The Gardens
The gardens at The Newt have been shaped over the last 200 years by successive enthusiasts, including Margaret Hobhouse who elevated them to a Victorian ideal, introducing colour, a greenhouse and many trees of beech, oak, pine, walnut and cedar. Renowned garden designer Penelope Hobhouse gave Margaret’s vision a new lease of life in the 1970s, followed by Nori and Sandra Pope, whose experiments with colour delighted and inspired thousands of visitors in the mid-1980s.
The latest incarnation has been created by Italo-French architect Patrice Taravella, who believes a garden should be both beautiful and useful. Mixing ornamental and productive elements, the gardens are a feast for the eyes and stomach. At their core sits the Parabola, a walled garden concealing an apple tree maze; at their edges, diverse woodland providing a sheltered habitat for native wildlife.
A Garden for All Seasons
Influenced by thousands of years of horticultural history, take a stroll through acres of formal gardens and perhaps learn something along the way. We share the land with a host of wildlife; you may spot native deer promenading in the woods or Great Crested newts bathing in the ponds.
Garden Attractions
Discover something new during your visit. Let us transport you back to Roman Britannia; see what we unearthed and walk in the footsteps of our Roman ancestors in the reimagined Villa Ventorum. Steel yourself for an aerial walk through elegant boughs of noble ash, then get hands on with soil, scents, botany and design at The Story of Gardening. Visit the world’s most famous gardens in virtual reality pods, admiring the abundant fruit trees of Babylonstoren or gazing into the lily ponds at Monet’s Giverny. Peek into the fascinating life of bees and their hives at the Beezantium. No visit is complete without perusing Somerset specialities and estate breads, meats, cheeses, preserves and cyders in our Farm Shop, or finding the perfect gift in the House & Garden Shop.
Explore Attractions
Entry to our garden attractions is included in your membership.
Estate Eateries
Our garden eateries serve fresh, seasonal fare, led by what is growing in our gardens. The Garden Café offers a perfect vantage point over the kitchen gardens and orchards below, from which a vegetable-led menu is sourced. Serving breakfast and lunch seven days a week. For a lighter takeaway bite, head to the Cyder Bar for rolls, soup, toasties and pastries. The Story of Gardening is the perfect stop for tea, coffee and cake when taking a stroll in the deer park or when heading to and from the Roman Villa.
Entry is via the Gatehouse and all diners must have a valid Membership, Member's Guest Day Pass for the day of reservation or be a hotel resident. Advance booking is recommended.
Explore the Estate
Stay a little longer and enjoy all The Newt has to offer.
