Ness Botanic Gardens

Neston Road, Ness, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 4AY

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Summer at Ness Botanic Gardens
  • Summer at Ness Botanic Gardens
  • Ness Botanic Gardens originally created by Arthur Kilpin Bulley.
  • Ness Botanic Gardens - Outstanding award-winning botanic gardens
  • Stunning gardens to explore at Ness Botanic Gardens
  • Ness Botanic Gardens contains the finest collection of rhododendron and azaleas in the north west.
  • Ness Botanic Gardens offers something to visitors of all ages.
  • Stunning Snowdrops at Ness Botanic Gardens

Book Tickets Online

Ness is located on the Wirral, with fantastic views across the River Dee to North Wales. They were originally created by Arthur Kilpin Bulley. He was passionate about plants, especially new plants being introduced to European gardens from China, Tibet and Nepal.  

Bulley outgrew his original garden by persuading diplomats and other travellers to send him back seeds of interesting plants.  In 1898, he bought the land that makes up Ness, to build a new family home and larger garden.

He went on to sponsor many plant hunting expeditions and established Bees Nursery, so he could share these new introductions with gardeners across the country.  Bees became a household name through its cheap packets of seeds, sold for decades at Woolworth's. After his death in 1942, Bulley's daughter Lois presented Ness to the University of Liverpool with an endowment of £75,000. 

Since then, original areas like the Rock Garden have been reinvigorated and new areas such as the Water Gardens and Mediterranean Banks developed by our talented team of staff and volunteers. The gardens are also used by the University for research from plant science through to archaeology. This compliments our education programme for schools and adults using the incredible plants and landscape of the gardens. 

Today, Ness Botanic Gardens offers something to visitors of all ages, regardless of which season they visit in. They run an events programme packed with family activities from star gazing to trails and crafts. The gardens are also a popular venue for weddings.

Our garden calendar begins with snowdrop displays in February and continues into spring with camellias, rhododendrons and magnolias. From early summer, the Victorian style vegetable garden – the Potager and 100 metres of herbaceous borders burst into life. Then there are the 4 hectares of wild flower meadows to enjoy that form the centre piece of the WilderNess project which brings wildlife to your doorstep with over 600 species of birds, mammals, bees, butterflies and other insects.  Autumn brings fabulous shows of berries and colour from the garden’s varied collections of trees including a National Collection of Sorbus (rowans and whitebeams), and beautiful bark and foliage of birches and maples.

We look forward to seeing you soon, or to quote Arthur Kilpin Bulley; "Welcome friend and welcome stranger, welcome one and welcome all".

Enjoy a delicious range of hot food, sandwiches, homemade cakes and coffees at The Garden Kitchen Cafe. 

 

Book Tickets

Guide Prices

Adult £8.25 (Gift Aid price)
Adult £7.50 (non Gift Aid)
Family £22.00 (Gift Aid price)
Family £20.00 (non Gift Aid)
Concessions £7.15 (Gift Aid price)
Concessions £6.50 (non Gift Aid)
Members of Ness Botanic Gardens go free.

Opening Times

The Garden, Gift Shop and Botanic Kitchen Café (1 Nov 2023 - 28 Feb 2024)
DayTimes
Monday - Sunday10:00 - 16:30
The Garden, Gift Shop and Botanic Kitchen Café (1 Mar 2024 - 31 Oct 2024)
DayTimes
Monday - Sunday10:00 - 17:00

* March to October - The Botanic Kitchen Café is open 9:30am - 5pm (Last orders in the Botanic Kitchen Café at 4:30pm)

Gradings

  • VAQAS VB Attraction
VAQAS VB Attraction

Special Offers

  • Become a member of Ness Botanic Gardens

    By joining the Members of Ness Botanic Gardens you can support us, while enjoying free entry to the garden and other exclusive Member benefits. 12 month memberships start from £25 use you membership to visit the gardens 4 times in a year and you are already saving money! 

    Free entry to the gardens during opening hours, with exclusive access to the gardens until dusk between March and October.

    Free entry to:

    Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh and its satellite gardens

    Birmingham Botanic Gardens

    Bristol Botantic Gardens

    Oxford Botanic Gardens

    2 for 1 entry to Royal Botanic Gardens,Kew & Wakehurst Place

    Exclusive members-only coach trips (click here for further information)

    Exclusive members-only events.

    Discounted rates for events, courses and workshops.

    The Gentian magazine, the magazine for Members and monthly e-newsletter updates.

    10% discount at the Botanic Kitchen Cafe.

    Membership packages:

    Single Adult - £28

    Single Concession - £5

    Double Adult - 49

    Double Concession - £44

    Single Family (one adult, up to 3 children) - £38

    Double Family (two adults, up to 3 children) - £59

    Single Family Concessionn (one concession, up to 3 children) - £35

    Double Family Concession (two concessions, up to 3 children) - £54

    Concessions are available for those 60+, those receiving some state benefits, disabled visitors, students and University of Liverpool employees

    For more info:

    Members & support us - Ness Botanic Gardens - University of Liverpool

    Memberships - redeem this special offer immediately

    More offers like this - Memberships

Directions

Road Directions

Postcode for sat nav: CH64 4AY 

20 miles south of Liverpool - M53 junction 4, follow signs

10 miles west of Chester - M56 end; A5117 (signposted North Wales), right onto A540, follow signs

From North Wales A550, left onto A540, follow signs.

Public Transport Directions

By Bus- The 487 Arriva bus runs from Liverpool to Ness Botanic Gardens between Monday and Saturday, every half an hour. On Sundays, the 488 follows the same route. Click here to view the bus timetable on Arriva's website.

The 22 bus runs between Chester and West Kirby, Monday to Saturday every hour. If alighted at Little Neston, Royal Oak public house, the walk is just under a mile.

By train- If travelling by train, alight at Neston Station on the Bidston to Wrexham line and transfer to the 487 or 488.

National Cycle Route- located approximately 2 miles south of the national route 56 & the Wirral Way and are approximately 1 mile north of national route 568. Bicycle racks are available.

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars
  • Travelers Choice 2022
  • Excellent
    311
  • Very Good
    151
  • Average
    53
  • Poor
    22
  • Terrible
    18

Recent Reviews:

  • Cathy P
    Derby, United Kingdom
    Trip Type:
    Couples
    Not accessible
    1 of 5 stars
    Saturday, 3rd June 2023
    Useless website. No idea if I can get round in a wheelchair, so can't visit. There is absolutely no useful information about accessibility online. Read full review
  • janew541
    Kidderminster, United Kingdom
    Trip Type:
    Couples
    Lovely day out
    4 of 5 stars
    Friday, 9th June 2023
    Some lovely views over the gardens from the entrance by the visitor centre. Ness Gardens is a mix of formal gardens and wild meadow with lots of colour in every direction. Quite easy walking for the... Read full review
  • oracle2014
    Manchester, United Kingdom
    Trip Type:
    Couples
    Excellent
    5 of 5 stars
    Thursday, 15th June 2023
    I visited during a glorious day but have visited many times before. On arrival a sign stating closed, would be better if it says open at ten as we nearly turned back. Excellent value for money and... Read full review

Facilities

Other

  • Snowdrops found here

Accessibility

  • Guide Dogs Permitted
  • Ramp / Level Access
  • Some Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors 

Catering

  • On-Site café/restaurant

Parking & Transport

  • On site parking - (Free to all of our visitors)
  • Parking (free)

Provider Facilities

  • Civil Weddings
  • Conference facilities
  • Event Venue - Civil ceremonies Weddings
  • Toilets

Provider Features

  • Marketing Cheshire Member
  • Outdoor Attraction - Gift Shop Garden Store

Contact Us

Tel: 0151 795 6300

Tel: 0151 795 6300

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