Plan your visit to Bridgewater

Important update!

Garden opening times

We’re asking all visitors, including members, to pre-book their visit to the garden.
Book your garden visit >

Please note: No pre-booking is required for the Garden Centre or Affiliated Societies using their 50% discount card.

Entry to garden by pre-booked tickets only

29 Oct – Feb (closed Christmas Day)
Monday – Sunday​: 10am – 4pm (last entry 3pm)

March – October
Monday – Sunday​: 10am – 6pm (last entry 5pm)

Salford free Tuesdays
Until 18 May 2024, entrance to the garden is free for Salford residents every Tuesday. Pre-booking is required and proof of address for each resident must be shown on arrival.

Garden Centre opening times

29 Oct – Feb (closed Christmas Day)
Monday – Saturday​: 9am – 4.30pm
Sunday: 10.30am – 4.30pm (browsing from 10am)

March – October
Monday – Saturday: 9am – 6.30pm
Sunday (closed Easter Sunday): 11am – 5pm (browsing from 10.30am)

Contact us

0161 503 6100

General email (Garden and Garden Centre) – [email protected]

Mobility scooter booking – book a scooter online

Wheelchair hire – book a wheelchair online

Admission prices

*The RHS relies upon the generosity of its visitors to fund its charitable work. The prices marked * above include an additional 10% donation towards our charitable work, and enable us to claim Gift Aid on your admission. For more information on Gift Aid, please contact a member of our Visitor Services team.

**Proof of car-free travel will need to be provided before entering the garden.

***Visitors in receipt of Universal or Pension Credit or Employment and Support Allowance, and up to 5 additional people in their party, can book tickets to RHS Garden Bridgewater for £1. Please present proof of Universal or Pension Credit or ESA on arrival.

Two carers are admitted free of charge accompanying visitors whose disability necessitates their support.

Until 18 May 2024, entrance to the garden is free for Salford residents every Tuesday. Pre-booking is required and proof of address for each resident must be shown on arrival.

Please note: Garden admission is subject to the RHS Garden admission terms and conditions >

Dogs not allowed in garden

For the safety of all our visitors, dogs are not allowed in the garden, with the exception of assistance dogs.

Getting to the garden

There are many ways to reach RHS Garden Bridgewater, and car-free visitors receive a 30% discount on garden entry when travelling to the garden by public transport (bus and train), bike or on foot.
 
Plan your journey using our helpful information on how to get to RHS Garden Bridgewater.

Garden Centre

At RHS Bridgewater Garden Centre find an extensive range of plants from UK growers, quality gifts and beautiful homeware, plus great ideas for the home and garden. You do not need to pre-book to visit the Garden Centre.

Opening times: 

• March – October
  Monday – Saturday: 9am – 6.30pm
  Sunday (closed Easter Sunday): 11am – 5pm (browsing from 10.30am)
  
  November – Feb (closed Christmas Day)
  Monday – Saturday​: 9am – 4.30pm
  Sunday: 10.30am – 4.30pm (browsing from 10am)

Food & drink

While visiting the garden why not treat yourself to a hot drink, tasty treat or seasonal meal from the Bridgewater Café, Stables Café or Garden Cottage Shepherds Hut.

Bridgewater Café

Bridgewater Café is located in the Welcome Building and offers a relaxing dining experience where visitors can enjoy a delicious lunch or coffee overlooking Victoria Meadow. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.

Opening times: 

• Daily, 9.30am – 5.30pm
• Lunch, 11.30am – 3.30pm

Garden Cottage Shepherds Hut

Garden Cottage Shepherds Hut is located inside the garden. It serves hot and cold drinks, freshly baked cakes, sweet treats and seasonal savoury light bites. 
Sandwiches and pies are available from 11am – subject to availability

Opening times: 

• Monday – Tuesday;  Friday – Sunday, 11am – 4pm (weather permitting)

Please note all of the seating available is outdoors.
 

Stables Café

Stables Café is located at the Stables and offers delicious cakes, hot and cold drinks, and pizzas baked to order and served fresh from the oven.

Opening times: 

• Wednesday - Sunday, 10am – 4pm

The Stables Café is closed on Monday and Tuesday.
 
 

School visits

Get gardening and discover an inspiring garden where children can let their imagination grow. We offer visiting school groups a beautiful green space and glorious gardens with fantastic learning facilities including, a bespoke Learning Studio, Peel Learning Garden and Woodland Play area.

Please note: We have safety measures in place to support your children to visit us safely during Covid-19.

Group visits

Located in Worsley, Salford, a stone’s throw from Manchester, and close to Liverpool and the Peak District, RHS Garden Bridgewater is a beautiful garden that is the perfect destination for a group day out.

Pre-book a group visit:

• Email: [email protected]

Accessibility at the garden

We want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to enjoy Bridgewater. For a complete guide on what to expect before you arrive, when you arrive and during your visit, please see our detailed guide.

See accessibility information for our other RHS Gardens.

Safety

Visitor information on safety at the garden:

• Please take care around water in the garden
• Be aware that garden vehicles may be moving around
• Sometimes the tracks and paths can be muddy, steep and uneven – please wear suitable footwear and take care

Help us to ensure you enjoy your visit with this simple SAFE guide:

• Spend your time safely with us
• Advise us of any emergencies or concerns
• Follow any instructions
• Enjoy your visit

Smoking policy

For the health & welfare of our visitors, we operate a no-smoking policy, inclusive of e-cigarettes, in or near certain areas of the garden, including: dining or food outlets, eating areas or terraces, picnic areas, covered spaces or buildings and the children’s play area. This may extend to other areas of the garden in periods of very dry weather.

Guides and maps

See our garden map with details on wheelchair accessible routes, toilets and other facilities.

• Bridgewater garden map (2.37MB pdf)

Drone usage

We are concerned that the use of drones may introduce risks of injury to our staff or visitors, damage to our property, plants or local wildlife, or breaches of data protection laws. Personal drone usage is therefore prohibited at RHS Gardens. Commercial drone usage is also prohibited, save where occasionally commercial drone operators with suitable training and licences from the Civil Aviation Authority are allowed by the RHS to operate drones in an RHS Garden only where express permission has been provided to the drone operator in writing by the Head of RHS Garden Bridgewater.

Garden toys

We are sorry but garden toys, such as scooters, bikes and balls, are not permitted in the garden.

Dogs in the garden

For the safety of all our visitors only registered support dogs are allowed in the garden.