Glorious Gardens Landscaped by Geoffrey Jellicoe
Enjoyed by The Royal Family and their guests when they are in residence, the 60 acres of formal Gardens are open for visitors to enjoy from March to October.
While five generations of Monarchs have made a lasting impact on the planting within the Gardens, the layout remains very much as it was back in 1863 when King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra purchased the Estate.
Created by Geoffrey Jellicoe for King George VI in 1947, the North End Garden is informally planted in a cottage-garden style and is usually at its best in late July, providing a haven for bees and butterflies.
In 2023, the geometric Topiary Garden was added to provide a place of peace and contemplation for visitors. Reflecting the same principles of universal symbolism as the Cosmati Pavement in Westminster Abbey, the Topiary Garden is designed to increase biodiversity, featuring new species of plants and flowers that are also better able to withstand the impact of emerging weather patterns.
From the classical order of the Topiary Garden to the pastoral beauty of the North End Garden, there are highlights in every season to enjoy as part of a magnificent and ever-changing landscape.
Sandringham is a very personal garden, with the additions by each Monarch offering visitors an insight into their passion and enjoyment of this much-loved, inspirational place.
Their Majesties’ Garden
Early spring bulbs such as snowdrops and daffodils provide valuable colour at an otherwise sparse time of year and a collection of rhododendron, camellia and magnolia trees, brought up from Windsor, have also been used to create more interest, shelter and privacy.
The Topiary Garden and Lower Maze Garden additions follow His Majesty’s future vision for the Garden, joining other notable features added by previous Monarchs, including a densely planted shrubbery with a shady woodland walk, instigated by Queen Elizabeth II in the late 1960s, and an oak tree planted by Queen Victoria in 1889.
Two ornamental lakes, fed by natural springs and bordered by areas of rockwork, were landscaped in the 1880s for King Edward VII – then Prince of Wales – by James Pulham, a landscape gardener who specialised in stonework and the creation of grottoes, rock faces and stoneware popular at the time.
Please note: The landscape and historic nature of the Gardens means there are uneven surfaces and some may be slippery when wet. There is open water and children should be closely supervised at all times. A full risk assessment is in place.