Activities and attractions
Tilgate Nature Centre
Tilgate Nature Centre is located in Tilgate Park and houses over 100 different species, from otters to owls, tapir to terrapins, reindeer to raccoon dogs. Find out more on our dedicated Tilgate Nature Centre page.
10 per cent off all admissions until 31 January 2023.
Lakeside Café
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
10 per cent off with voucher until 31 January 2023.
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 and Bar
The Walled Garden Cafe and Bar 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.
10 per cent off with voucher until 31 January 2023.
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.
Tilgate Barn
The barn is a bright and airy versatile venue situated between the Walled Garden and Nature Centre
Available to hire Monday to Sunday from 8.30am to midnight. It is perfect for meetings, presentations, teambuilding, Christmas parties and private celebrations up to a maximum of 150 guests, depending upon room layout. It has a built in ceiling projector and pull down screen, built in PA system along with a kitchenette and glass bi-fold doors opening out onto a gated private courtyard garden area. For information or to book, email TilgateBarn@crawley.gov.uk.
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
Save 20 per cent on all food with voucher until 31 January 2023.
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