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Down House

Join us for an exclusive evening with our Head Gardener and expert gardens team. Discover Charles Darwin’s ‘living laboratory’ at Down House, the family home where he developed many of his ground-breaking ideas on evolution and natural selection. Tread the same paths as Darwin along the sandwalk and marvel at the collection of carnivorous plants in the glasshouses.

Owner Info

Down House
Down House
Down House
Down House
Down House
Down House
Down House
Down House
Down House
Down House

About Down House

English Heritage in partnership with the National Garden Scheme is offering you the chance to visit the gardens of Down House in the early evening when the site is closed to the public. At this exclusive event, you will meet the Head Gardener for a tour of the gardens and have the opportunity to ask questions

For more information and to book tickets please visit the English Heritage website after the 1st March 2025 when tickets will be available to purchase: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/home-of-charles-darwin-down-house/events/.

Location details

Down House,
Downe,
Kent,
BR6 7JT

Directions to Down House
Off A21or A233. Down House is within ULEZ. Visit TFL's website to check if vehicle meets the emission requirements. If not, charges may apply.

Down House openings

Pre-booking essential, please contact the garden owner to book.

Admission Adult: £20.00
Child: Free
Opening times 17:30-19:30

Accessibility

  • All-terrain wheelchairs available for loan.
  • Share this garden

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FAQs

Payment is by cash only. Please get in touch with the owners for more details.

Sorry, there is no available parking for coaches at Down House at this time.

Sorry, no dogs are allowed in the garden at this time.

There are no plants for sale for the time being.

Yes, one or more routes at Down House are accessible to wheelchair users.

Down House is not explicitly a wildlife garden, but you may still find various indigenous flora and fauna.