Longwood Gardens - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens
5
GardensScenic Walking AreasFountains
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
In 1906, industrialist Pierre du Pont (1870-1954) purchased a small farm near Kennett Square, PA, to save a collection of historic trees from being sold for lumber. Today, Longwood Gardens is one of the world’s great horticultural displays, encompassing 1,077 acres of dazzling gardens, woodlands, meadows, fountains, 10,010-pipe Aeolian organ and 4.5-acre conservatory. Longwood continues the mission set forth by Mr. du Pont to inspire people through excellence in garden design, horticulture, education and the performing arts, through programming that includes exhibitions, musical performances by leading artists, renowned horticulture education programs, horticulture research, environmental stewardship and community engagement.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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  • Claire B
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania28 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Summer Concert Series
    We attended a concert and went to the gardens beforehand as entry was included in the ticket price. Naturally there are fewer flowers in bloom in Summer than Spring, but it’s still beautiful and the conservatory is always impressive no matter the season. We didn’t realize until we arrived that we’d receive wrist bands and would be able to re-enter (this is specifically for the summer concert series I believe), which was great as it allowed us to go back to our car to get blankets/coats. Highly recommend their outdoor concerts!
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 7, 2023
  • jerseyjenn
    North Wales, Pennsylvania145 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing Nighttime Fountain show!!
    The nighttime lights and fountains show was spectacular! We did it July 1st so it was American theme for the Holiday weekend. The music and fountains were coordinated beautifully. I got a 5:30 timed pass to enter gardens. Planned to eat and explore the gardens before the 9:15 show. LG is a happy place for me. We are members and visited gardens with a 8yo and (2) 12 yos. We didn't pack chairs and tried to find a place for our blankets around 8:50. It was packed but we did find a place. Leaving was like getting out of a concert. Lots of staff directing cars but lots of them. Loved the live music while eating in the Beer Gardens.
    Visited July 2023
    Written July 7, 2023
  • Diane D
    23 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Heat affects the enjoyment of Longwood gardens
    I have enjoyed many wonderful trips to Longwood Gardens. I have visited in every season, except for the Fall. I always loved the gardens and found them beautiful. When our senior citizen group offered a trip to the Gardens, my husband and I jumped at the offer to visit the garden. I realize it was not the fault of Longwood Gardens but our trip was on one of the very hot, humid days in July. I did not enjoy the experience as I had in the past. There were no shade coverings for protection. Even though it was very hot, there was no tram service available. An employee of Longwood gardens did give out water to visitors who looked very hot. We did not see as much as we wanted to, because the heat made it difficult to walk for long distances. My granddaughter saw the fountain show last Summer and recommended we see it. The day we were there the show was only presented 3 times and our group came after the first show and left before the second show came on. We were quite disappointed to have missed it. On a positive note we had a wonderful tour guide who escorted us around the conservatory. She had a great deal of information and was very gracious to all in the group. What we saw was beautiful and the gardens was as well maintained as I remember. On a cooler day, I would recommend Longwood gardens to all.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written August 6, 2023
  • RIck Wong
    12 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Long way to Philly
    The gardens were amazing, though some of the venues were not clear on where they were. Overall it was a great experience. this is a place that you need to go at least twice. Once is not enough. I don't know why you can't come back in if you want to go to the car for something or if you want to eat lunch in your car. It was a great day to walk the gardens. It was sunny but not hot and humid, and the breeze was enjoyable. It is great to see the bees and butterflies pollenating
    Visited August 2023
    Written August 18, 2023
  • DENISE D
    Staten Island, New York24 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Longwood Gardens Day Trip
    One of the most beautiful places I have ever seen! Worth the trip! Flower displays in the expansive greenhouse were absolutely gorgeous! The grounds and fountain areas astonishing. Went as a day trip but am going back to see the night time fountain display. Cafe on the grounds is gourmet and has something for everyone. My meal was delicious.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written August 26, 2023
  • allredmnm
    Atlanta, Georgia16 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful, but need notifications
    Gardens were beautiful! Loved the Conservatory, Flower Walk & Fountain Show. I am taking off one star because we were looking forward to renting "scooters" to ride around the gardens, but when we got there, it wasn't until half way through the rental process that the cashier explained to us that "scooters" were actually motorized wheel chairs for people who could not walk the longer distances. We were very disappointed. That should be clarified and re-worded on their website. We also were frustrated to walk all the way to the Italian Water Gardens only to find them empty. If a display is out of order or not active for some reason, it should be noted on the map or guests should be notified upon arrival so they don't spend the time walking there and can focus on other areas. Other than that, the gardens were lovely.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 13, 2023
  • Uzair Shaukat
    Bel Air, Maryland5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Paradise in Pennsylvania
    A visit to Longwood Gardens is like stepping into a living tapestry of horticultural artistry. From the meticulous design of each flower bed to the expansive meadows, every corner whispers a story of nature's magnificence. The harmonious blend of colors, fragrances, and textures induces a profound sense of serenity. Whether you're strolling beneath the towering trees, admiring the waterlily ponds, or simply finding solace in a secluded garden nook, Longwood ensures an experience of rejuvenation. A sanctuary for both flora and the human spirit, it's a testament to the timeless beauty and calming influence of nature. Highly recommended for those seeking a momentary escape from the clamor of daily life.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 23, 2023
  • F4981JCmichaels
    Vancouver, Washington2,650 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the best public gardens in the U.S., in my opinion.
    I was here in 2011 also. This time, part of the conservatory was being remade, so was unavailable to the public. So, the big question is: Was it just as good or better this time, or did it disappointingly fail to live up to previous expectations? The answer is: It exceeded expectations, in spite of everything not being available. If I lived anywhere near here, I would pay for membership. This place is immense, incredible, and has plenty of surprises. Where to begin? There are numerous small gardens encompassed in a massive acreage. There are two fountain gardens. One is immense and puts on shows timed to outdoor music, reminiscent of the Bellargio in Las Vegas. The other, at the opposite end of the place, is an Italian Water Garden. There is a meadow one can walk through, a woodland, a greenhouse, various buildings, a small topiary garden, children's garden, flower garden, and many other places. So much to see and do. There is a small cafe, restrooms throughout, and guides available walking around to assist you. Also, a gift shop. Plan on spending time here. I was here for about four hours, and didn't take it all in. Saw the other things last time. I don't remember seeing a tram, or public transportation, so plan on walking...a lot!
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written November 5, 2023
  • k_girl883
    Russell, Canada707 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning grounds and gardens
    Longwoods is just magical! The meadow is gorgeous and all the planted gardens too. Although I find the conservatory overcrowded it is stunning. The old buildings bring a charm to the natural surroundings. If you’ve never been… GO! If you have, go again you’ll discover something new every time you visit
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written November 17, 2023
  • Mark H
    Irvine, California588 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    First day of Longwood Christmas
    I come here whenever I visit the area! Allow 5 to 10 minutes to walk from the car park to the entrance. Might bring snacks, and a battery pack for your devices. Good WiFi near the main attractions and Webb Farmhouse. First day of A Longwood Christmas! Afternoon sunlight and some great fall colors still left. Good cream of mushroom soup and cornbread in the cafe. The Forest Walk was OK with city shoes. Needs more restrooms with more stalls. Restrooms in the pump house or near the 1906 Room are less busy. It would be good to buy savory snacks from food carts as well as sweet treats. Even I can have too much hot chocolate! Quite difficult to enter or exit
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written November 19, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles4,462 reviews
Excellent
3,854
Very good
449
Average
88
Poor
32
Terrible
39

lilmagg
181 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2020
Be prepared for long waits for outdoor seating at the under tent restaurants. Dining at one of the two available indoor cafe's had much shorter wait times to acquire a table.

Ordering outdoors is done via a cell phone app only if sitting at a table. That wifi based ordering system is very slow and glitchy due to so many people attempting to do it. There are no waiters to take your order. Or you can stand in a very slow line and place your order at a booth beside the tents to bring your order back to your assigned table.

The menu is mid expensive with a $15.00 pizza and $12 sandwiches. The mushroom soup was very good but small portion.

Tours of the glass house conservatory takes about 2 hours if you want to take all the plants, flowers, palm trees, cactuses in total. Very large orchid display room.
Restrooms are only at the entrance foyer to the conservatory so grab them first.

Virtually impossible to covid space at 6 feet minimum due to the narrow aisles and bunch up of slower lookers taking their time of course. Not much to be done about that due to the nature of the walkways and paths.

Be prepared to partake of a slow lunch at the three cafes as crowds are large for the restaurant's sizes and covid spacing. AS you are not allowed to picnic or bring in foods or drinks you will be dependent on their cafes if dining in the park.

Restaurants do not take reservations so standing in line for seating is your only option. Go very early or very late for lunch.

I would strongly suggest arriving at the park with your timed reservations at 10AM when the park opens. Not later unless mid afternoon.
Written November 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

daisyferret1
Bear, DE27,263 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
We decided to take the kids to Longwood Gardens for their Sleeping Beauty Fireworks and Fountains event. I pre-ordered tickets on the morning that they went on sale, as these events tend to sell out quick. Online ordering was somewhat frustrating since I would place tickets in my cart and they would be gone by the time I finished check-out. This happened to me more than once before I was able to secure my seats. You have the option of general seating (lawn, bring your own chair) or reserved seating. Tickets are NOT cheap, but do include admission to the gardens for the day.

On the day of the event, we arrived about 5 hours before showtime. We parked and proceeded into the gardens. Here we were given wristbands to distinguish that we were fireworks and fountains guests. We spent the first 4 hours walking around the outdoor gardens, dining at the Cafe and Beer Garden. We enjoyed the treehouses, flowers, water features and gardens. Just before the sun began to set, we went into the conservatory to check out the inside gardens and the water lily garden. We then decided to head back over to the cafe for a snack before taking out seats for the show.

Overall, we enjoyed our visit with Longwood Gardens. The gardens are pretty. The fireworks and fountain shows are beautiful. They are a real treat. I would recommend Longwood Gardens to anyone visiting the Delaware/Pennsylvania area. We have visited in Spring, Summer and Winter this past year alone. Wintertime is my favorite at Longwood Christmas, but each season offers a different view of the gardens. They are constantly changing the displays in the greenhouse conservatories.
Written September 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

FamilyTraveler93
Waldwick, NJ204 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
Gorgeous place, great weekend getaway, very safe during covid-19. The beer garden is open outdoors for food & drinks, cold drinks for sale in many areas, and you can bring in food/drinks. The workers were cleaning/sanitizing tables as soon as people left, and kept groups 6 feet apart. Through out the gardens, workers are making sure people keep 6 feet apart. The park was "sold out" when we were there, but there was lots of room, easy to keep social distancing. Every hour, there are fountain performances where the fountains are set to music, absolutely beautiful. We stayed for the nighttime illuminated fountain performance at 9:15, and they were amazing. The park closes right after the nighttime fountain show, and there was no traffic getting out of the lot. Many hotels nearby. Great weekend getaway!!!
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NorthernTrails
New York19 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021
I am glad to have finally experienced Longwood Gardens, it had been on my list of things to do. Overall, I would say it is a fine place. The tulips were in bloom and they were certainly lovely. The conservatory is a standout, so much to see, really pretty. We experienced a short "waterfall concert" at the open air theater, as we happened to pass by, which was fun. We ate outdoors at the beer garden - the food is very expensive and the quality was not stellar, but it was an experience. The staff was extremely pleasant and helpful throughout our visit. My favorite part of Longwood, and the only part that really stole my heart, was the truly lovely meadow and the meadow trails. So peaceful! We enjoyed our rest stop halfway at the stone house, which was so charming. There are some neat tree houses, and also a nice little forest trail to walk through, which was enjoyable. I took one star off for the following: Once you enter Longwood, you cannot go back to your car and come back. We were there on an unusually cold April day (people had on gloves!) and if we wanted to go back for more clothes, another sweater or hat, perhaps, no luck. Also, they advertise picnic tables for you to eat your own food, if desired. However, once you enter the picnic area, you cannot re-enter the gardens. So, why even go to their picnic area? You might as well leave the premises and go to any park or restaurant. As mentioned above, their food is pricey, and what I had was not gourmet. Unlike Winterthur, which gives you two days to visit, Longwood only gives you one with your ticket and if the weather is not good, you are stuck or have to pay a penalty to make a change.
Written April 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Arthur S
Edgewood, MD442 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021
The spring flower blooming season is in full display. At this time, there are 200,000+ tulips at their peak opening period. Walking just this portion of the magnificent gardens will consume about one hour of time and reservations for a specific time of visit are required. Having season tickets enables multiple visits during the year to be comparatively inexpensive. The flower displays are always changing so something new to see throughout the year. Self-serve wheel chairs are available for persons who are unable to walk the paths.
Written April 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mariellen Edinburg
Claymont, DE245 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
We received a Longwood membership as a wedding present and have been enjoying all the changing displays from the Chrysanthemums in the fall to Christmas and now the Orchids. Last summer before our membership we also attended a nighttime fountain show. I would recommend Longwood in any season but if you’re paying full price admission I’d recommend summer or Christmas to get the most for your money.
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MommaJage
Webster, NY271 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2021
We ended up with a rainy spring day to visit. Currently, timed tickets must be purchased in advance online. I recommend doing this early to ensure you get the time you want.

The location is well marked and there was plenty of parking. We showed our tickets and were quickly admitted. They are not giving out maps (due to COVID...). This presented a big challenge. The online map is terrible and not well marked. If you want to wander around you will be fine. If you want to ensure you explore all the areas you are interested in, you will struggle to have enough information without a map.

We started inside at the conservatory. The flowers were beautiful. This is the area that Longwood excels at. They were fresh and artfully arranged so that each area and nook and cranny exploded with some new and perfect delight. At this time, roughly half the inside conservatory is closed for construction. This is noted on the website but kind of hidden so it was disappointing for us to learn once we arrived.

There was an unexpected and well done exhibit on the organ, its history, and a peek into its mechanics that we thoroughly enjoyed. My teenage son noted that as one of his highlights at Longwood.

We explored a good portion of the rest of the grounds while dodging rain and fog. We had another disappointment to learn the fountains are not yet running. I understand now that makes sense due to the season, but this also is not well communicated on the website and was a surprise to us.

We visited the casual café for a light snack. Wow, the prices were super high. I expected the usual mark up for a captive audience but this exceed anything I imagined. They prohibit bringing in food so plan accordingly. The entree we shared was of good size and quality and we opted for ice water rather than a $4 bottle of soda.

The gift shop is currently closed.

Overall, a beautiful place. I just wish they focused more on customer service and communication.
Written April 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ChrisH
Frederick, MD507 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
Two seniors visited Longwood Gardens on the Saturday of Halloween weekend and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We spent from about 11am to after 9pm there visiting the outside gardens, the meadow garden, the conservatory with their yearly Chrysanthemum Festival, the DuPont house/museum, the fountains (both during the day and at night for the light and music shows) and still did not see all of the gardens. Debated giving 4 or 5 stars but decided on 4 stars for the following reasons: 1. The crowds—the gardens got very very crowded after about 4pm when more people arrived to see the nighttime fountain light and music shows plus the Light: Installations by Bruce Munro, a limited time set of LED art installations that look spectacular at night. 2. The amount of people that did not wear masks (probably 95%), especially in the conservatory at night—it was literally wall-to-wall people inside. There is still a COVID pandemic ongoing. This made us extremely nervous and we wore masks. 3. The amount of (I assume) rental electric carts and baby strollers on the narrow pathways, especially after dark. We literally encountered 50 or more, most driven by people that had no regard for anyone else on the paths. 4. The inadequate lighting on the paths at night especially on the way down to the Large Lake where several of Munro’s LED installations were set up. 5. The fact that you cannot leave the gardens and get readmitted, so if you are planning to stay for the light and music shows, this time of year you need to bring heavy coats and carry them around all day. 6. The very expensive food in The Café restaurant—it cost us over $42 for two vegetarian stews in bread boats plus two coffees. I shudder to think what that meal would have cost in their fancy 1906 restaurant. There is also a large beer garden that serves food and drink outside that did have a band on the night we were there. Overall we enjoyed ourselves. YMMV.
Written November 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sheryl B
West Palm Beach, FL13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019 • Couples
My husband, my brother-in-law and I visited the Christmas display at Longwood Gardens just before Thanksgiving and it was spectacular! This is the second time we have visited Longwood Gardens for their Christmas display and we loved it both times. I took so many photos the first visit that I killed the battery on both my phone and my regular camera. This time I came prepared with a backup battery. The indoor display as well as the outdoor nighttime displays are awesome! The fountains have synchronized light and music shows that amazed the crowds. Although it got chilly after dark there were several fire pits and a hot chocolate stand to warm us up. We have visited Longwood Gardens in the summer and the gardens are beautiful that time of year also. I would love to return to see the renovated main fountain. I would definitely recommend a visit to Longwood Gardens at any time of year!
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marjorie A
Lansdale, PA284 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
I love Longwood Gardens. It is my Gold Standard for garden experiences. I know I should never compare one garden to another as they are all different and unique in there own way BUT I find that I always do compare. This happens because Longwood goes above and beyond to create an awesome experience for the customer.

This visit was for one of the Fireworks and Fountains shows. I had never attended one of these shows so did not really know what to expect on my visit. I was pleasantly surprised. There are two choices for seating - lawn seating or assigned seat. My visit was solo so I chose the assigned seat. Price was not too bad for one person, but may be considered pricey if you are paying for a family. The cost includes the show and all day access to the garden which I feel justifies the cost of the ticket.

Since I had all day access, I spent several hours wandering the many paths of the garden before attending the show. Some of my favorite areas are the Italian garden, Conservatory, Pipe Organ, and the treehouses. The treehouses are very cool!. There are several located at different sections of the garden. They are well built to allow big kids to enter. Each is uniquely different. It was fun to "hunt" for each one so I could see what it looked like.
Oddly enough the Pipe Organ is actually interesting too. I know what you are thinking but it is worth a quick look to see all the "pipes" used for the organ. Very unique thing to see at a garden.

Food is available on site. I chose to order a Portobello sandwich in the Beer Garden area. I added one of the decorated shortbread cookies for dessert. Prices seemed a bit high to me. I liked that there was plenty of outdoor seating and wine or beer was available should you want alcohol.

I highly recommend a visit to Longwood. I am never disappointed with the garden and there seems to be something new each visit. It is well worth the price of admission.
Written August 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Longwood Gardens - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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