Jan 5, 2025
Fabulous Winter Lights Glow - On reading some of the other reviews, I really can't understand some of the low scoring negative reviews, especially when people comment on the parking and food, when it's the lights you've come to see. I think evening lights displays are more suitable for adults and not aimed at children or to be overtly Christmassy. It just shows it's all relative and a lot depends on other events you've been to. We drove 3hrs for the experience and weren't disappointed. Took us 1.5hrs to wander round and would have happily gone round again if it wasn't close to closing time. Large area and lots of different installations. Loved the photo-frame stops and the fountains to music were fab.
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Jan 3, 2025
Wisley Winter Glow - Winter Glow was well worth a visit. Quite a few changes from last year that gave us a different view of the gardens.
We also had dinner in the Terrace restaurant. Lovely food. Our waitress, Zoe, was great. Attentive without being too pushy. Food was also good, although a bit pricey.
Definately be back next year.
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Dec 28, 2024
Wisley Glow review - This was the first time we have visited Wisley Glow. Our family party of adults of a mixture of ages had a thoroughly enjoyable two hours wandering around the Glow route, taking many photos of the glorious light effects around the route.
It is beautifully created, with hidden gems lit up as well as larger more spectacular plants. We got some stunning photos and some videos too.
We enjoyed the street food on offer as well. The lights/fountains/fire/music display at the end is very good indeed.
A few points to note:
- we did overhear some children saying that they were bored; it’s great for adults, very young toddlers and any child who likes photography, but the general lack of interactivity will probably bore other children
- much of the lighting is on living plants or linked to water features which is great in that it uses them very effectively, but it’s not Christmas/winter themed except in the most tenuous of ways (a recording of Alan Titchmarsh telling a story about Jack Frost in one corner near one of the restaurants)
- it was very busy, but it was still easy to take great photos and admire the displays
- the street food was expensive and the range of hot dog/burger options was slightly odd: beef (for children) or pork or vegan. Why nothing chicken apart from a curry?
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 2, 2025
Good day out - Really nice day out, even young teenager enjoyed it.
Beautiful exhibits and even got to take lovely flowers home.
Had tea and cake in the cafe which was lovely too.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 27, 2025
Lovely walk and lunch - Had a lovely stroll around the gardens, beautifully maintained and so much to see. Then had lunch at The Terrace restaurant. Really lovely, welcoming, good food selection and lovely relaxed atmosphere. Will be coming again
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Jan 18, 2025
Lovely gardens - but catering is increasingly overpriced - Lovely gardens - even in winter. However the catering operation run by the Company of Cooks is increasingly overpriced - almost £4.0 today for a coffee is ridiculous - as a result of which we will no longer patronise the various cafes on the site - and may even reconsider ongoing RHS membership at a time when the charity needs all the support it can get.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 13, 2025
Nice place :) - Nice gardens. Lots to see plus historical stuff too.
If you're using the £2 shuttle bus from Woking Station bear it's only at particular times. Very infrequent.
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Mar 16, 2025
Great gardens but rubbish cafe experience - Firstly , Wisley is an amazing place. The plants on show are magical, the grounds are tended and the pathways are carefully maintained to give the visitor the most amazing experience. The Glasshouse is stunning and it feels like Summer every day. However..and this is a big negative. The Glasshouse cafe: Truly the pits. and that takes some doing. I have travelled the world and seen chaos in restaurants and cafe but I think even Ramsay would be stumped to sort this one out! Tables not clear or even clean. Queues 20 minutes for a tea and no one in charge. When the manager did eventually appear from the back, she was rude to people queuing having paid for their drinks. Also, they turned lights out whilst still taking orders for drinks and food. Shambolic mess. Please sort this out. It is really not that hard to run a retail business. Maybe even consider getting a couple of Costa drinks machines in, like you find in supermarkets nowadays. A lot of customers were complaining and this could impact future returning trade. The gardens are a1, though. Praise to them.
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Feb 1, 2025
Nice gardens but the other stuff needs to be sharper - OK as it goes but...
We went to the Glasshouse café and they failed/forgot to bring one of our orders with the rest which was frustrating but, in fairness, they did take it off the bill. There is a good soft play area for smaller kids attached.
In the shop we bought items which were reduced which the woman at the cash failed to notice which then resulted in a protracted palaver to get a refund and then check everything through again.
All in all not a bad way to spend time with small kids but, in view of the cost, things could be sharper.
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Mar 8, 2025
Hilltop Cafe, RHS Wisley - Lunch in the Hilltop Cafe was very disappointing. No sandwiches available, so opted for a Bean Roll with Salad which sounds interesting. Sadly no, the Bean Roll was predominately a hard pastry with few beans and the salad consisted solely of very tired Iceland lettuce.
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