Award winning, Candie Gardens are a green oasis set in the heart of St. Peter Port. Awarded the ENCAMS Millennium Marque Award in 2000, these historic gardens were established in 1894. The town's best floral attraction, they offer excellent panoramic views over the rooftops of St. Peter Port to the neighbouring islands.

Candie comprises the Upper and Lower Gardens, the Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery on the site of the former bandstand, and the Priaulx Library, named after the former owners of the house that it occupies. The Lower Gardens were sympathetically refurbished and restored in 1998/1999 and are a rare surviving example of a Victorian Public Flower Garden.

Visitors to the gardens can discover a wide variety of plants from all over the world. Guernsey's mild climate and Candie's sheltered position mean that less hardy varieties can be grown relatively easily. Specimen trees include a magnificent Canary Palm (Phoenix Canariensis) and an oriental Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo Biloba) with its beautiful fan-shaped leaves.

Striking geometric designs form the centre piece of the Lower Gardens, whilst elsewhere the plantings are more subtle, with herbaceous and fern borders. Aquatic plants including water lilies, and a collection of koi and goldfish, in the garden's three ponds provide an area for quiet reflection. The bog garden includes varieties such as the giant gunneras, fatsias, and tree ferns.

A collection of South African Bulbs provided by the Guernsey Group of the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens can also be enjoyed during the spring, summer and autumn months. In October, one of Candie's restored historic greenhouses (dating c. 1792/93) hosts the annual Nerine Festival, which is one of the highlights in Guernsey's floral calendar. Here visitors can admire many of the Nerine Collection's 300 varieties, including Guernsey's own, Nerine Sarniensis.

The gardens also afford an important habitat for wildlife and are carefully managed to reflect this. The ENCAMS Millennium Marque Award recognises both the high horticultural standard of the gardens but also environmental excellence in the way the gardens are managed.

Refreshments and Facilities

Refreshments are available through the Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery Tearooms.

Toilet facilities (including disabled) are available in the Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery.

Access

Candie Gardens are situated 5 minutes walk from the centre of St. Peter Port. Access from Candie Road, St. Julian's Avenue, or Vauxlaurens lane.

Candie Gardens have a number of steep gradients. Care should therefore be taken by users of wheelchairs and pushchairs. There are pedestrian ramps to the Lower Gardens.

Opening times

The Gardens are open until dusk. Admission to the Gardens is FREE.

The Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery is open daily 10.00-17.00hrs (closes at 16.00hrs 1st November to 29 March). Closes 25th - 26th December and 1st - 31st January. Admission charge applies.