Highlights
- The Dry Garden of drought-tolerant plants, suited to one of the driest parts of Britain
- The Hilltop Garden with roses and herbaceous borders
- The Winter Garden, opened in 2018, which hosts an RHS trial of cornus
- The Global Growth Vegetable Garden, with crops from around the world
- The Woodland Garden, which grew from 60 young trees bought at auction
About RHS Garden Hyde Hall
When Dick and Helen Robinson bought Hyde Hall in 1955, it was a working farm with almost no garden: a lawn, a single flowerbed and a handful of trees. Over the following decades they planted shelter belts, borders and a woodland, extended the garden onto neighbouring farmland and, in 1976, set up a trust to look after it. The trust gave the garden to the Royal Horticultural Society in 1993.
The site is a windswept hilltop on heavy clay, with only around half the average British rainfall. The RHS has used those tough conditions to show how to garden sustainably with little water, and the estate has grown to around 360 acres.
What to see
- Dry Garden: a slope of drought-tolerant plants that is rarely watered.
- Hilltop Garden: roses and herbaceous borders around the old farmhouse, which now holds a gardening reference library.
- Australia and New Zealand Garden: plants from the southern hemisphere.
- Woodland Garden: developed from the Robinsons' first trees.
- Global Growth Vegetable Garden: opened in 2017, with vegetables grown around the world.
- Winter Garden: opened in 2018, with coloured stems and an RHS cornus trial.
Planning your visit
Hyde Hall is on Creephedge Lane in Rettendon, south-east of Chelmsford. Booking online in advance is the cheapest way in, and there is a reduced rate for visitors who arrive without a car. Carers of disabled visitors are admitted free.
On site are the Gardeners Rest Restaurant, the Clover Café and a garden centre. The garden map marks wheelchair-accessible routes and toilets, but some paths can be steep, uneven or muddy, and a detailed accessibility guide is on the RHS website. Pet dogs are not allowed anywhere on site, so plan ahead if you are travelling with one.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit RHS Hyde Hall?
In 2026 adult entry is £18.40 on the day or from £13.60 if booked online in advance. Children aged 5 to 16 pay £6, under 5s go free, and RHS members get in free.
Can I bring my dog to RHS Hyde Hall?
No. Only guide, assistance and service dogs are allowed, and the rule covers the car park and estate as well as the garden.
When is RHS Hyde Hall open?
The garden is open every day except Christmas Day: 10am to 6pm from March to October and 10am to 4pm from November to February, with last entry an hour before closing.