Furzey Gardens
Set in the very heart of the New Forest, Furzey Gardens is a relatively small public garden on the edge of Minstead, a picturesque rural village.
A relaxing stroll through just the gardens will take you around an hour. There is a large pond in one corner that plays host to a variety of wildlife, and at the other end of the gardens is a large play area for the kids, including a number of timber tree houses and connecting walkways.
A large variety of flowers, shrubs and trees can be enjoyed throughout the gardens and there are numerous benches for tired legs.
Many of the plants seen throughout the gardens can be purchased from the plant sales that are located close to the entrance.
Furzey Gardens also has a few other great attractions within the grounds, notably the thatched gallery and 16th century cottage.
The gallery is a spacious room that hosts both professional and amateur displays of art, photography and sculpture. In the main thatched building you'll find a well stocked gift shop and the spacious tea room where you can enjoy a bite to eat. An adjacent open air terrace is another option for sunny days.
The 16th century cottage, dating back to 1560, has been lovingly restored and includes a period vegetable garden. The combination provides a great insight into life several centuries ago for local Foresters.
Across from the cottage is the Thatching Experience, showing how thatched roofs are done.
Occasional demonstrations of this old and very skilled trade are given by a local thatcher, contact Furzey Gardens for details on how often these will be.
There's certainly a lot to see at Furzey Gardens, despite its size, and you can allow a few hours to enjoy it fully, take in a cup of tea and a bite to eat. Even if you're not particularly green-fingered, it's a very pleasant and tranquil place to see, well worth a visit.
On exiting you'll find yourself right in the rural New Forest, where a nice walk or a quiet pub isn't too far away.
Opening times, admission prices & contact details
- Daily 10am - 5pm March - October. Weekends only until 18th December
Admission prices:
- Adults £5.50
- Children £2.00
- Family (2+2) £13.00
- Senior Citizens £4.05
Location: Minstead, best found from the westbound A31 (turn at Malwood Hill) or from the A337 Cadnam-Lyndhurst road.
Telephone: 02380 812464
Furzey Gardens location map
You can see this area in more detail by opening this PDF map of the north-west corner of the National Park (approx. 30 sec download time on 1Mbps connection).
The Furzey Gardens grid reference is: 274113 [How do I read a map?]
(A larger scale map of the whole National Park can be found on the area maps page).
Go to the official Furzey Gardens web site.
Return to main New Forest attractions page.
