Plan your visit
The gardens, nursery, tearoom and shop are open 5 days a week
GET DIRECTIONS
The Garden, Nursery, Shop and Tearoom are now open for local visitors.
You do not need to prebook to visit the Nursery.
Unless you are a Friend, prebooking to enter the Gardens is essential.
The online nursery is open for home delivery or 'click & collect'.
Your visit
Open 13th April onwards - Gardens, Nursery, Tearoom, Gardener's Shop:
- Every Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm
Tea, coffee & light refreshments will be served from the Tearoom, to be enjoyed outside within the seated areas or in the picnic area.
Open 18th May onwards:
- From 18th May, our refurbished tearoom Chatto’s will be open for indoor seating offering a light menu of snacks, cakes and pastries
You can collect plants ordered online during your visit.
🌱Friends of the Garden/Friends of Beth Chatto’s: no need to prebook but you will need to register on arrival and ensure you only visit on our opening days.
🌱 FREE entry for NHS workers and Bluelight cardholders: you will need to prebook the special arrival times and bring your relevant ID with you.
🌱Gardener’s World 2 for 1 is valid until the end of April – one visitor MUST prebook before arriving. Your Gardener's World card will need to be shown on arrival.
🌱Any accompanying visitors MUST prebook
🌱Please do not visit if it means breaking the Lockdown rules as set out by the Government
🌱RHS members free entry March, October. Booking is required at all other times
Becoming a Friend of Beth Chatto's (from just £30) allows you seasonal, unlimited access to the Gardens during opening hours and free entry for up to 3 children.
Membership welcomes you into the Beth Chatto fold, with regular updates, gardening advise, and invitations to special events, activities and offers.
How to find us
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By Bus
Colchester Bus Station is to the east of Colchester in Osborne Street and Stanwell Street. From the High Street turn right down Queen Street opposite Colchester Castle, then bear right at the bottom of Queen Street into Osborne Street. The bus station is on the left.
There are a number of travel companies operating buses that stop at Elmstead Market so we recommend checking the 'Bus Times' website before travelling. Please see the links below for each service:
- 76 - Clacton - Gt Bentley - Frating - Univ Of Essex - Colchester
- 77 - Colchester - Elmstead Market - Frating - Aingers Green (St Osyth)
- 78D - Frating - Elmstead Market - Wivenhoe - Alresford - Brightlingsea
- 97 - Colchester - Essex Univ - Weeley - Clacton - Walton On The Naze
- X15 - Colchester - University Of Essex - Wix - Gt Oakley - Harwich
- X76 - Colchester - Univ Of Essex - Weeley - Clacton - Jaywick
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By Train
Colchester has two train stations, North Station and Colchester Town. Colchester Town station is in the centre of town and near the bus station. North Station is over a mile north of the town centre and would require another bus to reach the town centre but does have a taxi rank just outside if you would prefer to continue your journey by car. Regular trains to North Station run from London Liverpool Street, Ipswich, Clacton on Sea and Norwich. Trains to Colchester Town are less frequent and may require you to change at North Station. Journey time to Colchester Town from London Liverpool Street is approximately 90 minutes.
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By Bike
We can be reached from several bicycles routes. The closest is a route published by Visit Essex and can be viewed here. Route 4 "Cultural Sites and Constable Country" is the map that has our location. The route takes you around some of the countryside encircling Colchester and is roughly ten miles long. We can be found in the bottom right hand side of the map marked as attraction 14. If you would like to hire a bike for your visit to the area, whether you are a resident or a holiday maker, bikes can be hired from The Outdoor Hire Centre including tandems, childrens bikes and bikes with picnic equipment.
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By Taxi
There is a taxi rank outside North Station (please note not outside Colchester Town station) and one on Colchester High Street. Local taxi companies include:
- Five Sevens: 01206 577777
- Hawaii 5-0: 01206 543210
- Panther Cabs: 01206 525525
Please note we do not endorse these companies and cannot guarantee their cost or level of service. For your return journey staff in the shop will be happy to call a taxi company for you.