Welcome to Lea Gardens

We will close for the 2024 season at 5.00 pm on Sunday 14th July.
Our in-season opening hours are 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.


Lea Gardens is a Rhododendron Garden just outside the village of Lea, close to Matlock in Derbyshire. The Garden covers approximately three and a half acres, and is situated within a woodland area, with access paths which allow visitors to see the 500 or more varieties of rhododendrons, azaleas and other plants.

The Garden is open to the public for viewing, and we also have a very popular Teashop. Parking is free, and well-behaved dogs (on a lead) are welcome in the Garden.

Our address is Lea Gardens, Long Lane, Lea, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 5GH. We are very close to Lea Bridge and Cromford, which are part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, and on the edge of the Peak District National Park. To view a map showing where we are, go to the bottom of the About page.

  • Who We Are

    A Rhododendron Garden near Lea, a beautiful village in the heart of Derbyshire.

  • What We Do

    Our gardens have hundreds of rhododendrons, azaleas, kalmias and many other plants and shrubs for you to enjoy. We also have an excellent Teashop for you to enjoy as part of your visit.

  • How We Do It

    We propagate and grow our own plants.

  • Learn More

    If you would like to learn more about us, then please browse the site or contact us using the link below.

    Contact Us

A Hidden Treasure!

We had a wonderful afternoon at Lea Gardens. The rhododendrons are something to behold, and the food in the Teashop was delicious! We couldn't believe that Lea Gardens had been on our doorstep all this time and we'd never visited before.

We shall definitely be coming back soon.

  • News and Events

    Teashop

    As part of your visit, be sure to enjoy the delights of our Teashop, which serves tea, coffee, cold drinks and light lunches as well as delicious home-made cakes. The tables on the Terrace offer stunning views of the Gardens. For more details, see our Teashop page.

    For a full listing of events in the Gardens and Teashop please see our separate Events page

  • Gardens Video

    Have a look at this video of our garden, kindly taken and made available by one of our visitors.

  • History of the Gardens on Video

    There is a video on Youtube which describes the history of Lea Gardens since they were established in 1935. This was produced by Chris Knightley, one of our regular visitors. Please click on the link to view it: Youtube Video