Wakehurst Mansion Reopens With New Exhibition Spaces

27 June 2025

Release date: 27 June 2025

The historic Wakehurst Mansion, a Grade I listed Elizabethan property located in the heart of the Sussex landscape, has reopened to the public today, Friday 27th June 2025 following an extensive two-year roof restoration, unveiling two brand new exhibition spaces and a new area for visitors to relax.  

This marks a significant chapter in Wakehurst’s history, reintroducing the Mansion as a space that unites heritage, scientific innovation and visitor experience, creating a brand-new way for visitors to engage and interact with the historic space. The reopening also coincides with two major milestones: the 25th anniversary of the Millennium Seed Bank, and 60 years since the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, assumed management of Wakehurst from the National Trust in 1965, recognising the site’s potential as a complementary and ecologically diverse counterpart to Kew Gardens in London. 

Visitors are invited to explore three newly restored spaces within the Mansion, each offering a unique perspective on Wakehurst’s past, present, and future: 

  • The Billiard Room houses an exhibition exploring the layered history of Wakehurst from the ground up, tracing the transformation of the landscape from prehistoric origins to a centre of botanical and scientific excellence. This space also highlights the unique relationship between RBG Kew and the National Trust.
  • The Chapel, the original birthplace of the Millennium Seed Bank (celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025), showcases Wakehurst’s pioneering role in seed conservation and how contemporary scientific research continues in the garden today, including through the Nature Unlocked programme that uses the Wakehurst landscape as a living laboratory exploring nature-based solutions for climate change.
  • The Library has been thoughtfully revived as a tranquil retreat, offering visitors a contemplative environment in which to appreciate the Mansion’s character and atmosphere. 

These new exhibitions reflect two core themes: Wakehurst as a living laboratory in a historic landscape shaped by centuries of careful and innovative stewardship. Through immersive interpretation and storytelling, the Mansion once again becomes a focal point for visitor engagement, education, and scientific awareness. 

Wakehurst Director Susan Raikes said: “The reopening of Wakehurst Mansion marks a significant milestone in the evolution of this remarkable site. The new exhibition spaces reflect our commitment to deepening public engagement with the natural world through the lens of science, heritage, and innovation. This achievement is the result of a collaborative effort, and we are proud to welcome visitors into a revitalised Mansion that honours its past while embracing an exciting future.” 

The National Trust has been an engaged partner throughout the restoration process. Caroline Ikin, Curator at the National Trust said: “The National Trust and Kew have worked together at Wakehurst for many years, and we’re delighted the mansion is re-opening following extensive conservation work to the exterior of the building. This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter at Wakehurst, with new displays exploring the rich history of the mansion and the people who’ve lived and worked there.  Collaborating with Kew on the re-opening of these historic spaces has enabled us to share our joint vision of increasing access to our places.” 

ENDS

For all press and photo opportunities, please email wakehurstpr@kew.org  

Access to the Mansion is included with entry to Wakehurst. For more information on tickets and opening hours, visit https://www.kew.org/wakehurst/whats-at-wakehurst/the-mansion  

Notes to editors 

Please note that Wakehurst is referred to just as Wakehurst, not Wakehurst Place. It is not a National Trust property.  

The National Trust was bequeathed the Mansion and grounds of Wakehurst in 1963. It was then entrusted to us here at Kew in 1965, and we now work in partnership with the National Trust to care for our collections and heritage areas. Wakehurst is Kew’s wild botanic garden in the Sussex High Weald. Its ancient and beautiful landscapes span 535 acres and are a place for escape, exploration, tranquility, and wonder. Its diverse collection of plants from Britain and around the globe thrive within a tapestry of innovative gardens, temperate woodlands, meadows, and wetlands. Wakehurst is a centre for UK biodiversity and global conservation, seed research and ecosystem science. At its heart is Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, the world’s largest store of seeds from wild plant species.     

RBG Kew receives approximately one third of its funding from Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and research councils. Further funding needed to support RBG Kew’s vital work comes from donors, membership and commercial activity including ticket sales. In the first six months since implementing a new accessibility scheme for those in receipt of Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Legacy Benefits, Kew has welcomed over 100,000 visitors with £1 tickets.  

At the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, we’re dedicated to harnessing the power of plants and fungi to end the extinction crisis and secure a future for all life on Earth. With our world-leading research, global partnerships and beloved gardens – home to the world’s most diverse collections of plants and fungi – we’re using our trusted voice to shape policy and practice worldwide. As a charity we rely on the critical support of our visitors, not only to sustain the gardens, but to protect global plant and fungal biodiversity for the benefit of our planet and humanity. 

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