Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire: what to see and when to go

Westonbirt Arboretum is a large tree garden near Tetbury in Gloucestershire, England. It holds around 15,000 trees and shrubs from many countries, with marked paths through both formal avenues and old woodland. Visitors come for rare species, seasonal displays, and events like illuminated winter trails.

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Home to around 15,000 trees and shrubs from across the globe
Features 17 miles of marked walking paths
Hosts seasonal events like Enchanted Christmas and Treefest
Some trees are marked as 'champion trees' for their size or rarity
Silk Wood includes traditional coppiced woodland dating to the 13th century

What is Westonbirt Arboretum?

Westonbirt Arboretum covers about 600 acres and features over 2,500 tree species from around the world. Visitors can explore 17 miles of marked trails, passing through both designed landscapes and ancient woodland. The Old Arboretum has formal avenues and rare trees, while Silk Wood offers a more natural setting with working coppice and native species. Each tree is labelled, and some are marked as 'champion trees' for their size or rarity.

The history of Westonbirt Arboretum

The land at Westonbirt has a long history, with woodland management practices like coppicing recorded since the 13th century. The arboretum itself began in 1829, created by Robert Stayner Holford and later expanded by his son. After passing through the Holford family, it came under public management in the mid-20th century. The estate's mansion, Westonbirt House, is now a school and no longer part of the arboretum.

What there is to see

The arboretum is divided into two main areas: the Old Arboretum, with carefully planned plantings and avenues, and Silk Wood, which retains a traditional woodland character. Paths wind through collections of trees from many continents. Active woodland management, including coppicing of hazel and oak, continues in parts of Silk Wood, supporting both conservation and traditional crafts.

Autumn scene at Westonbirt, Gloucestershire, England. Photographed by Adrian Pingstone on 26th October 2003 and placed in the public domain. — Autumn scene at Westonbirt, Gloucestershire, England. Photographed by Adrian Pingstone on 26th October 2003 and placed i. Photo: Arpingstone, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Westonbirt Arboretum - View through trees Photo taken by and copyright Stuz .. Photo: The original uploader was Stuz at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

When to go

Westonbirt Arboretum is open year-round, with highlights in every season. Spring brings fresh leaves and flowers, autumn is known for colourful foliage, and winter features the Enchanted Christmas light trail. The site also hosts festivals, concerts, and family activities, attracting visitors interested in nature, gardening, and outdoor events.

Parts and collections

The arboretum contains both exotic and native species, with some trees dating back to the 1850s. Special blue labels identify trees that are the largest or tallest of their kind in Britain. The two main areas, the Old Arboretum and Silk Wood, offer different experiences, from formal plantings to working woodland.

Why Westonbirt Arboretum matters

Westonbirt Arboretum is listed as a Grade I site for its historic and horticultural value. It is well known in the UK for its tree collections and seasonal displays. Events like Treefest and Enchanted Christmas have become local traditions, drawing crowds for music, crafts, and illuminated walks among the trees.

Questions people ask about Westonbirt Arboretum

Where is Westonbirt Arboretum located?

Westonbirt Arboretum is near Tetbury in Gloucestershire, England, about three miles southwest of the town.

What can visitors see at Westonbirt Arboretum?

Visitors can explore thousands of trees and shrubs from around the world, walk along marked trails, and enjoy both formal avenues and ancient woodland.

When was Westonbirt Arboretum established?

The arboretum was started in 1829 and expanded in the 19th century by the Holford family.

Are there any special events at the arboretum?

Yes, the arboretum hosts events like the Enchanted Christmas light trail, Treefest, and other seasonal festivals and concerts.

What makes Westonbirt Arboretum notable?

It is known for its large and diverse tree collection, historic landscape, and its status as a Grade I listed site.

Good reading and sources

Official websiteOfficial site

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Westonbirt Arboretum", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Sim's Park, Coonoor: Thangaraj Kumaravel, CC BY 2.0, source

Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute: No machine-readable author provided. Shyamal assumed (based on copyrig, CC BY 2.5, source

Baldha Garden: Muntasir du, Public domain, source

Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, source

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

RHS Garden Wisley: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, source

Castle Howard: Pwojdacz ( talk ). Original uploader was Pwojdacz at en.wikipedia, Public domain, source

RHS Garden Hyde Hall: Mrmatiko, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Westonbirt Arboretum: Photo taken by and copyright Stuz ., CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Westonbirt Arboretum