Compton Acres
A private garden between Poole and Bournemouth, with Italian, Japanese and woodland theme gardens and views over Poole Harbour.
Compton Acres was created by businessman Thomas Simpson in the 1920s. Covering about 4 hectares, it brings together theme gardens in a range of styles, including an Italian garden, a Japanese garden, a rock and water garden, and a glen and wilderness garden. The Japanese garden, with its red footbridges, stone lanterns and koi pond, is considered one of the earliest Japanese-style gardens in Europe. From the viewpoints on higher ground, you can look out over Poole Harbour and Brownsea Island. The garden has a café, a restaurant and a garden shop. Admission is around £15. Spring and summer, when the flowers are at their best, are the ideal times to visit; winter opening hours are shorter. The garden is in the Canford Cliffs area, about 20 minutes by bus from Bournemouth.
Opening hours
Approx. 10:00–18:00 (shorter in winter)
Nearby sights
- Sandbanks Beach
- Alum Chine
- Bournemouth Beach & Pier
- Oceanarium Bournemouth
- Bournemouth Lower Gardens
- St Peter's Church, Bournemouth
- Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
- Poole Quay