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York Gate

This award-winning one acre garden near Leeds with Grade II National Heritage status is inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement. Diverse plant combinations show through a series of inspirational garden rooms. A palette of colour bursts to life in spring and summer with tulips, bulging borders, succulents and exotics and a meadow full of wildflowers and wildlife.

Owner Info

York Gate
York Gate
York Gate
York Gate
York Gate
York Gate
York Gate
York Gate
York Gate
York Gate
York Gate
York Gate
York Gate
York Gate
York Gate
York Gate
York Gate
York Gate

About York Gate

When Frederick Spencer bought York Gate in Adel near Leeds in 1951, it was nothing but a house surrounded by farmland. He laid down the bones of the garden, but after his death in 1963, it was his son Robin who took over the development and design. Inspired by some of the outstanding gardens of the Arts and Crafts movement such as Hidcote, he created in just one acre, a garden which by the early eighties was regarded by many as one of the best small gardens in the world.

Like Hidcote, York Gate Garden is divided up into a distinct number of ‘garden rooms’, using yew and beech hedges. What makes this garden exceptional is the exquisite detail Robin incorporated within each part, while using his great skill to unite them into a coherent whole through a continuous succession of vistas and focal points, including The Folly, The Arbour and the Tall Sundial.

Robin died suddenly and prematurely in 1982 at the age of only forty-seven. For the next twelve years his mother, Sybil nurtured the garden. A gifted plantswoman, she continued to develop the fascinating plant collection, which remains today.

In 1994 Sybil generously gifted the wonderful garden to Perennial, the UK’s only charity dedicated to supporting everyone working in horticulture and their families.

In the last 30 years many gardeners and volunteers have lovingly cared for, preserved and nurtured the garden giving so much pleasure to garden visitors and the local community that Sybil belonged to.
Very little of the original design has changed, it is incredible how 14 individual rooms could be so perfectly integrated into just one acre of garden. A masterpiece of perfection that needs no improvement. The planting has continued to develop, there are so many plants now available that Sybil would have only dreamt of and we are able to expand the diversity of plants whilst retaining the Arts and Crafts style which York Gate is known for.

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Website:

https://www.yorkgate.org.uk

York Gate features

Location details

York Gate,
Back Church Lane,
Leeds,
Yorkshire,
LS16 8DW

Directions to York Gate
A660 to Adel, turn R at lights after the Co-op. L on to Church Ln. After church, R onto Back Church Ln. Garden on L.

York Gate openings

You can just turn up and pay on the day.

Refreshments Light refreshments. The cafe serves home-made food, reflecting the seasons and promoting local produce. Open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon teas.
Admission Adult: £10.00
Child: £4.00
Opening times 10:00-15:30

You can just turn up and pay on the day.

Refreshments Light refreshments. The cafe serves home-made food, reflecting the seasons and promoting local produce. Open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon teas.
Admission Adult: £10.00
Child: £4.00
Opening times 10:00-15:30

Accessibility

  • Narrow gravel & cobbled paths make most of the original garden inaccessible to wheelchairs. The cafe and WC are accessible.
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FAQs

Yes, cashless payment is accepted.

Yes, coaches are accepted at York Gate. Please get in touch with the owners for details.

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

Yes, there are various plants offerred for sale at York Gate, please enquire with the owners for more details.

Sorry, York Gate does not yet accommodate wheelchair users.

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