Visit Longstock Park Water Garden

Recognised as one of the great Water Gardens of the world, The John Lewis Partnership now manages the garden in the spirit in which John Spedan Lewis intended.

Longstock Park Water Garden is a great place to visit whether you’re a keen gardener, seasoned horticulturist or you’re visiting Hampshire and want to explore this hidden gem.

Once a private garden for the founder of the John Lewis Partnership, it has been pristinely maintained and hosts a world class selection of Horticulture. At Longstock Park (approx 1 mile from the Water Gardens) you will also find a farm shop and café selling local and regional produce.

Tickets:

• Adult tickets - £10 per person.
• Under 16 yrs - £5 per person
• Under 5 yrs go free (no ticket required).

Information about your visit:

• No refreshments are available in the gardens, and no picnics must be consumed in the gardens or car park.
• NO dogs are admitted to the gardens except for assistance dogs.

Events

• RNLI 200th Anniversary - May 31. This event is in celebration of the RNLI’s 200th anniversary and all admission fees will go to the RNLI, to help support their lifesaving work for the next 200 years. To Book please follow this link.

Group Bookings:

• Group Bookings are welcome on the days we are open. Please email watergardenenquiries@waitrose.co.uk for further information.

John Lewis Partners:

• If you are a John Lewis Partner, please do not purchase a ticket to visit. Please present your Partner discount card at the gates to gain entrance.

History of the Water Garden:

• The East family started developing the site now known as Longstock Park Water Garden in the late 1800s. They extracted gravel from the area to make hard roads through the Estate, the resulting works then filled with groundwater from the nearby River Test creating a lake.
• In the 1920s the Beddington family purchased Longstock House and its land, they were really keen gardeners and Reginald recognised the potential for a Water Garden. He asked a very famous nursery at the time, Perrys of Enfield, to create a small water garden, so they built streams in and out from the River Test and constructed the lovely thatched summer house which is still in the garden today.
• The year 1947 saw John Spedan Lewis purchase Longstock House to add to his Leckford Estate. Founder of the John Lewis Partnership he was a successful businessman, but he had a real passion for natural sciences, particularly horticulture. The Water Garden turned into one of his great personal passions. It was expanded and plants were collected from all over the world as he further developed it until his death.

Opening hours:

• Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday10.00am - 3.30pm

If you have any questions please contact watergardenenquiries@waitrose.co.uk