Gardens in Dorset

The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique access to 110 of the best private gardens in Dorset.

Your visits raise important funds for charitable causes across the UK through admissions, teas and cake - and in the majority of gardens children go free!

Thanks to the generosity of garden owners who freely give their time and energy to open their beautiful gardens with the National Garden Scheme we were able to donate over £3.4 million to vital nursing and health charities last year. We hope to top this in 2024 with yet more beautiful gardens open in Dorset for you to visit this year.

Highlights

110

Private Gardens to visit in Dorset
46

Historical Gardens in Dorset
50

Dog Friendly Gardens in Dorset
21

Child Friendly Gardens in Dorset

Browse our garden map to view all the gardens opening in Dorset in the next 28 days. You can change the date range or location to help you find what you are looking for.

The gardens below are listed in alphabetical order and some may have completed their openings for the year. You can view gardens open in Dorset within a specific time range here.

1 Pine Walk

1 Pine Walk, DT7 3LA

1 Rose Cottage

1 Rose Cottage, DT2 0PR

18 Ford Close

18 Ford Close, BH22 8AA

1C Rectory Road

1C Rectory Road, BH15 3BH

20 Wicket Road

20 Wicket Road, BH10 5LT

22 Lancaster Drive

22 Lancaster Drive, BH18 9EL

24 Carlton Road North

24 Carlton Road North, DT4 7PY

27A Forest Road

27A Forest Road, BH13 6DQ

8 Tucks Close

8 Tucks Close, BH23 8ND

Abbotsbury Gardens

Abbotsbury Gardens, DT3 4LA

Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens

Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, DT3 4LA

Annalal's Gallery

Annalal's Gallery, BH23 1DN

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FAQs

Which gardens in Dorset offer plants for sale?

Many gardens offer plants for sale, please select the ‘Plants for sale’ filter above or visit the individual listings for more information. Here are some suggestions: Sheepwash Barn, The Potting Shed, Glenholme Herbs.

What are the best gardens in Dorset to see autumn colours?

Our database has at least 39 gardens in Dorset that showcase stunning autumn colours. Please select the ‘Autumn colour’ filter above to find these gardens. Here are some suggestions to get you started: North Bowood Farmhouse, Sheepwash Barn, Pipsford Farm.

Are group visits possible in Dorset gardens?

Some garden owners are happily accommodating group visits; North Bowood Farmhouse, Chantry Farm, Myrtle Cottage have recently been listed with National Garden Scheme. Please use the filters above to find more and make sure to check which gardens allow group visits by arrangement only.

Are there gardens that facilitate access to wheelchair users?

Absolutely. National Garden Scheme currently lists 73 gardens in Dorset that strive to ensure that all visitors are able to enjoy a positive experience. Please try and keep to the paths, particularly in wet conditions, and make sure to read each garden's information to make the best of your visit. You can identify a wheelchair friendly garden by selecting the ‘wheelchair accessible’ option from the filter above, or when you see the wheelchair symbol on the garden listing.

What types of plants can be found in Dorset gardens?

Dorset boasts a wide variety of local and exotic plants, to suit most plant lovers in all seasons. We currently list 10 bluebell gardens, 21 gardens with naturalised daffodils, 38 gardens offering hundreds of eye-catching dahlias, 67 fragrant rose gardens, 22 tulip gardens, and 9 gardens with snowdrops, as well as 72 wildlife gardens. You can use the filters above to search by plant type.