Contact us

Main switchboard and Garden Centre

0161 503 6100

General email (Garden and Garden Centre) – bridgewater@rhs.org.uk

Mobility scooter booking – book a scooter online

Wheelchair hire – book a wheelchair online

Visiting Bridgewater

General garden opening times

We’re asking all visitors, including members, to pre-book their visit to the garden. Book your garden visit >

Monday – Sunday (closed Christmas Day)
10am – 6pm pre-booked visits only
Last entry to garden 5pm

Salford free Tuesdays
From 25 May 2021 for a 12 month period, all Salford residents are able to visit RHS Garden Bridgewater for free on Tuesdays thanks to an arrangement agreed between the RHS and Salford City Council. Proof of address for each adult resident must be shown on arrival.

---

Garden Centre opening times

Monday – Saturday (closed Christmas Day)
9.30am – 6pm
Sunday (closed Easter Sunday)
11am – 5pm

---

Staying safe

Our foremost priority is always the health and safety of our members, visitors, staff and volunteers, and we ask that everyone continues to support efforts to reduce the spread of the Covid-19. Additional safety and hygiene measures remain in place, including availability of hand sanitiser for visitors and staff, and enhanced cleaning.

We ask that everyone visiting Bridgewater please familiarise themselves with the latest Government advice and follow these measures:

• At busy times and in crowded areas, be mindful of the needs of others by making space and considering wearing a face covering if you are able
• Please read the public health messaging displayed around Bridgewater
• Wash hands more frequently for at least 20 seconds

---

Facilities

• The toilets and accessible toilets are open
• Woodland Play is open

To maintain accessibility for all our visitors we have:

• A number of manual wheelchairs available at the garden entrance for ‘on-the-day’ use. Please book your wheelchair in advance of booking a garden visit to ensure availability – book a wheelchair online
• Mobility scooters – advance booking is highly recommended. Please book your scooter in advance of booking a garden visit to ensure availability – book a scooter online
• 24 accessible parking bays
• Accessible toilet facilities in the Welcome Building, Potting Sheds and Garden Cottage. There is also a Changing Places toilet in the Welcome Building

Please note: if you are feeling unwell or experiencing symptoms associated with Coronavirus (Covid-19) you will not be permitted entry to Bridgewater.

Admission prices

RHS members and guests (1 adult guest or up to 2 children)	Free	Free
Adults	£12.65* incl Gift Aid	£11.50 excl Gift Aid
Children 5–16 years	£6.35* incl Gift Aid	£5.75 excl Gift Aid
Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children)	£30.25* incl Gift Aid	£27.50 excl Gift Aid
Additional child (Family ticket)	£5.35* incl Gift Aid	£4.85 excl Gift Aid
Car-free travel offer (bus, cycle, on foot)**	£8.25* incl Gift Aid	£7.50 excl Gift Aid

 

*The RHS relies upon the generosity of its visitors to fund its charitable work. The prices marked * above include an additional 10% donation towards our charitable work, and enable us to claim Gift Aid on your admission. For more information on Gift Aid, please contact a member of our Visitor Services team.

**Proof of car-free travel will need to be provided before entering the garden.

Two carers are admitted free of charge accompanying visitors whose disability necessitates their support.

From 25 May 2021, on Tuesdays all Salford residents are able to visit RHS Garden Bridgewater for free for the first year thanks to an arrangement agreed between the RHS and Salford City Council. Proof of address for each resident will be required on arrival.

Dogs not allowed in garden

For the safety of all our visitors, dogs are not allowed in the garden, with the exception of registered support dogs.

On foot

The first phase of RHS Greenway, a new traffic-free walking and cycling route is now open. The Greenway runs along the north of the Bridgewater Canal linking Worsley (via Worsley Court House car park off Barton Road) and Boothstown (via Quayside Close) to RHS Garden Bridgewater, enabling walkers and cyclists to enter the garden direct from the canal towpath.

Watch our video guides to the routes along the RHS Greenway to the garden: watch the route from Worsley and watch the route from Boothstown.

The new route is part of a wider £3.2 million scheme which will provide 6.2km of new or upgraded walking and cycling routes linking the garden all the way through to Walkden train station and create connections into the region’s wider walking and cycling network. The full scheme is due for completion in January 2022. More details can be found on the Salford City Council website​.

The garden is close to several additional walking routes including the Roe Green, Ellenbrook and Tyldesley Looplines and Bridgewater Way. You can plan your journey using the West Salford walking and cycling map produced by Salford City Council. Find more information about traffic-free walking routes on the Salford City Council website.

By bike

There are 50 open-air cycle racks with space for 100 cycles available at Bridgewater.

The first phase of RHS Greenway, a new traffic-free cycling and walking route is now open. The Greenway runs along the north of the Bridgewater Canal linking Worsley (via Worsley Court House car park off Barton Road) and Boothstown (via Quayside Close) to RHS Garden Bridgewater, enabling cyclists and walkers to enter the garden direct from the canal towpath.

Watch our video guides to the routes along the RHS Greenway to the garden: watch the route from Worsley and watch the route from Boothstown.

The garden is close to several cycling routes including the Roe Green, Ellenbrook and Tyldesley Looplines, Bridgewater Way and the Bridgewater Canal. You can plan your journey using the West Salford walking and cycling map produced by Salford City Council. Find more information about traffic-free cycling routes on the Salford City Council website.

For information about cycle paths in the region visit the Transport for Greater Manchester website.

Car-free

We welcome car-free visitors when travelling to Bridgewater. When you travel to the garden by bus, cycle or on foot, we offer a car-free travel discount (see admission prices), when you provide proof of travelling car-free.

Please note: The car-free travel offer can be pre-booked online with garden admission.

By car

RHS Garden Bridgewater is located off Leigh Road (A572), Worsley, Salford, about 9 miles / 30-minute drive from Manchester city centre. Car parking is free.

For Sat Nav users the postcode is M28 2LJ

Directions:

• From the M60, leave the motorway at junction 13 for the A575/A572 exit to Worsley/Leigh/Swinton, then follow signs to the A572 Leigh Road
• From the A580 East Lancs Road (southbound), turn left onto Ellenbrook Road and then left onto Leigh Road (A572)

Electric vehicles

There are three charging stations available with space to charge six vehicles. They are supplied by EV Charge Online. Please go to the EV Charge Online website for more information and to set up an account ahead of your visit.

Please note: Please note EV Charge Online is a third party. When creating an account online, you are leaving the RHS website and will be governed by EV Charge Online’s terms and conditions and privacy policy.

By bus

The RHS Garden Bridgewater Express Bus service from Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly train stations operates daily and takes only 25 minutes with drop off directly at the garden entrance. For the full timetable visit the Manchester Sightseeing website.

Please pre-book your Bridgewater Express Bus Travel (bus only or combined with garden admission).

Please note: This service is provided by a third party Manchester Sightseeing Tours. When booking online, you are leaving the RHS website and will be governed by Manchester Sightseeing’s terms and conditions and privacy policy.

Other bus services available:

You can catch the 126 Diamond Bus service (Trafford Centre–Leigh) and the 34 Stagecoach service (Bryn–Manchester) that stop on Leigh Road outside the garden. Watch a video of the walking route from the bus stop to the garden.

Alternatively, you can catch the V1, V2 and V4 First Bus services (Leigh/Atherton/Ellenbrook–Manchester) that stop on Newearth Road, and is about a 15-minute walk from the garden. Watch a video of the walking route from the bus stop to the garden.

The 129 Vision Bus service (Higher Green–Farnworth) and 132 Diamond Bus service (Wigan–Trafford Centre) stop on Leigh Road in Boothstown and is about a 10-minute walk from the garden. Watch a video of the walking route from the bus stop to the garden.

For bus routes and timetable information visit the Transport for Greater Manchester website.

By train

The closest local stations are Walkden (about 2 miles); Moorside (about 5 miles); Patricroft (about 5 miles) and Swinton (about 6.5 miles). There are no taxis on standby at these stations. Lynch Taxis provide a good local service and can be contacted on 0161 661 77770.
 
The nearest National Rail stations are Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road and Manchester Victoria (all about 9 miles from the garden). Taxis and/or buses are available at all these stations to connect you to Bridgewater.

For times, tickets and to plan your journey see the National Rail Enquiries website or Transport for Greater Manchester journey planner.

The RHS Garden Bridgewater Express Bus service from Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly train stations operates daily and takes only 25 minutes with drop off directly at the garden entrance. For the full timetable visit the Manchester Sightseeing website.

Please pre-book your Bridgewater Express Bus Travel (bus only or combined with garden admission).

Please note: This service is provided by a third party Manchester Sightseeing Tours. When booking online, you are leaving the RHS website and will be governed by Manchester Sightseeing’s terms and conditions and privacy policy.

By tram

The nearest Metrolink stop is at Eccles. For times, tickets and to plan your journey see the Transport for Greater Manchester website.

Garden Centre

At Bridgewater’s new Garden Centre find an extensive range of plants from UK growers, quality gifts and beautiful homeware, plus great ideas for the home and garden. You do not need to pre-book to visit the Garden Centre.

Opening times: 

• 9.30am–6pm, Monday–Saturday (closed Christmas Day)
• 11am–5pm, Sunday (closed Easter Sunday)

Food & drink

While visiting the garden why not treat yourself to a hot drink, tasty treat or seasonal meal from the Bridgewater Café or Garden Cottage Café.

Bridgewater Café

Bridgewater Café  is located in the Welcome Building and offers a relaxing dining experience where visitors can enjoy a delicious lunch or coffee overlooking Victoria Meadow. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.

Opening times: 

• Monday – Saturday, 9.30am–6pm; Sunday, 11am–5pm

Garden Cottage Café

Garden Cottage Café is located inside the garden. It serves hot and cold drinks, freshly baked cakes, sweet treats and seasonal savoury light bites. Outdoor seating is available.

Opening times: 

• Daily (weather permitting)

School visits

Get gardening and discover an inspiring garden where children can let their imagination grow. We offer visiting school groups a beautiful green space and glorious gardens with fantastic learning facilities including, a bespoke Learning Studio, Peel Learning Garden and Woodland Play area.

Please note: We have safety measures in place to support your children to visit us safely during Covid-19.

Group visits

Located in Worsley, Salford, a stone’s throw from Manchester, and close to Liverpool and the Peak District, RHS Garden Bridgewater is a beautiful garden that is the perfect destination for a group day out.

Pre-book a group visit:

• Call: 0161 503 6100
• Email: bridgewater@rhs.org.uk

Accessibility at the garden

We want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to enjoy Bridgewater. For a complete guide on what to expect before you arrive, when you arrive and during your visit, please see our detailed guide.

See accessibility information for our other RHS Gardens.

Safety

Visitor information on safety at the garden:

• Please take care around water in the garden
• Be aware that garden vehicles may be moving around
• Sometimes the tracks and paths can be muddy, steep and uneven – please wear suitable footwear and take care

Help us to ensure you enjoy your visit with this simple SAFE guide:

• Spend your time safely with us
• Advise us of any emergencies or concerns
• Follow any instructions
• Enjoy your visit

Guides and maps

See our garden map with details on wheelchair accessible routes, toilets and other facilities.

• Bridgewater garden map (2.8MB pdf)

Drone usage

We are concerned that the use of drones may introduce risks of injury to our staff or visitors, damage to our property, plants or local wildlife, or breaches of data protection laws. Personal drone usage is therefore prohibited at RHS Gardens. Commercial drone usage is also prohibited, save where occasionally commercial drone operators with suitable training and licences from the Civil Aviation Authority are allowed by the RHS to operate drones in an RHS Garden only where express permission has been provided to the drone operator in writing by the Head of RHS Garden Bridgewater.

Garden toys

We are sorry but garden toys, such as scooters and balls, are not permitted in the garden.

Dogs in the garden

For the safety of all our visitors only registered support dogs are allowed in the garden.

Smoking policy

For the health and welfare of our visitors, we operate a no-smoking policy, inclusive of e-cigarettes, in or near certain areas of the garden, including: dining or food outlets, eating areas or terraces, picnic areas, covered spaces or buildings and the children’s play area. This may extend to other areas of the garden in periods of very dry weather.