Visiting Bodnant Garden: A must-see garden during your stay in North Wales

Bodnant Garden is one of my favourite places for a day out in North Wales and it’s a must-see for any to the area. It’s the kind of place I could spend all day, whether I’m visiting with my friends, my children, my parents or even my grandparents. As a National Trust Member, I’ll even pop in for a coffee if I’m ever driving past because I find it impossible to drive past those gates without going in!

Sitting on an 80-acre site, Bodnant Garden dates back 250 years. Intrepid explorers used to bring plants back to North Wales from all four corners of the globe and many of them ended up here at Bodnant Garden. It became a National Trust property in 1949 thanks to its unique and rare plant life. 

Today, the Grade I listed estate boasts woodlands, meadows, manicured lawns and botanic gardens. It really spoils you with views of the Snowdonia mountains in the distance too.

Bodnant Garden is, quite simply, just a lovely place to visit. And this guide will tell you everything you need to know to make sure you have a fantastic day out there!

Things to see and do when visiting Bodnant Garden

Visiting Bodnant Garden isn’t like visiting any other pleasant county garden in the UK. The owners have worked so hard to make several areas of the estate into impressive attractions, creating lots of things to see and do while you’re there.

Storm Arwen had a considerable impact on Bodnant Garden, destroying over 50 irreplaceable champion trees in 2021. But, thankfully, the garden bounced back and it’s living proof of how quickly nature can recover. It’s worth researching the extent of the damage before you visit so you can see where those enormous trees once stood.

With each season there is something different to see in Bodnant Garden. In early spring, the Magnolia Walk litters the path with thousands of pretty pink petals. The 55-metre Laburnum Arch is a cocoon of yellow and the Pin Mill with its reflecting pool is a brilliant detail too. 

There are several manicured gardens including the East Garden, North Garden, Winter Garden, and Upper Rose Terrace. They all have their own distinct personalities and something different to see.

Because it’s a National Trust property, there is a shop and visitor’s centre on site as well as a children’s play area. There are also ponds, vast lawns, meadows and areas of thick woodland too where children love to hide and explore.

Special attractions and seasonal events at Bodnant Garden

Most of the special events at Bodnant Garden are in late July and throughout August during school holidays and cater mainly to kids and young families. Brilliant news for parents who desperately need to find things to do with their little ones for six weeks! 

Bodnant Garden often displays art in the Laburnum Arch and hosts activities like seed bomb making in Old Park Meadow and pond dipping in their Lily or Canal ponds. They also host storytelling sessions under the trees in their Top Lawn and even moth trapping in the Yew Dell. 

Two of their extra special events are live music performances at the Pin Mill and outdoor theatre shows. Both children and adults alike may find their History of Bodnant Garden or Birds of Bodnant guided tours interesting.

Some of the activities are included in the ticket price and some are special events with extra fees. Check their events calendar and book tickets ahead of time to these events to avoid disappointment. 

Food, drink & other facilities

Bodnant Garden offers two main choices for refreshments: the Pavilion Tearoom and Magnolia Tearoom. Their Riverside Kiosk is also open on weekends. The Pavilion Tearoom has lots of outdoor and indoor seating and offers classic cafe fare like cream teas, paninis, sandwiches and salads. 

Unlike some other National Trust properties, Bodnant Garden offers free parking. There are also toilet facilities next to the car park, in the Dell and in Bodnant Garden Nursery Shop.

Speaking of the garden centre, it’s actually not part of the Bodnant Garden (so you don’t need a ticket to enter!) but it’s one of the main draws to the estate. It’s a huge indoor and outdoor centre where you can pick up your own plants to take home. The plant nursery is a particularly lovely place to visit at Christmas when they sell decorations and have tons of trees lit up across the shop.

Are dogs allowed at Bodnant Garden?

Yes! Bodnant Garden allows dogs every day in the autumn and winter months from October to March. And from April to September, dogs are welcome on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. You are also able to bring your dog on Wednesday evenings after 5pm.

They ask that you keep your dog on a short lead and take extra care to read the signs dotted around the estate as there might be some important information concerning dogs.

Opening hours, tickets and the best time of year to visit

Bodnant Garden is open year-round with the exceptions of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. 

Thanks to the diversity of the plants, there will always be something in bloom no matter when you visit. Their Winter Garden ensures that there are always flowers at Bodnant. But for optimum levels of flora, late springtime in May or June when the rose gardens are blossoming is the best time to visit.

From November to February, the garden is open 10-4pm. In the shoulder months March, April, September and October, it’s open 10-5pm. And in the summer months, the gardens often open earlier at 9:30 and close late on Wednesdays at 8pm.

Tickets for adults are currently £14, children are £7 and there are special discounts for families. If you are a National Trust Member then there is no fee. You can pre-book your tickets online in the summer months but Bodnant Garden always has capacity if you prefer to buy tickets on the door.

It would take a few days to fully explore every inch of the grounds at Bodnant Garden. But you should spend at least one whole day there to see all the gardens, some of the woodland, and to enjoy a cuppa in the tearoom too. 

Other attractions and things to do near Bodnant Garden

If you’re visiting Bodnant Garden with a National Trust annual pass, why not make the most of it by visiting some other properties nearby? In Conwy, there’s the Conwy Suspension Bridge and Aberconwy House.

Penrhyn Castle and Garden in Bangor is only a 30-minute scenic drive along the River Conwy and coastline and it’s also run by the National Trust.

Looking for the perfect place to stay near Bodnant? Then search our available cottages here.