Activities and attractions

Lakeside Café

10% off all hot food until 31 March 2021. Download voucher (related documents) for more information.

The Lakeside Café serves a wide range of snacks, meals and drinks with a good selection of vegan and vegetarian items on the menu.

Summer opening hours: 10am-5pm

Winter opening hours: 10am-4pm

The Walled Garden

The Walled Garden situated in the heart of Tilgate Park and once formed part of the historic Tilgate Estate. The Walled Garden has enjoyed a rich history from a kitchen garden for the gentry, a horticulture research station and now, a garden for everyone to enjoy.

Walled Garden Cafe

10% off all hot food and hot drinks until 31 March 2021. Download voucher (related documents) for more information.

The Walled Garden café serves snacks, ice creams, sandwiches, baguettes and drinks as well as having an outside patio area.

Summer opening hours: 10am-5pm

Winter opening hours: 10am-4pm

Dogs are excluded from the Walled Garden.

Maze

Within the Walled Garden is a fun maze with a lookout tower in the centre. The route from the entrance to the base of the tower is 135 metres. The maze is free to enter and is open to anyone.

Themed Gardens

The Walled Garden is home to some stunning examples of different types of gardens and planting including a family garden, wildlife garden, formal garden, allotment garden, society garden, outreach garden, rockeries, herb garden and a rose garden.

Smith and Western restaurant

Smith and Western is an American style restaurant located in the heart of the park. Stop by for some, fall off the bone ribs, sizzling fajitas and homemade steak burgers. With lots of outdoor seating and great views of the countryside, this is the perfect stop off to unwind for lunch, dinner or drinks.

Opening times: Sunday-Thursday 12-9pm, Friday-Saturday 12-10pm

Craft units

Next to the Nature Centre and Walled Garden Café are eight craft studios. Local artists, craftspeople and wellbeing practitioners are based there. These include a photographer, pewter jewellery maker and mosaic craftsman as well as:

  • Clarabeau – a decorative art studio that specialises in teaching specialist skills
  • Gatwick Greenspace Partnership – Runs lots of fun outdoor wildlife activities for children and young people
  • Sew'n'beads – Specialising in all types of sewing classes and workshops

Other attractions