A TROPICAL garden in Cornwall has been named a top attraction in the UK.
The history of the gardens spans at least 700 years although only opened to the public in the 1980s.
South of Falmouth is Trebah Garden which has won the Large Visitor Attraction category at the 24th Cornwall Tourism Awards.
While Trebah Garden opened to the public in 1987, the earliest records of it dates back to the the early 1300s.
Trebah Garden itself was established by Charles Fox back in 1831 – that’s when he bought the estate and began creating the garden.
Now, the gardens are popular with Brits seeking a day out and inside the garden you’ll find the likes of ‘Bamboozle’ – a maze of paths made from 50 species of black, brown, yellow and green bamboo.
There’s also the water garden which is built over a natural spring and is surrounded by lush plants and flowers like brightly coloured lilies.
Alice’s Seat is an open-fronted summer house which was built for Alice Hext who owned Trebah Garden with her husband Charles from 1907 to 1939.
Other pretty spaces include the Hydrangea and Rhododendron Valley, Mallard Pond, the Chilean Coomb and the Koi Pool which is home to around 10 koi carp.
One beautiful spot that you can’t see at the entrance is Polgwidden Cove – the hidden beach.
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The sheltered pebbled cove is at the bottom of the garden and is a great place to relax in the summertime, or take a brisk walk in winter.
On the shore is the Boathouse beach café which serves hot and cold drinks, snacks and Roskilly’s ice cream, although it’s only open from spring to autumn.
Visitors can take their own picnic too, and take a dip in the sea.
One wrote on Tripadvisor: “Gorgeous views, greenery, a small amphitheatre and blooms on our way down to the beach.
“Small sparkling beach with a cafe which sold the most tasty vegan ice-cream I’ve ever eaten.”
Another called it “the best garden I have EVER visited”.
Trebah Garden is open daily throughout the year and also hosts events, exhibitions, and even festive workshops.
Its next major event is Stories with Santa where, in the lead up to Christmas, families can listen to a festive story, write to Santa, and get a gift.
Otherwise, you can head there to enjoy yoga at Trebah House, go to a Christmas Decoration Casting Workshop and Wooden Wreath Painting.
They also hold musical performances, watercolour painting classes and nature spotting sessions in the gardens.
There’s an amphitheatre in the gardens too which holds live events from theatre to music, comedy, even puppetry and dance shows.
As for food, Trebah Kitchen serves up roast dinners, Fish & Chip Fridays and seasonal Christmas lunch and New Year’s Day Brunch.
Admission prices for entry start from £16.50 for adults, £8.25 for children between 5-15. Children under five go free.
Any especially keen holidaymakers can even stay on site in Trebah Lodge, the pretty stone cottage, and guests can wander through the gardens after hours.
The lodge has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and sleeps up to four – you can bring your pet pooch inside too.
The lodge is almost booked out for the whole of 2026 with a few dates remaining in November and December.
A five-night stay in the lodge from December 14-19 in 2026 starts from £855 – which is £171 per night.
Here are six pretty UK gardens that you can visit year round…
Gardening Editor and Associate Head of Features Veronica Lorraine reveals the exotic gardens to visit now…
Ventnor Botanic Garden, Isle of Wight
Overlooked by tall cliffs to the north – and the English channel to the south, thanks to it’s unique microclimate this garden in the Isle of Wight has an average of 5°C higher all year round. It’s a truly mild climate – with only 29 inches of average rainfall. We visited in January and you could actually feel the warmer air once you got into the gardens.
Outdoor Jungle, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall
In the Outdoor Jungle you can wander along winding paths through bamboo and banana plantations marvelling at the exotic plants.
Bought back from across the world since Victorian times – it also features one of the longest Burmese Rope Bridges in Britain, stretching 100 feet above ancient tree ferns.
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Dorset
Home to tree frogs, and an unusual rough tree fern, Cyathea australis, exotic plants thrive in Abbotsbury’s sheltered coastal microclimate.
It boasts of brimming with exotic trees and perennials from the Mediterranean, New Zealand, South Africa, the Himalayas, and more. Found on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast – the subtropical gardens boast over 6000 species – and is open seven days a week all year round.
RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire
There’s a touch of the exotic in their Sub-Tropicana Garden.
It’s packed full of plants with a tropical nature – like hardy palms, soft tree ferns, and several bamboos providing a permanent framework – plus a heated glasshouse home to the most tender plants.
Yewbarrow House, Grange over Sands, Cumbria
Its warm microclimate and valley-location allows exotic and rare species to flourish here. Plus, there’s a Japanese-style infinity pool, orangery, restored Victorian kitchen garden, and views over Morecambe Bay.
Overbecks Garden, Salcombe, Devon
A subtropical National Trust garden, it’s bursting with colour and filled with exotic and rare plants. Not to mention, it has beautiful views over Salcombe estuary.
Discover the pretty ‘secret’ garden in England that is more like going to China and Egypt.
Plus, here’s an exotic indoor garden in the middle of a UK city with free books and its very own amphitheatre.