A magnificent royal garden beneath the famous east facade of Windsor Castle has been transformed according to King Charles III’s vision and will open to visitors for the first time this summer.
The newly renamed and redesigned Venus Garden—formerly known as the East Terrace Garden—will become part of a standard visit to Windsor Castle between 16 July and 13 September 2026, marking the first opportunity to experience this historic space as inspired by the King’s passion for patterns in nature.
The garden opening gives visitors the rare opportunity to enjoy stunning views of the Castle’s east facade, seldom seen as part of the usual visitor route, and to spend time in an outdoor space within the walls of the 1,000-year-old castle.
A Garden Shaped by Generations
The East Terrace Garden was first laid out in the 1820s on the site of Charles II’s bowling green, designed to provide a pleasant view from George IV’s new apartments. Since then, it has been reshaped by successive generations of the Royal Family.
Queen Victoria recorded that Prince Albert took particular interest in its planting. During the Second World War, the beds became allotments for Castle residents—including the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. In the decades that followed, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh simplified the layout into formal rose beds and commissioned a central fountain.
The garden has intermittently been open to the public throughout its history, most recently for weekend openings in the summers of 2020 and 2021.
Inspired by Venus
The redesigned Venus Garden takes its inspiration from an unexpected source: the orbit of Earth’s closest planetary neighbor. Traced over eight years, Venus’s orbit creates a petal-like floral pattern. This celestial geometry has inspired the layout of newly laid perennial beds and evergreen hedge-lined pathways, through which visitors will be free to wander.
The garden now features an enhanced planting scheme offering year-round structure and long periods of seasonal interest. Mixed perennials and roses—a nod to the previous planting scheme—provide color and texture throughout summer and into autumn, while around 11,000 spring bulbs ensure vibrant displays from early in the year.
Wildflower meadows, dotted with trees and threaded with pathways, introduce softer, more naturalistic areas within the formal layout, creating a biodiverse haven for wildlife and insects that reflects the King’s longstanding commitment to sustainability.
A New Treescape
Looking out over the garden from the Castle’s terrace, visitors will notice a striking new treescape taking shape. The garden now features avenues of ornamental pear trees, alongside plantings of dogwood, crab apple, and vibrant shades of Acer, Parrotia, Hornbeam, and Catalpa. Together, they add height, texture, and renewed drama to the sunken garden. The garden’s established yew shrubs have been given new interest through topiary, creating strong lines and shapes when seen from afar.
Further yew hedging frames a series of sculptures from the Royal Collection along the garden’s curved perimeter. Among them are four bronze figures by Hubert Le Sueur, made for Charles I in the 1630s and brought to the garden for George IV. They are complemented by large-scale marble, bronze, and stone vases, lead urns, and other historic sculptures and garden ornaments, some newly introduced as part of the redesign.
“This has been a significant project to reshape this historic garden for the future, reflecting His Majesty’s vision to create a space that will offer beauty, interest and biodiversity throughout the seasons and for generations to come,” said Adam Scott, Gardens & Nursery Manager at Windsor Castle. “After around 18 months of careful transformation, we are delighted to open the Venus Garden to visitors this summer, marking the start of an important new chapter in the garden’s 200-year history.”
The Venus Garden at Windsor Castle
Where: Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1NJ
When: 16 July – 13 September 2026 (Castle closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
Tickets: Included with standard Windsor Castle admission at no extra charge. £1 tickets available for those receiving Universal Credit and other named benefits, with up to six tickets available per household.
1-Year Pass: Visitors who purchase tickets directly from Royal Collection Trust can convert them into a 1-Year Pass for unlimited return visits.
Information: rct.uk or call +44 (0)303 123 7304
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