The Terrace

With its Italianate parterre commanding breathtaking views south over the stunning "Capability" Brown landscape, Harewood’s magnificent Terrace is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful Victorian gardens in England.

Built in the 1840s by Sir Charles Barry – best known as the architect who designed the Houses of Parliament – the Terrace was the largest of his projects at Harewood, which also included major alterations to the House.

The Evolution and Restoration of Harewood’s Terrace Gardens

The subsequent impact of two world wars, during which food crops replaced the flower schemes, followed by rising labour costs, eventually took its toll on the Terrace.

In 1959 Barry’s elaborate parterre garden was completely swept away in order to reduce the demands on maintenance. The fountains were filled in with soil and the intricate boxwood patterns were all removed before the parterre was grassed over.

Replanting of the central section took place in the early 1980s after the bronze figure of ‘Orpheus’ by Astrid Zydower, replaced Barry’s original central fountain.

A decade later, in 1993, after being laid under grass for 34 years, the restoration of the main boxwood patterns and the Triton fountains commenced. The work to restore the parterre was completed a year later.

A Symphony of Colour and Texture

Today, the Terrace bursts with colour from spring to autumn and is a reflection of how the borders would have looked in the 1930s, when HRH Princess Mary lived at Harewood. The parterre and sweeping flower borders feature a vibrant array of plants, including perennials, roses, climbing plants, and tender exotics, all carefully designed to complement the neo-classical architecture of Harewood House’s south front.

Topiary pyramids surrounded by lush green hedging. In the background stone sphinx statue guards the stairs up to the Library on the Terrace. Lavender and Magnolia grown to the side of the house.

Stone sphinx statue guards the entrance to the Terrace surrounded by an incredible array of trees and hedges.

A picturesque garden scene featuring rows of trees surrounded by lush greenery and a vivid bed of pink and white flowers in full bloom.

A humble bumblebee sits upon a vibrant purple flower, collecting nectar from the rich yellow pollen.

Dahlia 'Twyning's After Eight' is a remarkable dahlia variety offering a striking blend of stark white blooms and dark purple foliage.

Ancient Conifer trees tower over the Terrace garden which is decorated with a maze of ornamental hedges, topiary bushes and stone foundations.

White butterfly sits upon small purple headed flowers, blowing gently in the breeze.

Beautiful Dahlia blooms of the very softest lilac imaginable with a small black and yellow hover fly in the middle.

Grand Georgian country House with elegant architecture, surrounded by lush gardens and a manicured pathway, under a cloudy sky.

ardening was one of the things my parents liked to do together and when Gerald and I were children, we used to go out with them in the afternoon and help reduce unruly thickets of rhododendrons to manageable proportions… When she grew older, it was the pruning of the roses my mother preferred to the removal of over-exuberant rhododendrons, and she would go off pruning on a summer evening with a lady-in-waiting while we played tennis.
George - 7th Earl of Harewood