The Lost Gardens of Heligan
Cornwall
History & Heritage 
Family Friendly 
Nature & Wildlife A sprawling Cornish estate of restored Victorian gardens, subtropical jungles and kitchen gardens, originally lost after World War I and rediscovered in the 1990s.
Overview
About
Heligan covers over 200 acres of carefully restored landscape, once left derelict after the First World War and now revived as one of Britain’s most iconic gardens. In the jungle area, you’ll wander beneath tree ferns and banana groves warmed by Cornwall’s mild climate, and cross a 100-foot rope bridge suspended over dense undergrowth. The Pleasure Grounds are home to flowering borders, hidden sculptures and towering rhododendrons first planted over 150 years ago. Victorian-era pineapple pits and melon frames show off the ingenuity of 19th-century horticulture, still functioning today.Be sure to explore:
- The jungle valley, with rope bridges and tropical planting.
- The Pleasure Grounds and floral gardens, filled with 19th-century plantings and heritage blooms.
- Restored kitchen gardens, supplying produce directly to the on-site café and kitchen.
- Hidden sculptures like the Mud Maid and Giant’s Head, crafted from earth, moss and stone.
- The poetry trail, with short verses tucked into unexpected corners of the landscape.
How to get here
Heligan is located near Mevagissey, around 6 miles from St Austell. Follow signs from the A390 and A3058 through Pentewan and onto Heligan Road, where brown tourist signs guide you to the entrance.
How to get here
Heligan is located near Mevagissey, around 6 miles from St Austell. Follow signs from the A390 and A3058 through Pentewan and onto Heligan Road, where brown tourist signs guide you to the entrance.
Getting here by bus...
Buses from St Austell and Mevagissey stop near the gardens. From the bus stop, it’s a short walk along the access road to the main entrance.
- National Rail Go to Website
- 29, St Austell to the Lost Gardens of Heligan and Mevagissey Go to Website
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