Discover 10 Gardens in Cornwall, St Ives

With our temperate climate and creative landscapers, the gardens in Cornwall are brimmed with subtropical plants and pathways to explore.

Cornwall’s variety of beautiful outdoor spaces inspire visitors every year so we’ve created a list of Cornish gardens located around our favourite area, St Ives. Find beautiful picnic spots and enjoy scenic walks through floral borders at one of these Cornish gardens.

1. Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, St Ives

Explore the unique garden of twentieth-century sculptor Barbara Hepworth who enjoyed working in the open, sea air. Famous for her bronze sculptures, Hepworth’s modern art sits in their original positions amongst her plants and shrubbery.

Open from 10am – 5.20pm

Barnoon Hill, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 1AD

Visit Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden

2. Trewyn Subtropical Gardens, St Ives

In the back streets of St Ives, the local’s have a well kept secret. This subtropical oasis is smaller than most gardens in Cornwall but in the springtime go have a private picnic amongst the plants.

Public Park, Always Open

Located up the hill by the United Methodist Community Church on Bedford Road

Read more about Trewyn Gardens

3. Tremenheere Sculpture Garden, Penzance

Mounts Bay shelters this 22-acre exotic and sub-tropical garden that resides in a beautiful sheltered valley. For your yearly dose of woodland, streams, vista and panoramic views, explore Tremenheere and keep an eye out for sculptures and art installations among the plants.

Open daily 10.30am – 5.30pm.

Nr Gulval, Penzance, Cornwall TR20 8YL

Visit Tremenheere Sculpture Garden

4. Tregenna Castle Garden, Carbis Bay

Open to non-residents to explore, Tregenna Castle Gardens hosts thick woodland to wander through and sweeping vistas. With 72-acre grounds, the Victorian hotel gardens were designed by Chelsea Gold Medal winner John Moreland. The newly created water garden and sub-tropical walled garden are worth seeing on your tour of your gardens in Cornwall.

Open from 9am – 9pm

Trelyon Ave, Carbis Bay, Saint Ives TR26 2DE

Visit Tregenna Castle Garden

5. Tanglewood Wild Garden, Newbridge

In many gardens in Cornwall many search for fairies, piskies and gnomes in the undergrowth. Take your little ones down to this 9-acre wild garden and discover ponds, paths, and fairy doors. Pack up your wellies, imagination and picnic. There are areas to lay a blanket, just keep an eye on your lunch.

Open daily from 10.00am – Dusk

Newbridge, Penzance, TR20 8PL

Visit Tanglewood Wild Garden

6. Trewidden Garden, Penzance

The stunning 15 acres of spring garden originally planted in the 19th Century is located just outside Penzance. Century old trees span the gardens and over 300 Camellias and Magnolias stand proudly alongside one of Europe’s largest tree-fern dells.

Open 10.30am – 5.30pm (last entry 4.30pm).

Trewidden, Penzance TR20 8TT (Sat Nav – TR19 6AU)

Visit Trewidden Garden

7. Morrab Gardens and Penlee Park, Penzance

Subtropical Morrab Gardens and Penlee Park are two exceptional public parks in Penzance. Known for its playground and picnic friendly, tree-lined grassy space, these two parks have inspired local artists since the 19th century.

Public Parks, Always Open

Penzance, Cornwall TR18 4DA

Visit Morrab Gardens and Penlee Park

8. Trengwainton Garden, Penzance

Get your National Trust card ready and experience an abundance of exotic trees and shrubs in a garden cradled just inland of Mounts Bay. A true horticultural hotspot, those with a nose for gardening will see magnificent walled gardens growing unique species on mainland Britain. The National Trust site has a wealth of beautiful gardens in Cornwall to explore.

Opening Times 10:30 – 17:00

Madron, near Penzance, Cornwall, TR20 8RZ

Visit Trengwainton Garden, National Trust

9. St Michael’s Mount, Mount’s Bay

Defying gravity and nature, this vertical garden faces gales and salty winds. The most fascinating thing about St Michael’s Mount is that the rock behaves like a gigantic radiator that creates a microclimate for a variety of weird and wonderful plants to flourish.

Opening Times:

• 15 April – 28 June, 10.30 – 17.00 (Mon – Fri)
• 4 July – 30 August, 10.00 – 17.30 (Thurs and Fri ONLY)
• 5 Sep – 27 Sep, 10.30 – 17.00 (Thurs and Fri ONLY)

Marazion, Cornwall, TR17 0HS

Visit St Michael’s Mount Gardens

10. Heartlands Diaspora Botanical Gardens, Pool

Each section of Heartlands Diaspora Botanical Gardens celebrates a country to which Cornish miners travelled and bought back plants from including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and North and South America. This garden series represent international exploration connected gardens bounded by water and peppered with rocks carved with poetry.

Open to the public all year

Visit Heartlands Diaspora Botanical Gardens

There are many gardens in Cornwall to visit however we hope you get to visit a few in West Cornwall during your stay in our St Ives Cottages.