Highlights
- The Gravel Garden, planted in 1992 on the site of the old car park and never watered
- The Water Garden, made from a damp, overgrown hollow
- The Woodland Garden, planted under old oaks after the 1987 storm
- The Reservoir Garden and Scree Garden
- The nursery, selling plants grown on site
About Beth Chatto's Plants and Gardens
In 1960 the plantswoman Beth Chatto and her husband Andrew moved to a new house on the family fruit farm at Elmstead Market. The land around it was a mix of brambles, dry gravel and boggy ditches, and rather than fight it she chose plants naturally suited to each spot. That idea, often summed up as "right plant, right place", made the garden and her nursery widely influential.
Beth Chatto died in 2018. The gardens are still run by her family, with her granddaughter Julia Boulton in charge, and Historic England describes the site as around seven acres of informal gardens.
What to see
- Gravel Garden: planted in 1992 on the old car park as an experiment in drought-tolerant planting, and never watered.
- Water Garden: a series of ponds edged with lush, moisture-loving plants.
- Woodland Garden: shade-loving plants beneath century-old oaks, developed after the great storm of 1987.
- Long Shady Walk, Scree Garden and Reservoir Garden: the Reservoir Garden has been redesigned as a perennial display.
- Nursery and Gardener's Shop: plants propagated on site.
Planning your visit
The gardens are on Clacton Road at Elmstead Market, east of Colchester, and are open Tuesday to Saturday from February to mid December. Pond silt removal work is currently under way and the current admission prices are well below those of earlier seasons. The site is card only and no longer takes cash.
There is a car park with Blue Badge spaces, but no mobility equipment is available to borrow. Chatto's Tearoom serves food and drink, and picnics are allowed in the field next to the car park but not in the garden. Leaving dogs in cars is discouraged because the car park has little shade.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit Beth Chatto's gardens?
While pond silt removal work is under way, adult entry is £5 on the day or £4 pre-booked, with children aged 2 to 16 at £3.50. Prices may change once the work is finished, so check the website before you go. The nursery, shop and tearoom can be visited without a ticket.
Can I bring my dog to Beth Chatto's?
Dogs are welcome in the nursery, the shop and the outdoor tearoom area, but only assistance dogs are allowed in the gardens and the tearoom itself.
When is Beth Chatto's open?
The gardens open Tuesday to Saturday. In 2026 hours are 10am to 5pm from 31 March to 24 October and 10am to 4pm from 27 October to 19 December.