Bicton Park Botanical Gardens
Spanning nearly 300 years of horticultural history, these magnificent gardens are set in East Devon's picturesque Otter Valley, between the ancient city of Exeter and southwest England's Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. The superbly landscaped park combines 18th century tranquility with modern amenities to provide all year round enjoyment for everyone of all ages including historic glasshouses, a countryside museum, the Bicton Woodland Railway train ride, nature trail, maze, mini golf, indoor and outdoor children’s play complexes, ice-free skating, restaurant and shop.
GARDENS:
The Italian Garden Laid out in c.1735, it is reputedly to a design by Versailles landscaper André Le Nôtre. Walled borders and flowerbeds are from Victorian times.
The American & Stream Gardens Established in the 1830s, this area features colourful trees and shrubs, along with moisture-loving plants such as primulas, hostas and the giant gunnera.
The Mediterranean & Rose Gardens Drought tolerant plants, including phormiums and cordylines, grow on a sunny slope below the scented delights of the early 19th century Rose Garden.
The Fernery & Shell House Exotic tree-ferns now grace an almost primeval rocky glade, created at the start of the Victorian 'fern fever' era. The flint Shell House contains an international collection of seashells.
The Hermitage Garden The Hermitage, a rustic bower house built in 1839, overlooks waterfalls, ponds, and a notable collection of dwarf conifers.
The Pinetum & Arboretum Bicton has long been famed for its magnificent trees - over 1000 of them, representing 300 species, many of which are endangered in the wild. We are proud to have 25 champion trees - the tallest and/or largest of their kind in the British Isles. At 41m (134ft) our champion Grecian fir is the tallest ever recorded.
BICTON GLASSHOUSES:
The four glasshouses at Bicton Gardens have been designed to
re-create the natural environment of plants from different continents.
The Palm House One of the world's most attractive garden buildings, the Palm House was built in the 1820s to a daring curvilinear design, using 18,000 small glass panes in thin iron glazing bars. It contains many rare and beautiful palms, which make a romantic setting for the civil marriage ceremonies we are able to hold in this historic building.
The Tropical House Lush foliage and exotic blooms abound in the Tropical House, home of the Bicton orchid (Lemboglossum bictoniense), named after the Park where it first bloomed in 1836.
The Arid House Some of the world's strangest plants are among the cacti and other succulents growing in a naturalistic desert landscape.
BICTON COUNTRYSIDE MUSEUM:
Take a trip down memory lane and see many restored artifacts and machinery of rural life from days gone by.
The exhibition hall is packed with nostalgic delights for all generations including traction engines, vintage machinery, traditional tools, tractors and domestic memorabilia that traces the history of rural life at Bicton and elsewhere in Britain over the last three centuries.
VISITORS INFORMATION:
Open all year
10am-6pm summer & 10am - 5pm winter
Daily Admission prices 2010
* Adults £6.95
* Children 3-16 £5.95 Children under 3yrs free
* Concessions £5.95
* Dogs £1.00
Shorter opening hours may apply during the Christmas/New Year period, and we are closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day.
Annual Membership 2010
* Adults £14.00
* Couple £27.00
* Concessions £12.00
* Double Concessions £23.00
* Family £38.00
* Grandparent Family £38.00
* Small Family £27.00
* Children can be added to family, small family and grandparent cards for £10.00
* If children become 3 years old within a membership year the cost to add them on will be £10.00 and expires on the end date of that membership.
Extras
* Train Children 2-16 £1.30
* Concession £1.50
* Adult £1.80
* Mini golf £1.00
* Guided tours for groups by prior arrangement and at extra cost.
Directions
Bicton Park is easily found by following the brown tourist signs.
From Junction 30 on M5, take the A3052 as far as Newton Poppleford, where you turn right onto the B3178.
One mile (1.6km) beyond Colaton Raleigh, the Botanical Gardens are on your right, just past the Bicton College entrance.