Highdown Gardens

Updated June 10, 2025

Highdown Gardens (Worthing) – 2021 All You Need to Know Before You Go …

# Highdown Gardens (Worthing): a practical guide to visiting this chalk garden on Highdown Hill

Jump to: Opening times • Getting there

Highdown Gardens is a free-entry public garden in Worthing, West Sussex, on Highdown Hill in the South Downs National Park. Gardens

## Highdown Gardens at a glance

– Address: Highdown Gardens, Highdown Rise, Worthing, West Sussex, BN12 6FB Gardens
– Coordinates (from your dataset): 50.8261942, -0.4423402
– What3words location (official listing): quiet.stages.camera Gardens
– Entry: Gardens + Visitor Centre are free entry Gardens
– Booking: No booking is necessary for a standard visit; some organised events may require booking/tickets Gardens
– Dogs: the gardens state no dogs except assistance/guide dogs (kept on a lead) Gardens
– Under-16s: must be accompanied by a responsible adult Gardens
– Accessibility headline: the gardens describe an 8.5-acre site that is steep in parts, with an accessible route to the Visitor Centre and Sensory Garden Gardens
– Rating (from your dataset): 4.7/5

## Why this garden exists

Highdown Gardens’ own “About Us” page describes it as an experiment started in 1909 by Sir Frederick and Lady Sybil Stern to see what would grow on chalk soil. Gardens

The same page says the Sterns participated in collectors’ syndicates and acquired seeds/cuttings from plant-hunting expeditions (including in China), and that Stern set up a lab in Highdown Tower to count plant chromosomes. Gardens

Highdown Gardens also states that it was recognised as a national Plant Collection in 1989 by Plant Heritage, and describes the garden as a “living library” whose surviving original plants hold genetic material valuable for plant breeding. Gardens

## A short, verifiable timeline

– 1909: Highdown Gardens’ “About Us” page says the Sterns’ investment/obsession began from 1909. Gardens
– 1967–1968: the garden website says the gardens were managed by Worthing Borough Council after Stern’s death, and that Lady Sybil Stern donated Highdown Gardens in 1968 to Worthing Town Council “in perpetuity for the benefit of the public.” Gardens

## What you can do and see on a typical visit

### Visitor Centre + Sensory Garden (the accessible route)
Highdown Gardens’ accessibility page states that the accessible route runs from the entrance past the Visitor Centre to the Sensory Garden. Gardens

A National Garden Scheme listing adds that an accessible path leads to a sensory garden with a sea view and that the Visitor Centre shares stories about the plants and people behind the gardens. Garden Scheme

### Seasonal plant highlights (examples the garden itself lists)
Highdown Gardens publishes month-by-month “Seasonal Highlights” with plant names and where they appear in the gardens. Examples from that page include:
– February: “Snowdrop” (Galanthus nivalis) — listed as “everywhere in the gardens.” Gardens
– May: “Moutan peony” (Paeonia suffruticosa) — listed as “everywhere in gardens.” Gardens
(That page contains a lot more detail; these are two directly stated examples.) Gardens

### The pond (as described in your provided review snippet)
Your dataset includes this visitor quote about the site: “I love the pond, always looking in it to see what lives within.” (Included here as a quoted review snippet from the data you supplied.)

## Getting there

### By car (road access + parking constraints)
The official “How to find us” page states:
– Road access is via the A259 and only from the west (heading east towards Worthing), turning left up Highdown Rise. Gardens
– Parking is limited at the top car park near the entrance, with an overflow turfed car park accessed off the main car park. Gardens
– There are three disabled parking bays next to the entrance. Gardens
– If the top/overflow is full, there is a further car park at the bottom of Highdown Rise (near the A259). Gardens
– Both car parks have 2.1m height barriers. Gardens
– The page says the Highdown Pub car park cannot be used as overflow parking. Gardens

If you’re arriving in a coach/minibus, the same page says to contact the gardens in advance, and it lists a £20 fee to park a coach/minibus in the gardens’ car park. Gardens

### By train (walk distances the council publishes)
Highdown Gardens’ “find us” page says to stop at Goring-by-Sea station and walk about 1 mile (20 minutes). Gardens
An Adur & Worthing PDF map adds:
– Goring-by-Sea Station: about a 1 mile walk
– Durrington-on-Sea Station: about a 2 mile walk & Worthing Councils

### By bus (specific stops listed by the garden)
The official page lists:
– Stagecoach bus 9 stopping at Northbrook College, then a 1 mile / ~20 minute walk (the page links to a walking route). Gardens
– It also mentions Stagecoach bus 5 (to Durrington community centre area) and a “Pulse” route with a walk onward. Gardens

## Opening times

Highdown Gardens publishes month-by-month opening times. The “How to find us & opening times” page lists: Gardens

– January: 10:00–16:00
– February & March: 10:00–16:30
– April: 10:00–dusk (7pm)
– May: 10:00–dusk (8pm)
– June & July: 10:00–dusk (9pm)
– August: 10:00–dusk (8pm)
– September: 10:00–dusk (7pm)
– October & November: 10:00–16:30
– December: 10:00–16:00 Gardens

The site also states it is open every day of the year (with seasonal hours as above). Gardens

## Facilities, terrain, and accessibility notes

– Toilets: located at the entrance next to the Highdown Hill car park. Gardens
– Accessible toilets: stated to be at the entrance next to the car park. Gardens
– Terrain + slip risk: the gardens warn that rain and mud can make some paths and the Visitor Centre decking slippy. Gardens
– Steep areas: described as steep in parts; some areas are less accessible due to uneven/hilly terrain. Gardens

## On-the-ground etiquette (as stated by the garden)

Highdown Gardens asks visitors to protect rare plants and trees, and specifically discourages climbing trees or running into flower beds. Gardens

## Data that can change (flagged)

The garden’s own “find us” page says it may close at short notice due to adverse weather and advises checking its website/Facebook updates or calling before travelling. Gardens
That same page also notes a refreshment option at ‘The Highdown’ near the top car park and describes its tearoom as “currently offering take away drinks and snacks,” which is inherently time-sensitive. Gardens

Key Highlights

Highdown Gardens

Location

Places to Stay Near Highdown Gardens"I love the pond, always looking in it to see what lives within."

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