Welbeck Kitchen Garden Tours
Step inside Welbeck's historic walled garden on a seasonal tour with Head Gardener Steve Wright, alongside James Armstrong and Ricky Stephenson, the Harley Café Chefs.
During the 2-hour tour, guests will explore the Victorian Walled Garden and learn about what vegetables, herbs, salads and edible flowers are in abundance whilst enjoying small tasting samples, with friendly tips and advice on gardening and cooking the seasonal produce.
Welbeck's Kitchen Garden is managed by Head Gardener Steve Wright, who, in 2021, took on the mammoth task of transforming the space. The productive garden now supplies vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers to Welbeck Farm Shop and the Harley Café. Visits to the walled garden are available through private guided tours only, with a limited amount of tours taking place each year.
2024 Tour Dates
- Tuesday 7th May
- Thursday 20th June
- Saturday 6th July
- Tuesday 23rd July
- Thursday 29th August
- Thursday 12th September
- Tuesday 8th October
- Thursday 17th October
Tour Times: 10am - 12noon
Event Information
These exclusive tours give you access to a private part of the Welbeck estate. The guided tour requires around 2 hours of standing and walking, with no seating. The paths around the garden are uneven. Unfortunately, this tour is not recommended for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The tour starts at Welbeck Farm Shop. Visitors are required to walk 10 minutes to the walled garden.
Please come dressed appropriately, as things can get a little muddy in the Gardens, and the ground is often uneven underfoot. Sun cream and hats are advisable in hot weather as there are no shaded areas. On arrival, please report to Welbeck Farm Shop.
All tickets must be booked in advance and cost £25 per person. There is limited availability. We advise booking early to avoid disappointment.
Tickets for the tours can be booked by clicking here
History of Welbeck's Walled Garden
Visitors to Welbeck may not realise it, but beyond The Courtyard at Welbeck was once the estate’s very own Kitchen Garden - the largest of its kind in the country.
When the 5th Duke of Portland first commissioned the creation of Welbeck’s Kitchen Garden in 1860, it was inspired by the 17-acre royal walled gardens in Windsor Great Park. At 22 acres, Welbeck’s garden was just that little bit larger. Back then, the garden was equipped with all the latest advances in horticulture, including glasshouses, heating systems and water supplies.
Together the gardeners produced vast quantities of vegetables and fruit all year round for the Duke and his household at Welbeck Abbey, as well as the staff who lived and worked on the estate.