Painswick Rococo Gardens

Designed in the 1740s as an English country gentleman’s pleasure garden, Rococo Gardens was originally a place for holding intimate garden parties.

Laid out in a hidden valley around Painswick House, the Garden is now the country’s only complete surviving Rococo garden.

If you’re asking yourself, what does ‘Rococo’ mean? Don’t despair as it’s not a commonly used word in the English dictionary today. The word ‘Rococo’ describes a period of art that was fashionable in Europe in the 1700s, characterised by ornamental decoration, the use of pastel colours, and asymmetry. In England, the 1700s were a time of ‘joie de vivre’ (exuberant enjoyment of life) among the upper middle classes. They loved to show off their wealth by indulging in the flamboyant and the frivolous, and their gardens became an elaborate playroom where they would entertain and party.

As the UK’s only complete surviving Rococo garden, there’s nowhere in Britain quite like Painswick Rococo Garden. Escape the stresses of everyday life and get lost in the haven of peace and tranquillity.  This is a place for fun, adventure, and exploration – it’s perfect for all the family.

Make sure you visit the historical hidden valley, get lost through the quirky maze, take a sunlight stroll through the woodland walks, snap up some shots, and capture nature as you’ve never seen it before.

If you find yourself getting a little peckish, head over to the café for freshly ground coffee, delicious homemade cakes, and freshly cooked lunch made from seasonal local ingredients.

It is worth noting that both the Café and Shop are accessible to wheelchairs and buggies. In addition, there is also an accessible toilet and a toilet with baby-changing facilities. The Garden itself was built in a hidden valley almost 300 years ago. Paths are both steep and uneven, and only around a fifth of the garden is accessible to wheelchairs. The steepest slopes all have handrails, and there are 45 benches dotted around the Garden for when you need to rest. The Garden isn’t suitable for motorised scooters.