South Newington gardens private tours

Please take the opportunity to visit two varied gardens in South Newington, each of which offers at least 30 minutes of interest. They are situated opposite one another and are opened by appointment Monday-Saturday all year round. Groups are welcomed as well as individuals and families.

Each garden presents a rich palette of colour and form, created through design and planting. Herbaceous borders offer year-round interest and havens for a range of wildlife. The gardens have formal box hedge parterres and orchards with fruit trees. There are water features, as well as beehives in both locations. The kitchen gardens are managed on a rotation method and with companion planting. Where possible, the gardens are maintained organically.

Event details

Date: open Mondays-Saturdays all year round by appointment only. Groups welcomed as are individuals and families.

Opening time: 9am-3.30pm but other times are possible, subject to availability. Bespoke packages for groups can also be arranged, including early evenings. Please call Claire Swan to make an appointment to visit one or both gardens: 07711 720135 or email [email protected].

Entry and refreshment fees: 

• Entry for a single garden visit: £5
• Entry to both gardens: £7.50
• Refreshments: £2.50 

Parking: available at the properties.

Accessibility: there are numerous gravel paths, which are accessible in a wheelchair but can be challenging.

Dogs: assistance dogs only please.

Refreshments: teas and cakes will be available for visits at an additional charge. 

Plant stall: garden produce may be available in exchange for a donation and plants are for sale in the centre of South Newington.

"I visited these two delightful gardens last Friday afternoon. It was a beautiful sunny day and I was welcomed by Claire and some of her family who gave me information on each garden. I explored on my own but the owners were on hand to answer my questions. Each garden has so many different areas of interest, including bees in the orchard and vegetables beginning to appear in the Kitchen Garden. A delicious slice of freshly made lemon drizzle cake and cream with a pot of tea in the sunshine made for a perfect afternoon. Thank you so much." Annie Morris

South Newington village

While you are in South Newington, you might choose to spend some time exploring the village. It originated in Anglo-Saxon times and after the Norman conquest, William the Conqueror granted the manor to Odo, Bishop of Bayeux. It's recorded in the Domesday Book as one of his estates.

The lovely parish church of St Peter ad Vincula was originally a small late Norman church but it has been considerably extended and a bell tower was added at the end of the 13th century. Other additions were made in the 15th century. The tower has a ring of five bells, the oldest of which was cast in 1656.

The church also has unusual medieval wall paintings in the north aisle (1330–40) in oil on plaster. Professor Ernest Tristram describes the paintings as 'of a nature seldom found in a parish church'.

"We want to thank all of you, but especially you and your father, for the warm welcome to your gardens yesterday. So many people have contacted me to say how much they enjoyed it. What better way to spend a summer evening than wandering around beautiful gardens (and admiring someone else’s work!) as dusk falls and finishing off with a glass of wine? It really was a lovely visit and your gardens looked amazing. We were delighted to be able to explore and admire them, it was very relaxing and delightful." Steeple Aston Gardening Club

Other Open Garden dates for your diary

For other Open Garden dates, please see Open Gardens for Katharine House.