Riverhill Himalayan Gardens: Woodland Bluebells Walk & Scenic Views
The gardens were first established in the 1840s by the Rogers family who still live on the Riverhill estate today.
The 12 acre gardens have woodlands, meadows, formal gardens with modern sculptures and vegetable garden. My favourite part is the spring bluebell walk to the top where you get beautiful views across the Kent countryside.
There is also a lovely hidden rock and water garden with lots of ferns. Don’t miss out the tree maze above the rock garden, wooden swing and another viewpoint from the side of the grass lawn in front of the house.
My favourite things about Riverhill Himalayan Gardens
I really like how diverse the gardens are and how despite visiting quite a few times, I’m still finding corners that I’ve not seen before. In the spring the woodland walk with the bluebells is absolutely amazing and the views from the picnic tables on the top of the River Hill are just spectacular.
It’s also fun to do the tree hedge maze and walk down through the colourful rhododendron filled woodland paths. The sunken rock garden has very calming atmosphere with different types of ferns. And if you get cold, the best place to sit is next to the door to the walled garden as the wall behind the bench is like a natural sun radiator!
And of course, there is the wall garden itself with more modern centre design and globe water sculpture, but somehow it really works and I like that that makes the garden very different from the others I’ve seen.
MORE GARDENS IN KENT
- Lullingstone Castle & Gardens – Complete visiting guide >>
- The woodland walks & spring bluebells at Emmetts Gardens >>
My local tip
If you are local to the garden and you’d like to visit more than once a year, it’s worth getting the annual ticket. Or if you want to discover more beautiful gardens in Kent, you might like to become a Historic Houses member. Quite a lot of private gardens and houses are part of Historic Houses membership. I’ve joined this year and after visiting about four places, the memberhip has kind of paid for itself!
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What to see at Riverhill Himalayan Gardens
Woodland
This area is especially beautiful in spring, when it is carpeted with bluebells. You can also find many of the garden’s prized rhododendrons and azaleas here with beautiful colours.
Formal Terraces
The terraces have more structured planting and beautiful views. You will find here variety of ornamental plants, including alliums and peonies in early summer, and roses in July, creating a succession of blooms through the warmer months.
Walled Garden
The walled garden is filled with scented roses, wisteria, clematis, and jasmine. There are also lovely apple trees, modern teraced lawn with sculpture and small vegetable garden.
Hedge Maze
The maze is near the top of the hill and was designed by a maze expert Adrian Fisher and based on Himalayan theme.The maze was originally planted in 2010 using Taxus baccata (Yew), but over the years has ben replanted with evergreen hedges.
Sunken Rock Garden
This is one of its most atmospheric areas of the woodland, it feels very secluded and peaceful. This part of the garden is planted with a wide variety of alpine and shade-loving plants, such as ferns, hostas, and hellebores. You’ll also find spring bulbs, primulas, and sometimes unusual specimen trees and shrubs suited to the moist, cool conditions typical of a woodland rock garden.
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History of Riverhill House & Gardens
The oldest part of the present house was built in 1710 on the site of a former Tudor farmstead. The original Queen Anne style house still forms the core of the current building. The house was significantly extended and remodeled in the mid-19th century by the Rogers family, who have owned Riverhill since 1840. The house is not open to public, but you will see it as you walk down from the car park. You can also walk towards the side of the house and see the view from the green lawn terrace in front of the house.
The gardens were first established by John Rogers in 1842, shortly after the family acquired the estate. The Rogers family were keen plant collectors. For example one Turkey oak in the garden was grown from an acorn collected in Russia by an ancestor who served in the Crimean War.
The gardens are named after a collection of Himalayan plants, including rhododendrons and azaleas, which become very popular in Victorian times.
Before World War II, Riverhill employed as many as eight gardeners and numerous estate workers to maintain its extensive grounds. The estate faced tough times after WWII, with reduced staff and resources, but the gardens have been restored and maintained by the family ever since.
Practical information for visiting
Address
Riverhill, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0RR.
Tickets
- Adults: £11.50
- Children (4–16 years): £5.50
- Children under 4: Free
- Family (2 adults + 2 children): £29.00
Historic Houses members are free and you can check for discounted tickets if you have Gardeners 2 for 1 offer. Annual family and individual tickets are also available and perfect option if you live locally.
Parking
Parking at Riverhill Himalayan Gardens is free and available on-site. There are two main parking areas:
Main Car Park: Located a short walk from the garden entrance. The walk from the main car park is on a slope, as the gardens are set on a hillside, so be prepared for an inclined walk.
Accessible/Disabled Parking: Designated spaces are available right by the main house for visitors with additional access needs.
Opening Times
- Open: Wednesday to Sunday, and Bank Holiday Mondays
- Hours: 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
- Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays (except Bank Holidays)
Facilities
- Tea Room & Terrace Café: Serving homemade cakes, lunches, snacks, and drinks, with indoor and outdoor seating.
- Toilets: Including accessible toilets and baby changing facilities.
- Gift Shop: Offering a selection of gifts, plants, and souvenirs.
- Free Parking: Ample on-site parking for cars and coaches.
- Adventure Playground: A popular area for children, featuring an adventure play area, den-building woods, a boat swing, and a hedge maze.
- Wheelchair Access: Many paths are accessible, though some areas are steep or uneven due to the hillside location.
- Picnic Areas: Designated spots for visitors to enjoy their own food.
- Dog-Friendly: Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome throughout the gardens
How to get to Riverhill Himalayan Gardens
By Car:
Riverhill Himalayan Gardens is located about 2 miles south of Sevenoaks on the A225. The address is Riverhill, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0RR.
By Public Transport:
- Train: The nearest mainline station is Sevenoaks, which has frequent services from London and other major stations.
- Bus: From Sevenoaks station, you can take a local bus towards Tonbridge and alight at the Julians Hill stop, which is about an 8-minute walk from the gardens.
- Taxi: Taxis are available at Sevenoaks station and the journey to Riverhill Gardens takes about 5 minutes.
What can you see nearby
Knole Park & Knole House: Beautiful National Trust property with a 1,000-acre deer park and a historic stately home, located about 2 miles north of Riverhill Gardens. If you are on the foot, the best and the most scenic way to get there is to use the Greensand Way Path which takes you through the Knole deer park. You can join the path from the garden’s main entrance on the main road.
Sevenoaks Town: Sevenoaks has lovely historic buildings, independent shops, cafes, regular markets and there is also the Sevenoaks Library Museum & Gallery.
Ightham Mote: A picturesque medieval moated manor house with pretty gardens, Ightham Mote is a lovely place to explore. If you fancy a walk, you can again follow the Greensand Way Path and walk through the deer park and then through more woodland and meadows to get to Ightham Mote. It’s a lovely walk, which is about 6 km long and easily walkable in just under 2 hrs. There is a limited bus service from Ightham village, so it’s almost easier to walk back the same way and once you are in Knowle House deer park, carry on walking through Sevenoaks to the main train station, which has frequent trains to London and the rest of the Kent.
This blog post was originally published on 24 April 2025 and last updated on 24 April 2025
