASTON LODGE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about The Forgotten Gardens of Easton Lodge
- The Forgotten Gardens of Easton Lodge is open:
- Sun - Sun 11:00 - 17:00
- Thu - Thu 11:00 - 15:00
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