Things to do in the garden at Godolphin

Snowdrops in the flower borders at Godolphin, — Snowdrops at Godolphin, Cornwall | © National Trust Images/Juliet Turner

Visit the large garden at Godolphin and discover how the original 16th-century layout is still visible today. Uncover the hidden parts of the garden and learn how everything is planted with wildlife in mind. Godolphin's garden also provides a special home to insects, such as the native Cornish black bee.

Seasonal Garden highlights

Sir Francis Godolphin was one of the most important and influential inhabitants of Cornwall when he built his garden here in the 16th century. Five centuries later, much of the original layout of his ambitious scheme survives, making the garden at Godolphin of national importance.

The garden team at Godolphin preserve its unique character, managing the garden gently to protect archaeology and its status as a Scheduled Monument. The garden is maintained without chemicals, which increases the work for gardeners, but benefits the insects, birds, and bats who live here.

During the winter you can see the snowdrops and hellebores start to emerge in November heralding winter in the garden. With vegetation from herbaceous borders dying back and cut back along with leafless trees, the structure of this very early garden can be appreciated to full effect.

Visitors exploring the Grade II_-listed medeival garden at Godolphin | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

The Side Garden

Of the original nine-compartment Tudor design, three remain in the Side Garden. They provide a wealth of traditional, seasonal planting and in the summer the herbaceous borders are full of height, colour and scent.

Plants like aquilegia, white foxgloves, lupin and ox-eye daisy provide a food source for bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. Take a seat on one of the bespoke benches under the trees and enjoy the varied insect life.

The Dry Ponds

Head up to the dry ponds, which would have included a breeding pond for fish when they were full of water, which were once filled by streams from Godolphin Hill. Water management was very popular in the 16th century so having your own pond was the height of fashion.

The original steps can be used to reach the former pond from the Side Garden.

The Paddock

This area is home to the first native bee haven on a National Trust site in the UK. We’re supporting a project to save the Cornish remnants of the native black honey bee. You might see the bee keepers inspecting the hives during your visit.

The Orchard

The Orchard has been replanted with Cornish varieties of apples, alongside pears, a medlar, crab apples, white mulberries and cherries.

If you visit in spring, the trees will be filled with blossom and the sound of buzzing bees. Then, from September to October, they’ll be laden with juicy fruit. Fallen apples are placed at the back of the borders to provide food for birds and other wildlife.

Robin in the garden at Godolphin, Cornwall | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

The King's Garden

Step into the King's Garden from the folly passage way and explore the 16th-century privy garden. The term ‘privy’ means that the garden was private to the occupants of that room.

The King's Garden had many uses over the years, from being a private formal garden in Tudor times to a vegtable garden.

Today, everyone can enjoy this walled garden with cloud-like box hedges following neat paths. When the sun shines it becomes a suntrap where you can breathe in the perfume of highly scented roses and lavender when they bloom.

The King's Room

From the King's Garden, venture into the King's Room, where Charles II reputedly stayed whilst fleeing Parliamentarian forces in 1646.

See the large carved oak chimneypiece overmantel which commemorates the marriage of William Godolphin and Thomasine Sidney in 1604. Paint has been removed from the surface of the chimneypiece, revealing the carving in greater detail. It’s supported by four ornately carved columns. Take a closer look at the top of the columns to see shapes that resemble two hearts, symbolising love in the marriage.

The Potting Shed

Want to know more about the history of Godolphin garden and how the garden is cared for today? Then make sure to visit the newly refurbished potting shed in the Side Garden to discover more about this ancient garden.

Explore the outbuildings

Discover more about Godolphin's farming heritage by visiting the outbuildings.

The exterior of the Victorian Farm Buildings at Godolphin, Cornwall — Victorian Farm Buildings on Godolphin estate | © National Trust Images / Chris Lacey

The Stables

Built in the 16th century, this former stable block would have stored cut hay, animal feed and tack for the horses. Today, echoes of the agricultural past of Godolphin can be seen in the few farm wagons and wain carts housed in these buildings that would have been part of daily farm life. Look out for the cut stone sections placed within one of the window openings.

The Piggery

The former piggery now houses the tea-room here at Godolphin. The original slate-lined walls can still be seen, which would have been easy to clean when the piggery was in use. Stop here for a variety of cakes, sandwiches and hot drinks. Cream teas and Cornish ice creams are also served here when available. It’s the ideal place to refuel after looking around the buildings.

1 of 4