The Old Vicarage at Washington is owned by Lady Walters who bought it in 1992 with her late husband Sir Peter Walters. Sir Peter and Lady Walters developed and nurtured the garden, over 35 years, to make it into the wonderful, relaxing family friendly visitor's favourite it is now. The garden first opened for the National Garden Scheme in 2010. Since then, it has attracted 25,508 visitors and earned £162,260.08 for NGS charities making it the highest earning NGS gardens in Sussex. In 2025 The Old Vicarage earned a record £26,792.92 Core beneficiaries who benefit from this extraordinary amount include Carers Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK, Parkinson’s UK and The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing.
With something to enjoy at every turn, this 3½ acre garden set around an 1832 Regency house (not open) has uninterrupted views of the North Downs, enhanced by various specimen and mature trees and many pockets of interest.
The front garden is formally laid out with topiary, mixed seasonal borders and a contemporary water sculpture. The rear garden features a lead roofed Italianate gazebo with green oak columns, many imaginatively planted borders, a Japanese garden with waterfall, pond and tea house and a large copse with a tree house that has become a nature viewing platform looking out on to the surrounding woodland, stream and architectural stumpery. There is also a working kitchen garden with glasshouses, fruit cages, orchard, vegetables and bee hives. Each year some 4000 spring bulbs are planted including snowdrops, daffodils, tulips, fritillaria, camassia and bluebells.
The garden has many carefully placed areas to sit and contemplate the stunning scenery including the gazebo and the tree house, both complete with wood burning stoves, often lit on cold days. Another favourite stopping place for visitors is the conservatory where self-service refreshments are available whatever the weather.
The Old Vicarage The Street, Washington, RH20 4AS. Open Every Thursday from 5th February to 1st October (10am-4pm). Admission is £10, children free. Pre-booking is essential, please visit www.ngs.org.uk for information & booking. Self-service light refreshments are available in the conservatory (cash only).
Direct Link https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/21793/the-old-vicarage
The garden is also open on Monday 6th April and Monday 31st August (10am-5pm). Admission £10, children free. Home-made teas. Purchase ticket in advance or at the gate on the day. Visits also by arrangement 16 Mar to 1 Oct for groups. Please contact the garden owner for details and booking.
Featured in RHS The Garden magazine, March 2025. Regional Finalist, The English Garden’s The Nation’s Favourite Gardens 2021.
Follow on Instagram: @the_old_vicarage_washington Video of the garden and interview with the owner https://youtu.be/g_Rc2U_bYU8 .
Other NGS gardens open in Sussex this March include
Pembury House
Ditchling Road, Clayton, BN6 9PH.Open every Thur and Fri 12 Feb to 6 Mar (10.30-3.30). Adm £12, chd free. Home-made teas inc. Pre-booking essential, please visit www.ngs.org.uk for information & booking. Timed slots at 10.30am & 2pm.
King John’s Nursery
Sheepstreet Lane, Etchingham, TN19 7AZ. Open for NGS: Sat 21 Mar, Sat 23 May, Sat 27 June, Sat 12 Sept (10-5). Adm £5, chd free. Light refreshments.
Nymans
Staplefield Road, Handcross, RH17 6EB. National Trust, 01444 405250, [email protected]. Open for NGS: Sat 21 Mar (10-5). Adm £23, chd £11.50. Adm subject to change. Light refreshments.
Bates Green Garden
Tye Hill Road, Arlington, BN26 6SH. Open for NGS: Sun 22 Mar, Sun 4 Oct (10.30-3.30). Adm £8, chd £4. Home-made soup, cakes, scones & light lunches in large insulated Bluebell Barn. Refreshments in aid of Cancer Research UK.
47 Denmans Lane
Linfield, Haywards Heath RH16 2JN Open Sun 22 Mar, Sun 5, Mon 6 Apr, Sun 3, Mon 4 May (11-4). Adm £7, chd free. Tea, coffee & cake. Plants in aid of St Peter & St James Hospice. Visits also by arrangement 1 Mar to 20 Sept for groups of 5 to 50.
Manor of Dean
Tillington, Petworth, GU28 9AP. Open Sun 1 Feb (2am-4pm); Sun 22 Mar, Sun 26 Apr (2pm-5pm). Adm £6, chd free. Tea, coffee & cake. Visits also by arrangement 2 Feb to 19 June for groups of 20+.
Butlers Farmhouse
Butlers Lane, Herstmonceux, BN27 1QH. Open Fri 27, Sat 28 Mar, Tue 9, Wed 10 June (2-5). Adm £5, chd free. Sat 22, Sun 23 Aug (2-5). Adm £8, chd free. Home-made teas. Live jazz in Aug only. Refreshments in aid of Family Support Work. Visits also by arrangement 26 Mar to 12 Oct. Please phone to discuss refreshments.
The Garden House
5 Warleigh Road, Brighton, BN1 4NT. Opens Fri 27, Sun 29 Mar (12-6). Adm £6, chd free. Home-made teas. Visits also by arrangement 16 Mar to 31 Oct for groups of 10 to 20.
Down Place
Hill Lane, South Harting, Petersfield, GU31 5PN. Opens Sat 28, Sun 29 Mar, Sun 21, Mon 22 June (1.30-5.30). Adm £6, chd free. Tea, coffee, home-made cakes & cream teas. Refreshments in aid of The Friends of Harting Church. Visits also by arrangement 1 Mar to 26 July for groups of 15 to 45. Talk on the house & garden, followed by a guided tour.
Penns in the Rocks
Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 9PA. Opens Sun 29 Mar, Sun 17 May, Sun 26 July (2-6). Adm £7.50, chd free. Home-made teas. Cash only on the day. Refreshments in aid of local charity. Visits also by arrangement Apr to July for groups of 10+.
To learn more about the National Garden Scheme, find out more about the above gardens or find out how to open your own garden, visit ngs.org.uk For gardens opening in Sussex, you can also pick up a copy of The National Garden Scheme Sussex Booklet, available free from many local stores, garden centres and libraries from the end of February and as an online Flip Book (link below).
https://www.galleries.co.uk/NGS/sussex26/
5. Contributed
The Old Vicarage Photo: Submitted
6. Contributed
The Old Vicarage Photo: Submitted