Leonardslee Estate Launches Summer 2024 Events Programme

Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens, the historic 750-acre estate in Horsham, West Sussex, has announced its summer events programme, offering a range of activities for families and visitors of all ages. The estate features Grade I Listed woodland gardens, a Sussex Wine vineyard, a luxury vineyard hotel, and Michelin-starred Restaurant Interlude.

Step into the World of Leonardslee Family Vineyards with a series of events highlighting the release of their first English sparkling wines, the first of which features exclusive tasting events and Michelin-starred dining on June 8th. Taste & Terroir on June 9th is a wine and food pairing focused on local produce, while the Vineyard Wine Tasting Experience offers sessions led by wine experts on June 14th and 21st.

Runners can join the Heritage Trail Series for four 10km trail running events throughout the year, offering a chance to run through breathtaking landscapes in spring, summer, autumn, and winter. There’s also the newly introduced 5km event on Sunday 9th June, designed for those new to trail running or seeking a less demanding experience but still wanting a thrilling adventure.

Enjoy an evening of live entertainment on the evenings of June 21st and July 19th at the Leonardslee Comedy Club. When the weather is fine, the show is held outdoors in the wine garden, creating an unforgettable alfresco comedy experience. Meanwhile, the Leonardslee Lates Summer event on June 28th and 29th features live music and entertainment, with a rare opportunity to see the gardens open after dark.

The Summer Open Air Cinema 2024 presents outdoor film screenings on July 27th, August 17th and also on September 7th and 21st. It features classics: ‘Notting Hill,’ ‘Grease,’ ‘The Greatest Showman’ and the enchanting ‘Wonka’ – perfect for a magical evening under the stars.

The Labyrinth Challenge X Leonardslee Gardens, a family-friendly obstacle course event, is back this year by popular demand and takes place from August 8th until the 11th. Dodge swinging blades, leap over hurdles, and sprint to the finish on the 1000ft long inflatable obstacle course, which includes five action-packed zones and over 34 unique challenges and obstacles.

"We are thrilled to welcome families, nature lovers and food and wine enthusiasts to Leonardslee this summer," said Adam Streeter, general manager of Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens. "Our estate provides a unique opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in nature, explore our stunning gardens, and enjoy a variety of engaging activities suitable for all ages."

Summer Attractions

Summer attractions include the new children's play area, featuring a 5 metre tall multi-level champion tree tower with two slides, along with a St Leonard's Dragon play structure with climbing nets and a 32.5m zipline ride.

Families can also enjoy wildlife encounters, including with rare albino wallabies, descendants of the original colony introduced in 1889, as well as free-roaming deer, foxes, rabbits, and various bird species.

Children can explore the woodland gardens and rock garden and visit the captivating "Beyond the Dolls' House Exhibition," depicting the Edwardian country estate life at a 1:12 scale.

The estate also features an extensive Open Air Sculpture and Art Gallery, showcasing monumental contemporary sculptures and the Surrey Sculpture Society exhibition.

Leonardslee's gardens, set in a steep-sided valley with seven interlaced lakes, provide a protected ecosystem for rare wildlife, including Emperor Dragonflies, Damselflies, White Admiral and Purple Hairstreak butterflies. The estate is also home to exceptional flora, such as rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, magnolias, bluebells, and rare 'champion' trees.

Families can take advantage of Leonardslee's membership benefits, which include unlimited entry all year round, free parking, free entry to the new play park, free tickets to Leonardslee Lights, free entry to "A Magical World in Miniature," and discounts on events, dining, and shopping.

For those looking to extend their visit, Leonardslee offers two accommodation options: the Grade II listed Italianate-style Leonardslee House, featuring 10 bespoke bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, and the Vineyard Hotel, offering nine bedrooms, dining at The Vineyard Kitchen Restaurant, wine tasting experiences, 18 and nine-hole golf and more.

To learn more about Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens' summer events programme and to plan your family visit, please visit www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk. 

Ends

Editors notes

Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens is a family-owned vineyard estate, near Horsham in West Sussex, which features ‘the finest woodland gardens in England’, Grade I Listed, as well as a Michelin Star restaurant and luxury vineyard accommodation.

The 240-acre estate was established by Sir Edmund Loder, the great Victorian plant collector, and now includes a Sussex Wine vineyard, with the first release of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier sparkling wine in 2024.

The estate features outstanding displays all year round. In the spring this includes rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, magnolias and bluebells. The collection is exceptional in its diversity and maturity, with several rare ‘champion’ trees, threatened in their natural habitat.

The gardens offer a protected ecosystem for rare wildlife such as Emperor Dragonflies and Damselflies, White Admiral and Purple Hairstreak butterflies and migratory and native birds - Kites, Great Tits, Tree Creepers, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers and Nightingales.

The estate reopened in April 2019, following acquisition and two years’ intensive work by entrepreneur Penny Streeter OBE to restore the woodland gardens after eight years of closure and neglect under previous ownership. It was the largest garden restoration project in the United Kingdom since Heligan 30 years before.

Since further restoration work in 2021, visitors can also stay in the luxury vineyard hotel after dining at Restaurant Interlude in Leonardslee House, the Grade II Listed Italianate mansion house, to experience the Michelin Star multi-course tasting menu created by chef Jean Delport.

The estate offers a great family day out and is one of the top places to visit in West Sussex. Visitors can view a magical world in miniature at the Beyond the Doll's House exhibition, which depicts the Edwardian estate and neighbouring villages at 1:12 scale. There is also an exciting new 2,500 sq m play park designed to mix recreational play with the natural attractions of the Grade I Listed woodland gardens, and a spectacular winter festival annually when the gardens are illuminated, attracting many thousands of visitors.

For great days out, there is an extensive programme of entertainment that includes winter garden illuminations and light trails, wine and beer festivals, photo and art exhibitions, live music events, cooking and gardening demonstrations, arts and crafts fairs, modelling and toy shows, and children’s events and adventure trails.

Leonardslee Family Vineyards in numbers

· Acquired 2017 · Total Estate 750 acres · 38 Acres of vineyard, 73,000 vines

· 2017 First vines planted · 170 Tonnes of grapes, 2023 harvest · 100,000 bottles annually produced · Sparkling wine cultivars 60% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier · 2024 First release of wine