Group bookings

Thank you for your interest in bringing a group to visit York Gate

We consider a group to be a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 24 people.

Please note: booking in advance is essential for all group bookings.

We welcome groups by prior arrangement on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday from April to October.

Payment for your admission and catering is required in advance to secure your booking.

For full details and to ensure we can provide you with the best experience please download and read the below Group booking information sheet, also see our frequently asked questions.

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Group booking information

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Please download our group booking information here

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Group visit menu

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Booking from our group visit menu gains you free tea and coffee with your order plus exclusive use of our upstairs dining room.

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Frequently asked questions

    • We consider a group to be a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 24 people.

      Please note: booking in advance is essential for all groups.

    • Group bookings are welcome on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between April and October from 10am.

    • Yes, booking in advance is essential for all group bookings.

      We consider a group to be a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 24 people.

      Please ensure you have read the group information download and frequently asked questions before making your booking.

      To make your booking please email yorkgate@perennial.org.uk

    • Entry costs £10* per person, plus catering costs.

      *UK tax paying visitors that would like to donate an additional £2.00 on top of their entry fee, enable the charity to claim Gift Aid back on the payment of £12.00, which makes a big difference to our charity income.

      We also offer a professional gardener guided tour. These are charged at £100 for up to 24 people.

      Full payment for both catering and admission (including guided tour) must be received 14 days prior to arrival. Entry cancellation costs may be refunded after this date but not catering costs.

    • York Gate is difficult for visitors who are solely reliant on a wheelchair due to the narrow paths and gravel surfaces. 

      Visitors with sticks or frames usually manage the garden well, and there are plenty of garden benches. 

      The cafe and rest rooms are fully accessible.

    • Full payment for both catering and admission (including guided tour, if applicable) must be received 14 days prior to arrival. 

      Entry cancellation costs may be refunded after this date, however we are unable to refund catering costs.

    • As we have a small car park, we encourage visitors to use public transport where possible.

      If you do need to drive or are bringing a coach:

      • Please be considerate to our neighbours by not parking on Back Church Lane
      • Please would coaches drop off visitors at the gate – on the opposite side of the road, with the coach facing up the road, with York Gate on the right. There is a turning place, to ensure that the coach is pointing this way when visitors are dropped off. Coaches will need to park in the laybys on Church Lane. If the layby is full, please ask the driver to take responsibility for finding somewhere to wait during your stay, let us know if you need suggestions on this.
      • If groups are coming in cars, please can they park in the laybys on Church Lane. Please park with your nose to the road if parking in the laybys (not across a space) then take the pleasant walk through the historic Church Yard and straight on to our garden entrance. Please don’t walk around by the road as there is no footpath. Our car park can be very busy, with people visiting just the café or plant sales so we would like group visitors who arrive in cars, to park in the laybys to ease congestion in the car park. Cars must park responsibly and with consideration for pedestrian safety and the convenience of local residents.
      • We ask that groups arrive no more than 20 minutes before the time that they are booked into the garden.

      Please visit our website and click on the Getting here menu option

      • We provide a free ten-minute introductory talk once your group has gathered, and then you are free to peruse the garden at your leisure.
        • We would allow about an hour to an hour and a half for the garden, depending on how keen your group are! It is one acre in size, with a lot of detail. There is a further 1.5-acre meadow land to enjoy behind the garden, accessible through the White Garden.
      • Once you have left the garden to go for your refreshments, I am afraid that there will be no readmittance for the group back into the garden.
      • We would recommend a visit to our gift shop and plant sales before you leave
        • Gift shop he perfect place to find something special including gifts for the home and garden. We stock a large range of contemporary giftware, cards, stationery and gifts for gardeners
          Check out our range of York Gate inspired gifts, new for the 2024 season.
        • Our plant centre will help you turn your garden inspiration into reality. We offer a wide range of plants including those propagated from plants in the garden. Grown on site by our Head Gardener and team.
      • We also offer a professional gardener guided tour. These are charged at £100 for up to 24 people.
        • It probably goes without saying these days – but we do not permit smoking in, or immediately outside the garden.
        • To help us preserve its charm, the garden only allows assistance dogs. We are sorry we can’t admit family dogs or other pets.
        • Please do not take plants, cuttings or seeds from the garden – if there is something that you want, please speak to one of the garden team who can help you.
      • Please ensure you have read the group information download and frequently asked questions before making your booking.

        To make your booking please email yorkgate@perennial.org.uk