Visit

Opening Times

The Plantation Garden is open every day of the year.

9am to 6pm. (closed at dusk in winter).

Location

The garden is known locally as ‘The Secret Garden’, but it is not difficult to find. The entrance is just past St. John’s Cathedral as you are leaving the city. Look for the brown sign.

Cost

Admission £2.00. Free to members.

Children, if accompanied and under 16 are free.

Accessibility

The entrance and the main part of the garden are fully accessible. However, there are steep steps up the Italian Terrace at the end of the garden and some steps and steep slopes on the woodland paths around the top of the garden.

There is an accessible toilet which is only open when events are taking place in the garden. There are also accessible toilets at the Narthex at the neighbouring St. John’s Cathedral.

Parking

We regret that we have no parking at the garden. There is paid for parking adjacent to the garden on Earlham Road. On Sundays and after 6.30pm it is possible to park on Earlham Road or neighbouring residential roads or use the Norwich City car parks. Coaches are recommended to decant passengers on the Earlham Road and pick up at a pre- arranged time. If your driver is unfamiliar with the City please ensure he/she has checked coach parking with Norwich City Council.

Public Transport

Buses No 26 (Blue Line First Bus) and stops outside St. John’s Cathedral, next door to the garden. The No 25 bus stops in Unthank Road, a short walk from the garden.

Dogs / Alcohol /Smoking

Guide dogs only.

You are welcome to bring your own refreshments and picnic in the garden, but alcohol is NOT permitted.

The Garden is a NO SMOKING zone

Guided Tours

A group enjoying a tour

Guided tours

We welcome groups by arrangement and have a small team of knowledgeable guides who provide tours of the garden for which we charge £3 per person, which includes admission. Our minimum charge is £35 – cash or cheques payable to the Plantation Garden Preservation Trust (PGPT). Tours take approximately 50 – 60 minutes and provide a history of the garden, bringing you up to date with how the gardens are managed today. You are welcome to stay in the garden as long as you wish or to eat a packed lunch in the garden. The garden is run entirely by volunteers and all the proceeds go towards the garden’s upkeep, restoration and development.

There is a WC which is opened for group tours, but teas are only provided on Sunday afternoons, from the end of May to mid September. The RC Cathedral Narthex, which is next door, and has a new, purpose built hospitality centre, is open for refreshments every day until 4pm., except Monday. If you are a large group, a light lunch may be booked in advance (contact 01603 724381 / narthex@stjohncathedral.co.uk).

We regret that we have no parking at the garden. There is paid for parking adjacent to the garden on Earlham Road. On Sundays and after 6.30pm it is possible to park on Earlham Road or neighbouring residential roads or use the Norwich City car parks. Coaches are recommended to decant passengers on the Earlham Road and pick up at a pre-arranged time. If your driver is unfamiliar with the City please ensure he/she has checked coach parking with Norwich City Council.

School Visits

The Garden welcomes school visits throughout the year. Please visit the Schools page to see the learning resources we have available to enrich your visit. For more information and to make arrangements, please email schools@plantationgarden.co.uk

16,507 total views, 5 views today