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You are here: Things To Do > Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway

Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway

Summer Lane
Exbury
Hampshire
SO45 1AZ

Add Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway to your Itinerary

Children with dog in summer garden | Dog friendly attraction | Sundial Garden | Exbury Gardens | New Forest | Visit Dorset
  • Children with dog in summer garden | Dog friendly attraction | Sundial Garden | Exbury Gardens | New Forest | Visit Dorset
  • Azaleas | Exbury Gardens | New Forest | Visit Dorset
  • Train in woodland garden | Steam Railway | Exbury Gardens | New Forest | Visit Dorset
  • Summer garden | Centenary Garden | Exbury Gardens | Visit Dorset | New Forest attraction | Hampshire
  • Retired couple taking photograph with autumn colour in background | Acers | Exbury Gardens | New Forest | Visit Dorset

Website

Email

Telephone: +44 (0)2380 891203

About

Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway is currently closed due to COVID-19 government restrictions. We look forward to welcoming you back from 29th March 2021.

More than 100 years in the making, Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway is a spectacular collection of landscaped woodland, herbaceous, contemporary and formal gardens, in a unique riverside location. Exbury also boasts a narrow-gauge steam railway that travels through the gardens, plus a play area, fantastic restaurant, plus much more!

Unique riverside gardens
Exbury is renowned for spring colour, set apart from other gardens by their world-famous collection of rhododendrons and azaleas. These stunning shrubs are at their height in May, lining the paths with elegant flowers. Spring also sees a spectacular display of camellias and magnolias, as well as hundreds of thousands of spring bulbs in Daffodil Meadow and the River of Gold.

Exbury's 200 acres transform into a shady sanctuary of tranquillity during summertime, with the Iris, Herbaceous, Sundial and Centenary Gardens coming into full bloom at this time of year.

During the colder months, expert planting showcases the vibrant red and orange of their acer and nyssa trees, of which we have a National Plant Collection.

New for 2021
In 2021 Exbury will be encouraging visitors to rediscover nature as part of their ‘Wild Exbury’ campaign. Interactive family events will include bushcraft, nature trails, pond dipping, plus much more. We will also be unveiling Dragonfly Pond, the New River Walk and our Sakura Cherry Orchard in 2021, which have never before been enjoyed by the public!

Steam Railway
(Opening 12th April 2021)
Exbury's narrow-gauge railway departs from replica Victorian station ‘Exbury Central’ and travels through a tunnel, over a bridge, round the new Dragonfly Pond and through the Summer Lane Garden, which is only accessible by train.

Families
Inspire a love of the outdoors in little ones as they run, play and discover in Exbury's unique riverside gardens. Feed giant koi carp and golden orfe fish at Top Pond, complete a range of free activity sheets and let off steam in the play area. We also have baby changing facilities in all lavatory blocks. Check out their brilliant events tailored for children and families at www.exbury.co.uk.

Accessibility
Many of Exbury’s paths are wheelchair accessible and are signposted on visitor maps. The steam railway has carriages specially adapted to accommodate wheelchair users and their companions. There’s also free wheelchair hire, accessible parking, free gardens admission for carers and accessible lavatory facilities.

Food and Drink
Exbury boasts three catering options: Mr Eddy’s Restaurant serving delicious hot meals and hot and cold snacks and refreshments; the Old Tennis Courts outdoor café serving sandwiches, drinks and cakes; and pop-up food outlets, regularly including gluten-free and vegan caterers.

Dog-friendly
Four-legged friends are welcome at Exbury and can even ride the train! They have water bowls, dog bins and even sell dog-friendly ice cream in Mr Eddy’s Restaurant.

Whether you’re visiting for a quiet riverside walk, a delightful family day out or to admire their unique plants, a fantastic day can be had by all at Exbury!

Opening Times

2021 (29 March 2021 - 31 October 2021)
DayTimes
Monday - Sunday10:00 - 17:00*

* Open daily 29th March-31st October 2021, between 10am-5.30pm.

Last admission 4.30pm, will close at dusk if earlier. The last steam train will usually depart at 3pm.

Dates and times marked with a '*' are provisional and may be subject to change

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
Adult£14.30 per ticket
3 - 15 years£4.95 per ticket
Railway (all ages)£5.50
Under 3sFree

Prices listed include voluntary gift aid contribution. For standard prices please visit www.exbury.co.uk.
Annual Membership available from just £45!

Website

Email

Telephone: +44 (0)2380 891203

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exburygardens/

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars
1237 reviews
  • Travelers Choice 2020
  • Excellent
    634
  • Very Good
    399
  • Average
    119
  • Poor
    57
  • Terrible
    28

Recent Reviews:

  • Elaine B
    Poole, United Kingdom
    Stunning gardens and spooky ghost train
    5 of 5 stars
    Monday, 23rd November 2020
    We visited for the first time in half term for the Halloween event. We really enjoyed walking through the gardens and filling in our activity booklet and we loved the ghost train! Stunning gardens, I... Read full review
  • jamescG6945ZX
    Trip Type:
    Couples
    Walking tour
    5 of 5 stars
    Saturday, 12th December 2020
    Even in these difficult times Exbury has something different to offer, peaceful and tranquil setting totally stunning gardens that whilst man made has a natural quality that is hard to beat. Easy to... Read full review
  • Elinamic
    London, United Kingdom
    Better to visit them during the spring or summer
    3 of 5 stars
    Saturday, 19th December 2020
    We visited Exbury Gardens during winter and we were a bit disappointed. We felt that the price was not worth it considering that there was not much to see during that time of the year. Also, because... Read full review
Write a review
© TripAdvisor 2021

Facilities

Other

  • Accept Children over 7

Accessibility

  • Accessible to Wheelchair Users - including wheelchair accessible train carriages
  • Assistance Dogs
  • Guide Dogs Permitted
  • Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors
  • Ramp/Level Access
  • Toilets for Disabled Visitors

Attraction Facilities

  • Childrens Play Area
  • Dogs on Lead Only
  • Plant Sales
  • Shop
  • Tea Rooms

Catering

  • On-Site café/restaurant
  • Picnic Site

Children & Infants

  • Accept Children Over 3

COVID-19 Response

  • 2m distancing in place
  • Advance booking essential
  • Capacity limit
  • Clear signage
  • Contactless payment possible
  • COVID-19 measures in place
  • COVID-19 refund and cancellation policy in place
  • COVID-19 risk assessment completed
  • COVID-19 staff training completed
  • Floors clearly marked for social distancing
  • Food available during COVID-19 restrictions
  • Hand sanitizer available to visitors & staff
  • Hygiene screens in place
  • One way system
  • Online booking possible
  • Outside seating
  • Pets welcome during COVID-19 restrictions
  • Queuing system
  • Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
  • Socially distanced spaced seating
  • Staff required to regularly wash hands

Establishment Features

  • Coach drop-off point
  • Dog Friendly
  • Dogs Accepted
  • Electric Car charging point
  • Free car parking
  • On-site coach parking
  • On-site parking or valet parking
  • On-site Restaurant/Cafe
  • Picnic Area
  • Shop
  • Tea / Coffee Shop
  • Toilets

Key Features

  • Families
  • Forest Location
  • Groups
  • In countryside
  • Outdoor Attraction
  • Village Location

Parking & Transport

  • Coach Parking
  • On Bus Route - New Forest Tour Bus (green route) during summer holidays
  • On site parking
  • Parking (free)

Payment Methods

  • Android pay accepted
  • Apple pay accepted
  • Cash accepted
  • Contactless payment accepted
  • Delta accepted
  • Maestro accepted
  • MasterCard accepted
  • Special group rates - £9 per person for groups of over 15
  • Visa accepted

Specialist Features

  • Family Fun
  • Marketed towards families
  • Marketed towards senior citizens
  • Themed Events

Travel & Trade

  • Group discounts available
  • Min group size numeric qualifier - 15
  • Wi-fi available

Venue Facilities

  • Groups Accepted

Map & Directions

View Map

Road Directions

Exbury's postcode for satnavs is SO45 1AZ. Exit M27 westbound at junction 2. Head south on A326 until you see brown tourism signs for Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway. Parking is free and charging for electric vehicles is also available.

Public Transport Directions

By train: The closest train stations are Brockenhurst and Ashurst, which is roughly a 20-minute taxi ride to Exbury.

By bus (and foot): Take the 112 from Lymington, Hythe or Dibden Purlieu and alight at Hill Top Gate. Exbury is roughly a 45-minute walk (2.4 miles) south on Exbury Road and Summer Lane. During the summer months you can also take the New Forest Tour Bus (green route) which stops inside Exbury's car park every hour.

Website

Email

Telephone: +44 (0)2380 891203

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