RHS Wisley is a fantastic place for families to visit. There is so much to explore and plenty to keep kids entertained too. RHS Wisley is the perfect place for a family walks. You’ll be amazed how far you all walk and the amount to keep kids interested really helps. Find more great UK family days out and holidays here.
Ad – this post contains affiliate links. If you purchase/book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the website running.
Where is RHS Wisley?
RHS Wisley is in Woking, Surrey, just outside the M25. It’s really easy to get to by car and there is plenty of free parking. The postcode for your sat nav is GU23 6QB.
We use Google maps and found it easily.
You can get discounted entry if you arrive car-free (find out more here Good Journey). They have a shuttle bus service from Woking train station, a bike repair area for cyclists and there is a nearby bus stop.
Is RHS Wisley pram-friendly?
There are plenty of paths that are pram-friendly despite some areas of the gardens being on a hill. The map shows the most accessible routes. Pick up a map on arrival or snap a picture of one of the boards.
Is RHS Wisley dog friendly?
Dogs are not allowed in the gardens but they do run regular dog walking evenings until September 2022. Find out more here – * Walkies at Wisley
Do I need to pre-book?
You don’t currently need to pre-book. You can find * up-to-date ticket prices here.
We joined the RHS on our visit which gave us free entry. You can currently get 12 months for the price of 9 and entry to all the RHS gardens is then free along with other benefits. We can’t wait to visit our local one in Manchester and also the one in Yorkshire.
See the * cost of joining here.
Things to do at RHS Wisley with kids
With over 240 acres of gardens and woodland to explore, you might be wondering where to start or which areas are best for families. We visited in July 2022 with our 6 and 9 year old daughters. Here are the best bits we found.
RHS Wisley playground
The playground is called the back to nature garden. This is an amazing play area designed by the Duchess of Cambridge. My kids love it and would have spent all day there if we let them.
There is a sand play area with 3 wooden hut structures that provide interest and shade. They’re all at different heights so accessible to different ages. As well as playing on the hut platforms, they can play under them too.
There is also a hollow tree trunk to crawl through and some rocks to balance on within the sand area. The sand is really soft and clean too.
There are also some swings and 3 small bouncy floor tiles, an area full of climbing equipment and monkey bars, more tunnels to crawl through and an amazing wood structure with bits to climb, a bridge and a couple of large slides.
There are plenty of places for parents to sit and watch their children as well as a coffee hut. Picnic are welcome and there are a few benches as well as plenty of grass around the edges.
Glasshouse
The glasshouse is huge, the size of 10 tennis courts! It’s filled with tropical plants, ferns and even cacti. There are multiple levels so you can view the planting from above and water features too like waterfalls and ponds. It’s a great area to explore with the kids.
My children loved exploring this area. As soon as you step in, it’s like entering a tropical jungle or rainforest. There are three climatic zones to explore: tropical, moist temperate and dry temperate.
Tropical zone- this area is hot and includes palm trees and banana trees. You’ll also find tropical waterlilies in the warm jungle pool.
Moist temperate zone – This area is shadier and is heated to between 8-12°C and kept humid. Here you’ll see ferns and other shrubs native to places like Australia and South America.
Dry temperate zone – here is where you will find the collection of cacti.
Wellbeing garden
This garden is in front of Hilltop and is a really relaxing area with water features and planting in distinct areas, almost like ‘garden rooms’. There is a lovely shallow man-made stream through the area which on the hot day we visited, was full of children paddling and having a great time.
RHS Hilltop – the home of gardening science
This is an amazing space for everyone to learn more about the science of gardening and the designers have really thought about children when designing the space.
The main atrium space on the ground floor is an interactive exhibition space. Here you can learn all about the benefits of gardens for well-being and gives tips for creating garden spaces that improve the natural environment in a changing climate.
The displays are interactive and there is something for everyone to learn about how gardening can improve our well-being and also help in the fight against climate change.
As I mentioned, children have been thought about in the design. Many of the exhibits appeal to them and there is a free brass-rubbing trail of insects in this area. Pick up a free sheet as you walk in and find the brass plates with insects on them on the ends of the exhibition benches around the space. Each one has a crayon attached so your children can create a sheet of colourful insect pictures.
Around the edges, you can find out more about the UK’s largest collection of cultivated plants, with more than 86,000 dried plant specimens.
There is also a cafe, library, toilet facilities, a rooftop terrace with a cafe and rooms where the scientists work. There is also a space for free talks that are frequently scheduled on a range of topics.
Wildlife garden
This is a lovely area behind RHS Hilltop. It is designed to encourage wildlife and to interest children. As well as inspire families to use some ideas at home to encourage wildlife into their own gardens.
There are more brass-rubbing stations dotted around the area. These plaques are bigger and more detailed than the ones inside and feature a range of wildlife pictures.
There are also beautiful large sculptures that you can walk inside and a large amount of water which is so important to wildlife. There are also bug houses and so much more.
World food Garden
In this area, you can teach your children how food grows. You can see which ones fruit and vegetables grow on trees and which in the ground. Some of the planting is arranged in a mini maze for you to enjoy too.
Some of the edible plants will be familiar to children but some will be more exotic. It includes herbs and edible flowers too. You’ll find lots of ideas you can take back home with you too.
Explore the rock garden
This area isn’t suitable for pushchairs but older children will enjoy climbing the steps among the rocks and plants. There are also small waterfalls through the rocks too.
There are so many other beautiful garden areas and also woodlands to explore too. You can make a full day of it and still not see everything.
Top tips for visiting RHS Wisley with kids
- Check out the * what’s on guide in school holidays as they often have lots of great trails and activities for kids on in the holidays.
- Picnics are welcome at RHS Wisley. There are several picnic areas and plenty of grass that you can spread a blanket on to eat.
- There are plenty of cafes around the gardens although we found the prices high (but perhaps that is just because we live in the North?).
- You can buy ice creams and ice lollies at most of the cafes.
- No ball games, bikes or scooters are allowed
- Plan your route and prioritise which are your must-see areas
- Toilets are available in various locations too and not just at the visitors centre
- There is a large shop to exit through which is full of beautiful gifts. There’s also a garden centre if you want to take something back to your own garden.
- You can join the RHS on the day or if you join online, you can use your welcome email to get your free entry.
Where else can we use our RHS membership?
Find out all about visiting RHS Rosemoor here.
Where else to visit locally?
Have you explored Windsor yet? There is so much to do with kids. Find loads of ideas here – Things to do in Windsor with kids.
If you’re in Windsor, you can’t miss a trip to Legoland! We love it and have been 4 times now despite living 3 hours plus away. Find all our top tips here, particularly if you are visiting with young children – Legoland Windsor with under 4’s.