Kiftsgate Court Gardens

A Garden Shaped by Three Generations

Kiftsgate Court Gardens is the living legacy of three generations of women gardeners, each leaving their mark on this Cotswold hillside. What began as a wooded slope was transformed in the early 20th century by Heather Muir, who laid out the upper gardens around the house with harmonious colour schemes. Her daughter and granddaughter continued the work, expanding into the lower terraces and introducing new planting styles, including a modern water garden created from an old tennis court. The result is a deeply personal, evolving garden that feels both grand and intimate, where every corner reflects decades of careful cultivation and a deep love of plants.

Layers of Beauty and Surprise

The garden unfolds in distinct areas across two levels, connected by paths and steps that descend the escarpment. The upper gardens feature formal elements like the sunken garden and rose borders, while the lower terraces open into wilder, more atmospheric spaces: a bluebell wood, a wild border, and the dramatic wild garden with its famous pool and giant Kiftsgate rose. A modern water garden adds a reflective, tranquil counterpoint to the exuberant flower borders. Throughout, rare shrubs and plants thrive, and the changing levels create a sense of discovery, with new views and planting combinations revealed around each turn.

Seasonal Highlights and the Famous Rose

Kiftsgate is a garden to visit at different times of year. Spring brings tulips, early bulbs, and the white wisteria climbing high into the trees, while late spring and early summer are dominated by roses in all their glory, scrambling over trees and shrubs. The giant Kiftsgate rose, a world-famous climber, is a particular highlight in June and July. Later in the season, the water garden and wild borders provide interest, and the views over the Cotswolds remain spectacular. The garden’s design ensures there is always something to see, whether it’s a rare peony, a handkerchief tree in bloom, or simply the play of light through the Scots pines.

Views, Paths and Practicalities

The garden is set on the edge of the Cotswold escarpment, offering sweeping views towards the Malvern Hills and the surrounding countryside. These views are an integral part of the experience, framing the planting and providing a sense of place. The layout involves changes in level, with some steep paths and steps, particularly between the upper and lower gardens. While this makes it less suitable for those with limited mobility, it also creates dramatic vistas and a sense of adventure. Visitors are advised to wear sensible walking shoes and to allow at least an hour and a half to explore the garden at a leisurely pace, with extra time for the tea room and plant stands.

Visitor Experience and Facilities

A visit to Kiftsgate is a relaxed, unhurried experience centred on plants, views and atmosphere. The on-site tea room serves light lunches, teas and coffees, and there is a shop where visitors can buy plants from the garden’s own nursery, including the famous roses. Picnics are not allowed in the garden itself, but there is a picnic area near the car park. Dogs are not permitted in the garden, though there is a grassy area nearby where they can be exercised. The garden is open seasonally from April to September on specific days, and admission is charged, with discounts for groups and free entry for members of certain garden societies.