National Botanic Garden of Wales
National Botanic Garden of Wales things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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The National Botanic Garden is a wonderful experience and I visited in early August 2018. The place is enormous and an absolute dream for gardeners and anyone who loves flowers and gardening with so many different varieties of plants and flowers, and an incredibly diverse range of things to do. The landscaping is amazing as well. There is a nice cafe with a spacious courtyard and a gift shop too. There is also a bird of prey centre for an additional £3.50 on the ticket price which is well worth it with displays that are very educatiobal of all the birds. The only thing I would say is that I feel the enclosures are a bit dull and boring for the birds. There are few places for the birds to perch and little shrubbery for them to hide if they wish to do so, with some containing no shrubbery at all. I do think in terms of animal rights these birds of prey need to have that shelter in terms of places to hide if they want to do so and ability to play with toys as well such as little ping pong balls or swinging things etc to make it more engaging and less boring for them. However, they do care for them I can see but this would make their lives less boring and more engaging. The butterfly 🦋 garden is incredible! Like Alice in Wonderland. Dreamlike with giant butterflies and moths flying everywhere and sometimes landing on your head so do not swat or go in here if you don't like that kind of thing. It's a real way to connect close to nature and even see the world's largest moth, the atlas moth, all year around. Best part of the day was the Butterfly House, no doubt. An overall great experience and the ticket lasts a whole week so you can come back multiple times and enjoy it even more!
Danny HewittDanny Hewitt
30
Our family visit to the National Botanic Garden of Wales was absolutely lovely. From the moment we arrived, we were drawn in by the peaceful, wide-open landscapes, which are both stunning and calming. It’s one of those places where you immediately feel the stress melt away, and you just want to explore.The Great Glasshouse was one of our favourite spots. It’s such an impressive structure, and stepping inside felt like being transported to another world. The variety of plants from Mediterranean climates around the globe was amazing. Our kids loved wandering through, spotting unusual plants they had never seen before. It really sparked their curiosity and made the visit that much more special. One thing we appreciated was how much there was to do beyond just admiring the plants. There were plenty of opportunities for learning, with informative displays and hands-on exhibits that managed to be fun and educational at the same time. The focus on nature, conservation, and sustainability was woven throughout the experience in a way that really resonated with us as parents.After all the walking, we stopped at the café, which was a perfect little break. The food was delicious, fresh, and locally sourced—definitely a nice touch. It gave us a chance to sit down, relax, and enjoy the views before heading back out to explore more. All in all, the National Botanic Garden of Wales exceeded our expectations. It’s the kind of place that feels just right for a family day out—relaxing, inspiring, and full of beautiful sights and experiences. We’re already planning to come back and would recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful and engaging outing with the family.
Vladimir PavliiciucVladimir Pavliiciuc
00
Had a very enjoyable day here even though it was raining ! The butterfly house was a delight and there were some extremely pretty butterflies to see my grandson who is 7 yrs old enjoyed as well , we went to the Falconry centre and they have quite a few different types of birds of prey , so clean and birds well kept , we watched to different displays there which were well done and a delight to see , fascinating to watch and I particularly enjoyed seeing the golden eagle a magnificent bird from my point of view , there was a third display taking place but we didn’t have time to see that as well , which was a shame as each display they put on was different . You could tell that they put in a lot of effort and time to train the bird , they also have an adopt a bird scheme there for £15 and you get quite a few things for doing it and it would make a lovely gift for someone who has a keen interest in birds . Went to restaurant there , nothing special I think I would take a picnic if I went again as it’s a bit pricy for what you get and I had fish and chips but I couldn’t eat batter as it was really oily ! The dome was great some beautiful flowers and plants there from all around the world , interesting to see and lots of colours very pretty , the gardens were well kept and vast , so I’m going back again as it’s a great place to take photos if your keen on photography, I loved the fact that after you’ve purchased your tickets their reusable for the whole week , yes I would recommend going along as it was a really enjoyable family day out .
Gill HareGill Hare
10
Wow what a lovely afternoon out!! We first started off shopping at Matalan and Charlie's then continued our drive 10 minutes down the road to the botanical gardens and As soon as me and my fiancé saw the opening & drive down we were excited to go round and explore the gardens.... It was sign posted well and directions were thorough and easy to get too and access. Big parking which is free with disabled and pushchair bays. Toilets on the outside of the entrance too. When entering the gardens you are welcomed by the staff who are all friendly then get tickets which can be pre-booked or got on the day. Then a map which can either be downloaded or a good old fashioned paper map too. You walk out and can see the greenhouse, fields, flowers, woodlands,the water flowing down the path way and many more areas to explore. The greenhouse is huge but if struggle with hay fever or allergies I wouldn't go in as it hits you as soon as you walk in especially with the heat!! Science centre(think is more children activities / book to do) bird of prey centre (extra charges) two Cafes, gift shops, flower shop, second hand book shop and toilets on site too. Different events go on all year round from fairy walks, to gruffola trail to illumination light walk at Christmas time. Wheelchair and pushchair accessible. The grass areas and board walks may be a bit more difficult but plenty of other accessible places to see. Could spend all day there if you wanted too! 7 day return pass when keeping the receipt.
Annie CharlesAnnie Charles
00
2018 An Englishman in Camarthen, how nice to feel like a foreign visitor. The location is super rural and is astounding in its appearance. It’s one of the few times you can congratulate bureaucrats for being bold enough to commission such a beautifully remarkable building that is the domed, single span greenhouse. Anyway just enjoy a day looking at all the outside flower and plant beds, checkout the Butterflies being prepared for metamorphosing and if you have the time the Raptor displays, but don’t miss a breeeze round the stupendous Greenhouse where you might encounter the Camarthen Spinners enjoying a friendly yarn. Update 2019 August Bank Holiday with so much to see and do but in particular I spent some time visiting the The British Bird of Prey Centre and it is such a wonderful experience. Every British Raptor is here except the Hen Harrier which due to persecution is so protected it is unavailable. Your modest entrance fee allows viewing the birds in their enclosures and a trip to the field to see them perform. For £10 you can fly Red Kites or Owls from your hand, an unforgettable experience.
Robert ThomasRobert Thomas
00
Beautiful gardens to walk around. Apothecary, Birds of Prey Tropical glasshouses and Gruffalo trail in wonderful woodland that leads to lake and waterfall. The whole day spent walking around exploring paths that take you around the grounds, sending you in different directions to explore and enjoy the many sculptures and hidden places. Amazing place to HE my children attend English Maths & Science Very privileged to have these beautiful gardens on our doorstep. Tickets cost £15 and you have the following seven days after your admission to come back and visit So, if you don't get to see everything in one day, you have the full week to see the whole of the beautiful botanical gardens. Would recommend to everyone Buggy carts are free and can take you anywhere within the park, so if you like me, find it hard to walk everywhere as long as you can find a warden with a walkie-talkie you will be able to call for a pick up in a buggy. Which is great fun. Kids will love it. Lots to explore Cafe and Gift shop Toilets at Reception on arrival or in the cafe area.
Jo WellerJo Weller
30
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Address
Middleton Hall, Llanarthne SA32 8HN, United Kingdom
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Phone
+44 1558 667149
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Website
botanicgarden.wales
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Overview
4.6
(2K reviews)
Ratings & Description
outdoor
relaxation
family friendly
accessibility
Description
The National Botanic Garden of Wales is a botanical garden located in Llanarthney in the River Tywi valley, Carmarthenshire, Wales. The garden is both a visitor attraction and a centre for botanical research and conservation, and features the world's largest single-span glasshouse, measuring 110 m long by 60 m wide.
attractions: The British Bird of Prey Centre, restaurants:
