Waterperry: Gardens, Orchards and History

Waterperry can be explored through several distinct themes: the landscaped ornamental gardens at Waterperry Gardens, its fruit growing, St Mary the Virgin Church and the gardens’ cultural programme. If you are planning a trip to Waterperry, it helps to distinguish between these highlights: the gardens, historic architecture and summer performances each offer a different way to experience the place.

Ornamental Gardens and Fruit Growing

Waterperry Gardens encompasses 20 acres of landscaped ornamental gardens. The garden design is particularly evident in the 200-foot-long herbaceous border. The two measurements describe different aspects: 20 acres indicates the extent of the ornamental gardens, while 200 feet gives the length of this border. In this way, the overall area and a single garden feature sit side by side without expressing the same thing.

Waterperry Gardens also includes five acres of productive orchards. Around 60 apple varieties grow there; the apples are grown, harvested and made into juice on site. This gives the ornamental gardens a productive focus: the local apple-growing process is described from cultivation and harvest through to processing. For travellers interested in horticulture and food production, this offers a different perspective from the design of the herbaceous border.

Architecture and Horticultural History

St Mary the Virgin Church in Waterperry was built in the period before the Norman Conquest of England. The chancel contains a Saxon arch, and there is also stained glass dating from 1220. The building period, architectural feature and stained glass each offer a different historical emphasis. Visitors interested in architecture will find specific details here that cannot be reduced to a single date.

The history of horticulture is also part of Waterperry. The School of Horticulture for Ladies was founded by Beatrix Havergal in Waterperry and is associated with the period from 1932 to 1971. The Gallery at Waterperry Gardens is housed in a restored 18th-century barn; admission is free. Waterperry Gardens’ museum displays medieval pottery found on the Waterperry Estate. Museum opening hours vary; the usual hours are given as 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Check opening hours before your visit.

Performances and Practical Information

The amphitheatre at Waterperry Gardens hosts opera, theatre and music performances. Several performances take place there each year during the summer months. If you would like to include a performance in your travel plans, focus on this seasonal period and check the specific event dates.

One option for travelling by public transport is to take the Oxford Bus Company’s route 400 from Oxford city centre to Church Road in Wheatley; from there, take a taxi booked in advance. Check the timetable before travelling, as bus services may change. By car, Waterperry Gardens is 2.5 miles from the A40. From Wheatley, brown tourist signs bearing the symbol of the British tourist authority point the way.

Accessible parking spaces are available by the Tea Shop. The River Walk can be difficult in wet weather; take this into account when planning your visit. These tips address different considerations: travel information concerns the journey to your destination, while weather conditions are relevant when assessing the River Walk.

Discover more destinations: Great Rollright, Standlake, Bampton, Milcombe, Clanfield, Ambrosden, Great Milton, Clare.

For the broader travel overview: Oxfordshire.