About

For international visitors, Iford offers a quintessentially English experience with a Mediterranean twist. Visitors can explore the cloister, terraces, statues, pools, ancient stonework and the tranquil Japanese garden, all set within a stunning rural landscape.   

Many gardening groups particularly appreciate the garden’s manageable size, allowing visitors to experience a remarkable variety of features without the crowds often found at larger attractions. Private and group visits can also be arranged outside normal opening hours, creating an exclusive and memorable experience.   

Group visits include a complimentary introduction & welcome given by a family member in English, Italian, French or Spanish; and groups are welcome to book a tour of the garden with owners William or Marianne Cartwright-Hignett, with an option to visit the family’s private walled garden with a member of our garden team.  

Iford Manor Estate is conveniently located just 20 minutes from the historic city of Bath, making it an ideal addition to wider UK tours and itineraries. Additionally, visitors can also enjoy the acclaimed Iford Manor Café, Kitchen and Bakery, turning a garden visit into a complete day out.  

Key selling points for groups

• Exclusive Private Visits 
  Groups can enjoy exclusive access outside normal opening hours, creating a much more personal and memorable experience than many larger attractions. Free entry for tour guides.

• Family Welcome and Personal Touch 
  Every group receives a complimentary welcome and introduction from a member of the Cartwright-Hignett family who own and live in the manor. This personal connection is something many historic attractions cannot offer.  
• Unique Grade I Listed Garden 
  The garden is one of only a small number of Grade I registered historic gardens in Britain and is internationally recognised for the work of the celebrated designer Harold Peto.
• Multilingual Experience 
  Introductions and tours can be offered in several languages, making Iford particularly attractive to international groups.
• Hidden Areas Not Open to General Visitors 
  Groups can arrange visits to the family’s private walled garden, providing access to parts of the estate that ordinary visitors do not see.   
• Ideal Location Near Bath 
  Just a short drive from Bath, Iford fits perfectly into wider itineraries featuring the Cotswolds, Wiltshire, stately homes and heritage tours.
• Easy Coach-Friendly Logistics 
  Pre-booked coaches have dedicated access, on-site parking, free admission for drivers and guides, and refreshments for drivers.   
• Outstanding Scenery and Photography 
  The romantic terraces, cloisters, statues, pools and sweeping valley views make Iford exceptionally photogenic and popular with garden societies, photographers and cultural groups.   
• Award-Winning Group Destination 
  Iford was recognised as a “Little Treasure of Britain” in the Group Travel Awards, reinforcing its appeal to group travel organisers. Iford was also shortlisted to the final 6 gardens for the prestigious Historic Houses Garden of the Year 2025. 
• Flexible Group Sizes 
  From small specialist groups of 2 guests, to coach parties of up to 100 people (we are able to take a maximum of 2 coaches at any one time from the same tour), visits can be tailored to suit a wide range of interests and requirements.

Useful information for travel trade

Group booking procedures 

• Contact Alex on the Iford Manor team via email or phone.
• Regarding cancellations for groups, the final guest number is confirmed 3 weeks prior to the visit date, with the invoice then raised. Payment by BACS is required 14 days prior to the visit and once paid, any cancellations are non-refundable, whether for individuals or for the entire group.

Rates and pricing 

• The fee for 2026 is £13.80 per person; this includes 1.5 hours in the main garden. If the walled garden visit is added, this adds a further 45-minutes to the visit time. 
• Iford Manor Gardens does not offer FIT or commissionable rates.

Group sizes and event capacity 

• There is no minimum group size; instead, there is a minimum entrance fee of £200 for a group visit.

Coach access and parking 

• The coach drop-off point is directly behind our restaurant (please note that coaches need to access Iford via a different route to cars, so if a booking is made, coach directions are emailed to the person who has made the booking. The team asks that these are a) sent to the coach company and b) printed so that a copy can be given to the driver on the day. Coaches must only follow the directions sent to them, as this is the only way to reach Iford safely.  
• There is plenty of parking for cars in the car park directly opposite the manor.  

Enhanced and exclusive experiences

• Private walled garden visits with a member of the gardening team. A visit to the family’s private walled garden at £102 per group (there is no upper limit on numbers) 
• Guided tour of the main garden with one of the owners at £150 per group. Each tour can accommodate up to 30 guests.  
• Enjoy a glass of champagne and a 30-minute Q&A with the owner, William Cartwright-Hignett, to end the tour.  Priced at £85 per person.  
• Perhaps pair your visit with a set group lunch or an à la carte lunch in our restaurant, Iford Manor Kitchen. Enquire for details.  
• Enjoy a classic Afternoon Tea on the terrace at Iford Manor Kitchen. Available 3-4pm, must be pre-booked at least 72hrs in advance by emailing info@ifordmanor.co.uk £18.50pp.  

Sustainability

Iford Manor's aim is to be a net energy supplier: producing more energy from the various solar arrays and its hydroelectricity plant than they use.

They farm the valley with extensive grazing, trapping carbon in the ancient grasslands and wildflower meadows. They also manage the ancient woodlands carefully.

Iford Manor Café & Kitchen operates a ‘nose to tail’/ ‘root to flower’ policy to ensure all parts are used, wherever safe to do so. This minimises food waste. They rear, grow and forage from our farm and garden to supply the Kitchen. All other produce is locally and ethically sourced, with food freshly prepared in-house.

Garden visitors are invited to contribute towards the costs of tree-planting here, to offset the carbon from their journey to Iford.

The wildlife-friendly garden uses compost made on site, manure and sheep wool from the farm and more.

Iford Manor strives to ensure that everything on the estate is integrated and reused wherever possible, with minimal use of plastics.