Spend a Winter Evening at The Enchanted Rococo Garden during December

When winter’s chill sets in and the early dusk rolls across the Cotswold hills, Painswick’s Rococo Garden transforms into a glowing dreamscape. The Enchanted Garden by Night will cast its gentle spell from 28 November to 29 December 2025 on selected evenings.

The Rococo Garden is something really special right on our doorstep here at the Edgemoor Inn. It has historical significance as the only complete surviving Rococo garden in England, originally designed in the 1740s by Benjamin Hyett, owner of Painswick House, as a private pleasure garden in a hidden valley where he enjoyed entertaining guests.

Over time the garden fell into disrepair, but since 1984 a charitable trust has been working on restoring it – and we have to say it is well worth a visit at any time of year, but it particularly comes alive in its glittering festive winter mantle.

What to Expect on a Visit to the Enchanted Rococo Garden

As the sun sets, the garden comes alive in a whimsical, fairy-tale fashion. Trees shimmer with soft lights, ponds sparkle as reflections dance across the water, and hidden nooks reveal delightful surprises — from woodland animals to a secret fairy village.

Highlights include:

• The Red House, bathed in warm, inviting light.
• The Exedra, a rococo architectural gem, illuminated as a striking backdrop — ideal for festive snapshots.
• Tunnels of twinkling lights, disco balls spinning gently from branches, and even mermaids shimmering in the plunge pool.
• A hidden woodland village, where imaginative installations tuck themselves into the trees.

On your evening stroll through this winter wonderland, you can warm up with mulled wine or a creamy hot chocolate. When you’re ready to head home, drop into the shop for locally sourced Christmas gifts, or pick out a Christmas tree at the Exedra Nursery.

Tickets & Accessibility

• Prices: Adults £18, Children (4–16) £9, Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) £50.
• Time slots: Evening visits begin at 4:00 PM, with the garden typically closing around 8:00 PM.
• Relaxed sessions: For sensory-sensitive visitors, there are special “relaxed” nights with fewer guests and a calmer atmosphere.
• Getting there: The garden’s address is Gloucester Road, Painswick, GL6 6TH, about half a mile outside the village, with free car parking.
• Accessibility: The garden is set in a hidden valley with steep, uneven paths. Only around 20% of the garden is wheelchair access. There are handrails on steep slopes, and benches (around 45) for resting.
• Facilities: Accessible toilets (with baby changing) are near the café entrance.
• Dogs: Well-behaved dogs on short leads are welcome.
• Footwear & clothing: Because of winter conditions and uneven ground, dress in sturdy shoes and warm clothing.

The Enchanted Garden by Night is more than just a light trail — it’s a gentle celebration of nature, imagination, and quiet joy. Walking through the softly lit follies and woodland scenes, you feel transported, if only for a little while, into a world where Christmas magic mingles with the whisper of trees.

Make Memories in the Cotswolds

If you’re planning a day out to the Cotswolds in the run up to Christmas and New Year, take a look at our suggestions for where to go to do some local Christmas shopping. Then in the late afternoon head off to the Rococo Garden for a memorable magical ramble before you hop across to our Inn for a cosy meal. Our menu offers homecooked, hearty fare – just what you need to round off a delightful day.

See you soon!