Great Dixter Reviews

Beautiful gardens and an authentic residential building from bygone times

2.5 stars really - Rather disappointing to be honest, the gardens seemed once glorious, well designed spaces that are now overgrown, over- crowded and neglected. We saw hundreds of plants that were in urgent need of pruning, cutting back or generally tidying up and it didn t seem to be for a lack of staff. Great Dixter seem to be riding on a name and hopefully we re wrong predicting their downfall and within twenty years at the rate it s going - sad.

My favorite garden. It is casual and so colourful. Loads of bees and butterflies.

Well established gardens long border and sunken garden excellent also very knowledgeable gardeners cafe available to with homemade food

The garden is the main attraction. It's very full and a bit chaotic. The house is interesting but only a few rooms are available for viewing.

Even if you're not a gardener (I'm not - my wife is) is impossible not to be amazed at this house and garden. We were lucky to visit it on a glorious summer day in July and the garden was beautiful beyond description. The house is well worth a visit too for the architecture and history but quite manageable (20 minutes would suffice).
We were delighted with the quality of simple lunches available from a small open cafe.
Gardener or not I can highly recommend this house and garden - it should not be missed!

The most incredible garden, brimming over with plants and foliage. Really beautiful

Amazing garden. Nothing quite like it in the UK. Must visit!

I have wanted to visit for ages and was really looking forward to it. But I was really disappointed. It was scruffy and over grown and anyone who has mobility issues hasn't got a chance. Obviously in the difficult circumstances we're currently going through there was a one way system but I feel tiny cardboard signs aren't really very effective we got lost in the undergrowth a couple of times! There were no options for refreshments but that's probably understandable. The nursery didn't offer much either sadly. What a shame it fell short of expectations.

Beautiful house, farm buildings and wonderful gardens.

Really nice place to visit. Loads of history. Can spend 3 hours wandering about.

inspirational May visit; saw plants that were new to me, the pot collection I've repeated, and this beats every other garden i have ever visited. I shall return next year

Great day out and lots still in bloom! The one way system made visiting safe and helped everyone keep a distance form one another. Staff were friendly and there was plenty of hand sanitiser around. Fully recommend for a great day out!

Amazing gardens with tropical plants and lots of interesting hidden places and very unique

Great day out! I went there a few weeks ago and the weather was perfect for the drive and the visit. Bring your pocket money as there are plenty of good plants for sale too.

We were lucky enough to visit on a glorious early summer day. Rambling gardens in full bloom. Naturalistic style. Gorgeous!

Anyone who likes English gardens will be thrilled here, but unlike Sissinghurst.

Great place for colourful planting ideas and a glimpse of a lovely medieval house

Magnificent gardens and very interesting house with knowledgeable guides.

Good place to visit for about half a day. The house is exquisite and people who really love the place never tire of answering your questions. The parking needs sorting

I went years ago and recalled beautiful gardens etc. However this time we went with a friend who is poorly and in a wheelchair. We understood that there were some steps and given a map to show the paths round that were ok for wheelchair users. SAD to say these paths were mainly overgrown and impossible for anyone in a wheelchair to navigate. (Prickly roses etc ). So we saw very little of any garden. It was hard work pushing someone in a wheelchair along a gravel path to the cafe. . Impossible for anyone in wheelchair to see the food and make their choice. Also surprising that when the lady in front of me asked what food was dairy free and gluten free, the servers had no idea. As she was allergic to these things the lady left unable to risk eating anything on display. SO much more could be done to encourage visitors with a disability to visit by careful and bright sign posting, masking paths really accessible etc and also making much more of the cafe area- all on one level would be good. A really disappointing visit but when we complained the ticket office did refund our entrance fee. With good marketing skills, help from a disability advisor, re-vamped toilets (not accessible foe anyone in wheelchair) , improvement in eating area, making more of the nursery sale area, this place could become a real treat to visit

This place is like travelling back hundreds of years. Nice to walk round and just about every plant you can hipe to see. It tends to get coach loads of OAPs but the car parks are extended to cope with busy times. I've been here many times.

A complete joy to visit! Even though they ran out of cake!

Great Dixter is the garden and house of Christopher Lloyd and is marvellous to visit in any season, my favourite is late summer/autumn when the borders are spectacular and you run out of 'ooohhh' as you move from each section. The nursery is wonderful and the knowledge and helpfulness of the gardeners is second to none. The house is well worth a visit too the main hall is flooded with light a surprise in a house of its age. This isn't an NT. Property and still retains a refreshing quirkiness from the late Christo.....seek out his thoughts on labels and visitors in the potting shed!!! A great day out for anyone who loves being in a garden and gardeners will want to move in!

Really interesting tour with Dean about snowdrops that are out at present. Definitely return.

Our visit today was to the nursery
Very busy and hot

Very original planting and great house. Good food and drink

We do a forest school here and it's brilliant
Beautiful grounds

Very nice well-kept garden. Does not have so many parking spaces. Great cake selection, homemade. Snack kiosk without alcohol . But it is not a problem.

Absolutely loved the gardens. Such beautiful colours of flowers and foliage.

House not open but garden great and dont miss the nursery for buying your plants

Autumn plant fair with specialist nurseries. Very well organised and beautifully presented.

My expectations were dashed this was not a great garden. Best avoided if you have a buggy or wheelchair. Not child friendly and difficult to navigate due to over grown pathways. The plants are very healthy and has potential to be a lot better in future if they try.

House was closed due to C.V but the garden even in mid October was well worth seeing

Visited in July. Beautiful informal gardens inspired by wild meadows that are all stunningly arranged around a medieval mansion. Got gardens only tickets and was well worth it. Takes about 90 minutes to visit. Good parking facilities.

Great gardens and nice house... well worth the visit

I only stopped at the nursery. Interesting selection of plants and friendly staff

The best house and Gardens ever, loved it, very friendly staff can't wait to go back again, very natural and peaceful and interesting.

Overpriced not very nice gardens house only has 3 rooms you can view and your told 1 thing at the door and told something different up stairs . Lady upstairs who was like a tour guide was extremely rude !!! There was Limited food and drink . I wouldn t go back there if it was free to be honest !!

Superb garden, the plant sales area is great value with some very interesting plants.

The gardens are breathtaking with plenty of seating.

The gardens are literally packed full of late flowering summer plants - a photographer's delight. Nature's wonders, well worth a visit.

Went on a school trip. Very helpful staff. Well kept garden. Great trip.

The garden where we leave necessarily part of either, maybe because we are sure to return soon. A total work of art, a gift for gardeners. The genius of the place comes to you at every contour of the garden. He gives me courage, always. Thank you Sir Lloyd, thank you to his heirs!

Stunning and very interesting garden even on a rainy day. Credit to Christopher Lloyd and all the gardeners working there. Great nursery too with great value plants.

Disappointing. Road into property a liability. Gardens massively overgrown and claustrophobic. House beautiful but full of tacky furniture. It seems unless you are a fanboy there are much better places to visit. The only garden I have visited where I couldn't wait to leave.

Beautiful area, well maintained, not too expensive.

A fabulous place to visit if you want to have a calming walk and some lovely sites.

Only went to the cafe and nursery today, but the gardens in the past have been good. Cover a large area with lots of interest. Recommended if you into plants.

This place was just lovely, so peaceful being in an English country garden!

I rang the GD contact number to ask if dogs were welcome in the gardens. I was told very kindly that dog were allowed in the grounds but not in the actual gardens. " Dogs not allowed " was also on the sign at the garden entrance. As I had made arrangements for someone to watch over my pug Margo for the day, I was very surprised to see how many garden visitors were there with their dogs. Margo, my husband ,and I, would have had a much more enjoyable day if we had been able to experience the gardens together.

This is an absolute wow garden. Spectacularly full, colourful, exuberant and with a healthy disregard for health and safety in favour of beauty and nature. A must see.

Very interesting gardens, planting flowed. One way system due to the coronavirus worked. Nursery and gift shop a bit dilapidated.

Lovely gardens just showing the first burgeonings of spring.

Beautiful gardens.
Filled with very beautiful flowers.
Original tulips.

Absolutely fabulous house and magnificent gardens.
Cafe served a delicious home sourced salad. Cakes superb.
Possibly perfect if soup and crusty bread on menu.
All staff were professional, extremely knowledgeable and very welcoming. Selection of plants to purchase was excellent.

Really beautiful and not too busy now so a great time to visit. All the flowers are in full bloom and quite large giving a bit of an overgrown feel. It s amazing!

Amazing as ever. Why not become a friend of Dixter and pop in often

Beautiful gardens with interesting house..allow several hours to take in all the plants, have a snack and purchase your favourite plants

The gardens and pastures are beautiful and change with the seasons. A picture around every corner. Well worth a visit.