Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway
The brainchild of Lionel Nathan de Rothschild, Exbury Estate was bought in 1919 from the Mitford family and transformed into an idyllic garden with ornamental pools and paths. It is particularly famous for Rothschilds' collection of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias.
During the war, Exbury House was requisitioned by the Royal Navy to administer the training of the crews of many of the landing craft that were used in the amphibious assaults against occupied Europe. After the war Lionel's widow and son Edmund set out to restore the gardens to their former glory, a labour of love continued by Edmund's sons Nicholas and Lionel.
Among the glorious collections of rhododendrons, azaleas & camellias, the newest attraction is the steam railway, which includes a bridge, tunnel, viaduct, causeway and Exbury Central Station. The Smithy Restaurant serves lunches and teas, and the Plant Centre allows visitors to take a flourishing bit of Exbury Gardens home with them.
| Venue Information: | Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway |
|---|---|
| Full Name: | |
| Cost: | £8; concessions £7.50; children £1.50; under 3s free |
| Opening Hours: | Daily 10am-5pm |
| Address: | Estate Office, Exbury SO45 1AZ |
| Directions: | 15 miles (24km) south-west of Southampton, about 20 minutes south of M27 junction 2 and 2.5 miles (4km) south-east of Beaulieu, heading towards the Solent coast. |
| Contact Details: | Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway |
| Phone: | +44 (0) 23 8089 1203 (office hours) / +44 (0) 23 8089 9422 (24-hour information) |
| Fax: | +44 (0) 23 8089 9940 |
| Other Information: | Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway |
| Website: | Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway Website |
| Website: | Hampshire County Council Website |
| Website: | Beaulieu Website |
| Name: | Southampton Tourist Office |
|---|---|
| Location: | Southampton |
| Address: | 9 Civic Centre Road, Southampton, SO14 7FJ |
| Email: | tourist.information@southampton.gov.uk |
| Phone: | +44 (0) 23 8083 3333 |
| Fax: | +44 (0) 23 8083 3381 |
| Name: | South East England Tourist Board |
| Location: | South East |
| Address: | 40 Chamberlayne Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 5JH |
| Email: | enquiries@seetb.org.uk |
| Phone: | +44 (0) 238 062 5400 |
| Fax: | +44 (0) 1892 511 008 |
| Name: | Tourism South East |
| Location: | South East |
| Address: | 40 Chamberlayne Road, Eastleigh SO50 5JH |
| Email: | customerservices@tourismse.com |
| Phone: | +44 (0) 23 80 625 400 |
| Fax: | +44 (0) 23 80 620 010 |
| Name: | British Tourist Authority |
| Location: | United Kingdom |
| Address: | Thames Tower, Black's Road, Hammersmith, London W6 9EL |
| Phone: | +44 (0) 20 8846 9000 |
| Fax: | +44 (0) 20 8563 0302 |
| Name: | The National Trust |
| Location: | United Kingdom |
| Email: | enquiries@ntrust.org.uk |
| Phone: | +44 (0) 20 8315 1111 |
| Fax: | +44 (0) 20 8466 6824 |
