The Abbey Gardens
The 6th Duke was interested in gardening. One of the first commissions he gave when he inherited Woburn was to ask Humphry Repton to produce designs for improving the Pleasure Ground and the park. When the 6th Duke inherited Woburn he commissioned Humphry Repton (1752 - 1818), the famous landscape gardener, to produce designs for improving the gardens and park.
Today the tranquil Abbey Gardens are open for everyone to enjoy the brilliance of Repton. Make your way through approximately 30 acres of serene formal and natural garden environments: from manicured lawns and colourful flower beds to peaceful woodland glades and ponds teeming with life.
Discover the bog garden, a recent addition with it carnivorous plants, the romance of the Doric Temple which was carefully restored last year and watch the recreation work in progress on the rockery and grotto.
Follow the Garden Trail Information Boards to find out more about what you can see in the gardens today and the redevelopment projects over the past five years to recreate and replant Repton's original features and themed garden areas.
The gardens are a work in progress and we hope that you will come back again and watch us grow.
Latest developments
* Kitchen Garden - a recreation of a kitchen garden demonstrating fruit and vegetable cultivation throughout the seasons
Aviary - a recreation of the aviary from the 1830s that was part of the menagerie originally designed by Humphry Repton.
Free Children's Activities
There are free quiz booklets for all children so they can have fun looking for answers and discovering lots of fun facts. Also on selected dates during the school holidays and Bank Holiday weekends take part in free entertainments in the Gardens, including storytelling and art and craft activities. Visit the What's On pages for full event details.
Come and Grow with Woburn - Meet the Abbey Gardeners for seasonal gardening advice
As part of the year round care and development of the Abbey Gardens the gardeners undertake different seasonal tasks each month. Why not come along and see for yourself at one of the monthly Come and Grow with Woburn days free of charge (*included in the Abbey Gardens admission price) With practical ‘show and tell’ advice, you will pick up gardening tips and tricks of the trade to help you get the best out of your own green spaces (and the Abbey gardeners will also help with any other gardening related questions). Tasks include: mulching borders, pruning evergreen hedges, seed sowing, planting seasonal bedding, pruning lavender, lawn care and tree planting.
Visit the What's On pages for full event details.
Podcasts
Enjoy your visit even more by downloading the audio tour narrated by Gardens Manager Martin Towsey, with an introduction by the Duchess of Bedford, that follows the Garden Trail in the Abbey Gardens.
Regular updates are also available from the Abbey Gardens Department on the latest developments and seasonal sights.
September 2011 Garden Update
(WAV 70Mb)
July 2011 Garden Update
(WMA 3.32Mb)
March 2011 Gardens Update
(WMA 3.23Mb)
February 2011 Gardens Update
(WMA 2.62Mb)
April 2010 Gardens Update
(WMA 1.43Mb)
Group Visits
For groups of 6 or more people please see our Group Tickets information to find out more about guided tours of the Abbey Gardens.
Latest Podcast
September 2011
Garden Update
(WAV 70Mb)
Abbey Maps
History
Set in a beautiful 3,000 acre deer park, with 10 species of deer roaming free, Woburn Abbey has been the home of the Dukes of Bedford for nearly 400 years.
Tickets, Prices & Opening
There are a variety of different tickets available for various areas of the Abbey, all at excellent value for money.
Hire a Venue
If you're planning an occasion, there's nowhere quite like the Sculpture Gallery at Woburn Abbey.