Our famous Walled Garden is a must see during your visit. The sculptural grass terraces lead down to a central water feature, with gently bubbling fountains & centre piece by renowned British sculptor, Julian Wild. The amphitheatre design is influenced by the cultivation terraces seen in the Himalayas and is the perfect location for our summer theatre season.

The Himalayan Hut on the top terrace is made from traditional Kentish hop poles and incorporates wood from a cedar destroyed in the great storm of 1987. A beautiful shady spot to stop and enjoy the view, it is alive with climbing roses and vines in the summer.

In June the long southern border is a riot of colour with alliums and peonies bursting into life. These are followed by herbaceous borders and dalias, with colour and blooms lasting well into the Autumn.

In 2021 we revitalising the top terrace of the Walled Garden with a Potager planting scheme. A mix of cut flowers, edibles and medicinal plants are all grown together. It is a return to the old-fashioned way of growing useful plants. The result is a natural looking riot of texture, colour and scent.

To read more about the Potager see our Head Gardener’s Blog.

Please note the Walled Garden is sometimes closed for private events - check dates here.

The loveliest spot for a wander in the sunshine, our huge selection of roses flower throughout the summer and fill the air with scent. It’s not just the roses that will capture your imagination - you can enjoy a wide selection of flowering specimens and foliage in this space, too.

Look out for our fig tree at the far end, it is over 170 years old and still bearing fruit. Best of all is the wonderful bench underneath it, with a fine view of the Rose Walk and house.

Our newly restored Edwardian Rock Garden has been a real labour of love to bring back to life. The area had lain neglected and forgotten for sixty years and was completely inaccessible to garden visitors. It is now a peaceful haven of dappled light and gently cascading water, filled with a huge variety of ferns.

Our Head gardener at the time, Adam Roberts, and his team of volunteers started the project in January 2018. Due to the inaccessibility of the area the original pathways and stonework had to be uncovered by hand.

Working closely with members of the British Pteridological Society, we are exploring what can be done with this versatile plant that predates the dinosaurs, yet is still constantly evolving at an astonishing rate.

In the Spring you will see the new fronds (called fiddleheads) with their subtle range of colours emerging, while later in the year you can try and spot the many variations in texture and form - we have over 80 different varieties, some of them quite rare.

Admire the sculptural form that the wisterias at the end of the path have achieved in the last hundred years and keep an eye open for the new ferns that are busily finding their own way into the nooks and crannies on and between the rocks.

An enchanting place for a wander, the Wood Garden is carpeted with bluebells in spring and is home to many of our most prized rhododendrons and azaleas, some of which arrived at Riverhill as seeds sent back by the intrepid plant hunters. Many of these took as long as 30 years to flower for the first time - but it’s been worth the wait, as they look stunning now!

The area has many intriguing twisty paths and hidden spots to discover, and proves a popular part of the garden for exploration by guests of all ages. Find a spot on a bench for some tranquil relaxation, listening to the rustling leaves.

Our Mini Everest viewpoint is well worth the climb and rewards our more intrepid visitors with wide open views across the Weald of Kent towards Tonbridge, Ashdown Forest and Hadlow. It is hard not be be impressed by the scene laid out before you and the huge, shifting skies and ever-changing light mean that no two days are the same up here. A brilliant spot for a picnic. Look out for our Riverhill beehives too.

At the bottom of the viewpoint is our fiendishly tricky Himalayan Hedge Maze. Designed by world renowned maze expert, Adrian Fisher, the design is based on Tibetan carvings.  it is possible to solve it in both a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. Hours of fun for all ages trying to reach the historic cupola in the centre. 

The cupola originally sat on top of the Cadbury's Schweppes bottling plant in Colwall, Malvern.  Sarah Rogers' father (a Cadbury family descendent) purchased the site for development but planning restrictions meant that there was no place for the original cupola and it lay discarded.  Determined to find it a new home, it was suggested that it would make an interesting centerpiece for the maze.  Transporting this huge leaden structure from Herefordshire to Kent and installing it in the centre of the maze presented quite a challenge but we are thrilled that this fine piece of craftsmanship now has a great new home where it can be much admired.  

And don’t worry, we do check for stragglers at closing time!

Our beautifully grand terraces provide elevated views of Riverhill House on one side and a sweeping vista across the fields to the other.

Once a Victorian Tennis Court, the lawn now plays host to our wedding marquees (yes, you can get married here, see our weddings page for more info) and is also a great spot to let off some steam with a quick run around or relax and settle in for the afternoon with an epic family picnic.

Can you find the secret swing? (Clue: you will have to run as far as you can go)

On the top terrace our fully restored Summer House is a wonderful spot for a relax and a read whilst looking out at the farm land and grazing cattle below. A wonderful pastoral scene.