We’ve said it once, we’ll say it again! The RHS never fails to impress with the sheer number of gardens to explore. This week we’re gushing about their newest garden, RHS Bridgewater. Just a stone's throw away from Manchester’s Trafford Centre, this garden is certainly a place for all the family to enjoy this summer.

We took a tour around the gardens to see what Bridgewater has to offer. Spoiler alert, we loved it! Here’s what we saw.

A Warm Welcome

As you walk into the gardens, there’s lots to take in. To the left are the walled gardens, community gardens, and much more. To the right is a thriving grass display, plus access to the café's outdoor seating that overlooks the lake. Straight ahead leads to a calming woodland walk, plus the Chinese garden!

Whatever route you take, you’re guaranteed to have a lovely time. This time, we went left into the walled gardens.

Weston Walled Gardens

The walled gardens are impressive, and there’s no limit to things to admire and areas to explore. This area is actually the largest Victorian walled garden in the UK – in fact, the entire site of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show could fit inside its walls!


Image: A tulip bed along the walls of the Walled Gardens

The 11 acres of space are manned by a team of gardeners, who grow all kinds of seasonal produce and plants. The walls provide shelter from the worst of the elements, helping crops to grow big and strong. The walls of the garden were restored, as they had stood for over 180 years.

Divided into two halves, the paradise garden sits to the right and the kitchen gardens on the left. There are also smaller gardens that sit around the edge, which include the community garden, the orchard garden, the Peel Learning Garden, and the garden cottage.

There are plenty of seating areas too, allowing you to take a moment to soak it all in.


Image: The paradise garden pond

A mixture of water features, sculpted shrubs, and exotic planting fills the paradise garden, giving you that holiday-at-home feel.

The kitchen garden, according to Bridgewater, is an evolving garden that draws inspiration from local history to grow crops and plants. There are over 100 planting beds which concentrate on different styles - from forest gardens to herbal gardens and formal vegetable gardens.


Image: Just one area of the kitchen garden walk

It’s both productive and ornamental and is a gorgeous space that’s a joy to explore. See how many different plants you can identify! There are over 29,000 plants grown in this garden alone, so test your knowledge as you wander around.

Community Gardens


Image: A mix of structure and beauty in the community gardens

The community gardens are truly inspirational. Its design reminds us of a honeycomb, which symbolises Manchester’s connection to the worker bee. Bringing people of the community together in this communal area helps them share knowledge and make friends while growing their favourite produce and plants!


Image: Planters around a pergola outside the walled gardens 

Its structural beauty strikes you immediately, and it’s lovely to see a communal space both well-used and looking immaculate.

Chinese Garden and Ellesmere Lake


Image: Viburnum macrocephalum in the Chinese gardens

Although the Chinese garden is still a work in progress, it’s still a gorgeous area of the gardens that blew us away.

With exotic plants, waterfalls, and a relaxing stream-side stroll, the Chinese garden will soon be an almighty display that will be tough to beat. Similar in style and structure to Tatton Park’s Chinese Garden, this congregation of themes really transports you across the globe.

As it overlooks Ellesmere Lake, the whole area, even while it’s still to be completed, stopped us in our tracks as we took it all in. The blending of Chinese design into the British landscape isn’t an easy task, but Bridgewater has done it incredibly well. We’re looking forward to seeing it once it’s completed!

More to Explore

The structured gardens are certainly a sight to behold, but that’s not all Bridgewater has to offer! A playground sits in the middle of the woodland walk, perfect for little ones to let loose and have some fun.

Swinging benches can be found at the edge of the woodland walk too, giving you a scenic view of the welcome gardens.

There’s also plenty of refreshments to enjoy, which brings us to...

Refreshments & Shopping



As you enter Bridgewater, you’ll step inside The Welcome Building. A café, garden centre, shopping area, and entrance to the gardens can be found in this comprehensively styled building. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen before at RHS Gardens and entices you in after a leisurely stroll. The café serves a mix of freshly prepared hot food and cold, as well as delectable hot drinks (and soft drinks too, of course!).

Toward the back of the gardens, on the other side of the walled gardens, you’ll find the garden cottage, which is a scenic spot, perfect if you’re after al-fresco seating (when the weather permits!). This café sells a mix of both hot and cold drinks, as well as freshly baked cakes and pastries! Finally, there is the stables café, which again sells hot and cold drinks, as well as cakes and made-to-order pizzas.


Image: The garden cottage in spring

Throughout the year, Bridgewater hosts an impressive range of events for all the family to enjoy. For little ones, they’re holding a ‘Sow Awesome’ workshop this May half-term, providing opportunities to explore, learn, and craft! They also hold a ‘Walkies at Bridgewater’ event, where on selected days you can take your furry friend for a wander around the park. Take a look at their events page to see what events they’re throwing this year.


Image: An impressive tulip display outside the walled gardens

This new RHS garden certainly blew the competition out of the water. You can tell that a lot of thought and effort has gone into the creation and upkeep of the gardens, as it shines through every flower, plant, and structure throughout. It’s on our list of favourite scenic strolls in Manchester. Read more of our garden tours here for inspiration on your next outing.