The estate is home to a colony of Bennett’s wallabies, originally introduced by Sir Edmund Loder in the late 19th century.
The rock garden features 'Pulhamite,' a synthetic rock material patented by the Victorian landscape architects James Pulham and Son.
Leonardslee was closed to the public for nearly a decade before being purchased and restored by the Benguela Collection in 2017.
The estate produces its own English sparkling wine from grapes grown in the onsite vineyard.
The gardens hold a National Collection of Pieris, a genus of evergreen shrubs in the heather family.
The site includes seven interconnected lakes that were created by damming a stream in the 16th century to power an iron forge.
The dollhouse exhibition took over 10,000 hours to create and replicates the Leonardslee estate as it appeared in the early 20th century.
Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens is an Grade I-listed woodland garden estate in West Sussex notable for its successful colony of wallabies. The gardens cover 240 acres, featuring a series of man-made lakes and extensive collections of rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias. The estate includes a Victorian rock garden, one of the oldest in England, designed by James Pulham and Son. Visitors can participate in wine tastings featuring products from the estate's own onsite vineyard, Benguela Cove. The gardens are designed to be seasonal, with peak displays occurring during the spring flowering season. It houses a historic dollhouse exhibition titled 'Beyond the Dolls' House' depicting an Edwardian estate. The grounds include an art gallery and various dining venues integrated into the historic Leonardslee House. Paths throughout the park vary in terrain, reflecting the estate's steep-sided valley topography.
The top of the Victorian rock garden overlooking the main lake.
Wear sturdy, waterproof footwear, as the paths are often steep, uneven, and can be muddy.
Check the wallaby enclosure schedule upon arrival, as they are most active during specific times of the day.
Book wine tasting sessions in advance, as they frequently reach capacity on weekends.
Attempting to walk the entire estate without a map, as the hilly topography and branching paths can be disorienting.
Closed on certain mid-week days during the winter months; check the website for seasonal closures before travel.
Keep to marked paths to protect the sensitive flora; dogs must be kept on a short leash at all times.
