Following an 18-month transformation, the first visitors got to see the Venus Garden at Windsor Castle when it opened for the summer on 16th July. The new design and name takes inspiration from the pattern of Venus’ orbit, creating a petal-like formation.
Over many decades, the garden has changed style several times, from its first incarnation as a bowling green to the Duke of Edinburgh’s simple rose garden. This latest redesign combines formal planting, wildflower meadows, sculpted yew hedging and historic sculptures from the Royal Collection, while a dramatic new treescape including ornamental pear trees, dogwood and crab apple creates a renewed sense of scale and spectacle across the garden.
The new garden creates a year-round biodiverse haven for wildlife and pollinators, reflecting His Majesty’s long-standing commitment to sustainability.
History of the Venus Garden
First laid out in the 1820s on the site of Charles II’s bowling green to provide a pleasant view from George IV’s new apartments, the garden has been reshaped by successive generations of the Royal Family.
Queen Victoria recorded that Prince Albert took particular interest in its planting, while during World War Two, the beds became allotments for Castle residents, including the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. In the decades that followed, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh simplified the layout into formal rose beds and commissioned a central fountain. The garden has intermittently been open to the public throughout its history, most recently for weekend openings in the summers of 2020 and 2021.
Access to the Venus Garden is included with a standard group ticket to Windsor Castle until 13th September at no extra charge. Groups of 15 or more are offered discounted admission to the Castle and grounds.
Find all the information you need to plan a group visit to Windsor Castle here.
