Plan your visit
GET DIRECTIONS
Your visit
The Gardens, Chatto's Tearoom, Nursery and Gardener's Shop are open:
April 2nd 2024 - November 2nd 2024 (open May Bank Holiday weekends)
Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm
November 7th 2024 - December 21st 2024
Thursday to Saturday 10am to 4pm
Gardens, Nursery, Shop and Tearoom are closed from December 22nd 2024 to February 3rd 2025
February 4th 2025 - March 29th 2025
Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm
Car free travel offer (bus or cycle). Receive 25% off full adult walk in price**
**Proof of car-free travel will need to be provided before entering the garden. Does not apply to pre-booked tickets
On the day tickets are available, we do encourage you to purchase pre-book tickets via our website at a reduced rate.
There is no need for you to print out your ticket, we are able to scan your QR code ticket directly from your mobile phone.
You are not limited to the amount of time you wish to spend in the Gardens, a typical visit is approximately 3-4 hours.
Visitors are not required to pre-book if you are visiting the Nursery, Gardener's Shop or Chatto's Tearoom only.
(Please note: Chatto's Tearoom - last orders at 3.30/4.30pm)
Student - £6.95 (must present student ID card on entry)
Child (2 to 16 years) - £3.50
Student - £7.95 (must present student ID card on entry)
Child (2 to 16 years) - £4.50
Becoming a Friend of Beth Chatto's (from just £35.00) allows unlimited Garden entry through the seasons. Visit as many times as you wish during our opening times for one year.
Membership welcomes you into the Beth Chatto fold, with regular updates, gardening advice, and invitations to special events, activities and offers.
🌱 Friends of the Garden/Friends of Beth Chatto’s: no need to prebook but you will need to register on arrival and ensure you only visit on our opening days.
🌱 NHS workers and Bluelight cardholders, carers £1.00: Tuesday - Saturday (2pm-4pm). Must bring your relevant ID with you.
🌱 Foster Carers, those on Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Employment and Support Allowance £1.00: Tuesday - Saturday (2pm-4pm). Must bring proof with you.
🌱 Gardeners World 2 for 1 offer is NOT valid between May 6th, 2024 to September 3rd, 2024. One visitor MUST prebook before arriving. Singles may visit for the reduced rate of £9.95. Your Gardener's World card will need to be shown on arrival.
🌱 RHS members free entry between 18th Jan 2024 – 31st March 2024 and 1st October – 31st October 2024. (no need to prebook). Booking is required at all other times. *Please note Joint Membership only admits 1 free entry. Joint Life Membership - free entry applies to both Members.
🌱 Card payments only on-site. We are no longer accepting cash payments.
🌱 Sorry no dogs in the gardens, Chatto's Tearoom, Nursery & Gardeners Shop (except assistance dogs)
🌱 Food and drinks should not be taken into the gardens. Picnics are permitted in the designated picnic area in the adjacent field.
How to find us
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By Bus
Please note: Bus routes are subject to change. Please check before you travel. Colchester Bus Station is to the east of Colchester in Osborne Street and Stanwell Street. From the High Street turn right down Queen Street opposite Colchester Castle, then bear right at the bottom of Queen Street into Osborne Street. The bus station is on the left.
There are a number of travel companies operating buses that stop at Elmstead Market so we recommend checking the 'Bus Times' website before travelling. Please see the links below for each service:
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By Train
Colchester has two train stations, North Station and Colchester Town. Colchester Town station is in the centre of town and near the bus station. North Station is over a mile north of the town centre and would require another bus to reach the town centre but does have a taxi rank just outside if you would prefer to continue your journey by car. Regular trains to North Station run from London Liverpool Street, Ipswich, Clacton on Sea and Norwich. Trains to Colchester Town are less frequent and may require you to change at North Station. Journey time to Colchester Town from London Liverpool Street is approximately 90 minutes.
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By Bike
We can be reached from several bicycles routes. The closest is a route published by Visit Essex and can be viewed here. Route 4 "Cultural Sites and Constable Country" is the map that has our location. The route takes you around some of the countryside encircling Colchester and is roughly ten miles long. We can be found in the bottom right hand side of the map marked as attraction 14. If you would like to hire a bike for your visit to the area, whether you are a resident or a holiday maker, bikes can be hired from The Outdoor Hire Centre including tandems, childrens bikes and bikes with picnic equipment.
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By Taxi
There is a taxi rank outside North Station (please note not outside Colchester Town station) and one on Colchester High Street. Local taxi companies include:
- Five Sevens: 01206 577777
- Hawaii 5-0: 01206 543210
- Panther Cabs: 01206 525525
Please note we do not endorse these companies and cannot guarantee their cost or level of service. For your return journey staff in the shop will be happy to call a taxi company for you.