The Historic Houses Garden of the Year winner is launching a brand-new floral celebration as its rose garden reaches full maturity. Here’s what to expect.
Arundel Castle is adding a new event to its calendar this summer — and it revolves around one of the world’s most beloved flowers.
More than 300 rose plants, first planted in the castle’s Rose Garden in 2024, will reach full maturity this June, transforming the space into what head gardener Martin Duncan describes as a heady mix of colour and fragrance set against the dramatic backdrop of the castle walls.
The castle, which won Historic Houses Garden of the Year in 2025, is inviting visitors to experience the display as a sensory journey through several distinct garden spaces — each with its own character and planting.
What visitors will see
The route begins with hedging of intensely fragrant Harlow Carr roses before opening out into vibrant flower beds framed by lavender, sculpted yew balls and elegant cones. History and literature run through the planting: roses are named after Emily Brontë, Penelope Lively, Princess Anne, Olivia Rose Austin and Shropshire Lad, alongside climbers such as Adélaïde d’Orléans.
The journey continues into the White Garden beside the Fitzalan Chapel, where the William and Catherine rose — created to mark the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — takes centre stage, its petals fading from warm cream to pure white with a gentle myrrh-like scent.
From there, visitors can wander up the drive to the walled gardens and into the Cut Flower Garden, where newly planted roses sit against deep green yew hedging. Highlights include the glowing orange of Lady of Shalott, the soft pink and apricot tones of Elizabeth, and the mid-pink blooms of Olivia Rose Austin and Jacques Cartier.
Large terracotta pots leading to the English Herbaceous Borders overflow with The Poet’s Wife, a fragrant yellow rose, alongside heavily scented Cherry Pie heliotropes. Those who prefer deeper tones can find the cherry-red John Innes clinging to the ancient Organic Kitchen Garden wall.
Worth the trip from Brighton
Arundel is one of the easiest castle day trips from Brighton, sitting just 30 minutes west by train or car. For anyone planning a summer day out across Sussex, the timing is ideal — June is peak season for both the roses and the castle’s wider gardens.
Martin Duncan said he and his team are more excited than ever this year, describing June as the month they all look forward to as the rose garden provides its first full display of colour and fragrance.
Tickets and details
Garden-only tickets are available at arundelcastle.org, priced at £17 for adults and £8 for children. Under-fives go free. Access to the Plant Fair is included with standard garden or castle entry, and Plant Fair-only tickets are available on the day at the ticket office for £5. Some dates are excluded from garden-only tickets, so it is worth checking the website before booking.
