Autumn in the gardens at Chippenham Park

Chippenham Park Gardens in Cambridgeshire

Although meteorological Autumn starts on September 1st we don’t normally start to feel noticeably Autumnal for another 2-3 weeks. By this time the length of day and night are roughly equal and we can’t avoid feeling on the cusp of change.

After a wet, unsettled patch in September we hope for Autumn fireworks and a warm, sunny Indian summer. The rain has been very welcome after the summer drought so we could be looking at a spectacular show of seasonal colours in the trees by the middle of October.

Just in time for our Autumn garden opening!

At Chippenham Park we have an abundance of lovely specimens to enjoy and here are just a few to look out for:

Gingo Biloba: perfect for smaller gardens, where its fan-shaped leaves turn a rich buttery lemon in autumn. Look out for the one right on the edge of the lake and the three ‘weeping’ Ginkgos as you turn into the car park.

Sumachs including Rhus typhina : spectacular in autumn when its foliage turns fiery orange, gold, scarlet or purple. In the Wilderness Walk.

Snowy Mespilus: Multi-stemmed Amelanchier x lamarckii : Fiery autumn tints are a family trait.

Red Maple: Acer rubrum, a vibrant autumn-coloured maple.

Japanese maples: For dazzle and elegant leaf shape these are hard to beat. We have many different acers in the gardens but one favourite you will find along the edge of the lake is Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku' (coral-bark maple), which turns yellow in Autumn.

Sweet gums: Liquidambar styraciflua: famously one of the most magnificent of the  autumn trees this colour deepens to various shades of red, yellow, orange and purple, often with more than one of these colours showing on one tree.

The katsura Tree: Cercidiphyllum japonicum. These fabulous, medium to large, trees colour brilliantly in autumn. The Autumn hues are accompanied by the extraordinary smell of burnt sugar - our children used to call this the Candy Floss tree. Many varieties in the gardens.

But it’s not just about the trees. The grass borders on the north side of the main house are a mix of drought tolerant grasses and late flowering perennials in mostly pink and blue tones. The seed heads of Echinacea and Sanguisorba punctuate the golden russet colours of the late-season grasses.

Being a mix of lawns, borders, clipped hedges and topiary, specimen trees, lakes and canals, walled gardens and wooded walks the gardens offer the visitor great variety and choice.

Enjoy some of the best gardens in autumn at Chippenham Park Gardens, located outside Newmarket, Cambridgeshire. We will be open every day from Wednesday, 15th October to 19th October 2025 inclusive, from 10am until 4pm (last entry at 3pm). Visitors can enjoy leisurely strolls through our gardens, exploring the woodland walks, lakes, and canals.

Stop by our cosy Potting Shed Café, open daily until the park closes at 4pm, where you’ll find local produce to enjoy after your cosy autumn walk.

Plan your visit and discover one of the most charming gardens in Cambridgeshire. 

See our Entry Prices and other Important Information here. The autumn open gardens are not a ticketed event - please just turn up and pay entry on the gate.

Please note: we are a cash only facility.

Autumn Colour at Chippenham Park