Trentham Gardens

About Trentham Gardens

Trentham began as a priory site, and its landscape has been reworked by several famous designers. Charles Bridgeman laid out avenues in the early 18th century, and in 1759 Capability Brown swept away the formal gardens to create a mile-long serpentine lake. From 1833 Charles Barry remodelled the hall for the 2nd Duke of Sutherland and added formal Italian-style terraces with fountains, balustrades and sculpture. The family left in 1907 and the hall was demolished in 1912.

The 20th century was hard on Trentham, with river pollution, mining subsidence and decades of decline. After the estate was bought in 1996, the gardens were restored, with Tom Stuart-Smith leading the design, and reopened in 2004. Since 2024 the Next Chapter project has been adapting the Italian Garden planting for a changing climate.

What to see

• Italian Gardens: Barry's terraces, restored from his original plans and planted with modern perennials by Tom Stuart-Smith.
• Piet Oudolf borders: long drifts of perennials and grasses on either side of the Italian Garden.
• Trentham Lake: Brown's mile-long lake, with lakeside walks and meadow planting by Professor Nigel Dunnett.
• David Austin Rose Border: a newer addition to the gardens.
• Family features: a fairy trail around the lake, adventure play, a maze and boat trips (some seasonal).

Planning your visit

Trentham is just off the A34 and A500 south of Stoke-on-Trent; use ST4 8JG for sat nav. Buses from Hanley stop at "Trentham Gardens", and Stoke-on-Trent is the nearest main station. The estate also has a shopping village, a garden centre and Trentham Monkey Forest, which is ticketed separately.

The site is level, with ramped access to most facilities. Wheelchairs can be hired free and the passenger boat is wheelchair accessible. There are two cafés in the gardens, the Lakeside Café and the Tearooms. Some activities, including the Barefoot Walk, maze and boat, are limited in winter.