Ness Botanic Gardens
A botanic garden owned by the University of Liverpool, set on a slope above the Dee estuary. Known for its rhododendrons, heathers and rock gardens, with views across to North Wales.
Ness Botanic Gardens was founded in 1898 by Arthur Bulley, a cotton merchant who funded plant hunters to collect in Yunnan, China, and the Himalayas. As a result, the garden has many rhododendrons, primulas and camellias originating from China. The garden covers about 26 hectares, with a heather garden, rock garden, rhododendron woodland and herbaceous borders. From the slopes you can look across the Dee estuary to the mountains of North Wales. Admission is around £10. Allow about 2 hours. It is roughly 18 km from Chester.
Opening hours
Approx. 10:00–17:00 (winter until 16:30)
Nearby sights
- National Waterways Museum
- Blue Planet Aquarium
- Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet
- Chester Zoo
- Chester Racecourse
- Storyhouse
- Chester Town Hall
- The Rows