Discover the secret garden in England where all the plants can kill you
- UK Hidden Gems
- 22 hours ago
- 2 min read
Nestled behind black gates in the magnificent grounds of a grand medieval castle in Northumberland, a truly unique and dangerous botanical space awaits all visitors.
This eerie and secret garden is home to over 100 species of lethal plants, all strictly locked behind iron fences and guarded by professional guides 24/7.
The atmosphere is immediately mysterious and chilling, knowing the immense danger that is held just beyond the barriers.
This amazing, restricted collection focuses on educating the public about the powerful, often deadly effects of plants that are commonly found in the wild and even in everyday British gardens.
The strict rules are essential for safety: visitors are told specifically not to touch, smell, or taste any of them under any circumstances. The guides often point out common native plants, like Foxglove, which is beautiful but can quickly cause heart failure if eaten.
The lethal collection includes some of the fastest-acting and most infamous toxins known to man, such as Monkshood, also known as the "queen of poisons."
Guides explain in detail the dark history of these plants, explaining how they were historically used in medieval torture, ancient medicine, and by famous assassins throughout history.
The intense focus on death and crime turns a simple garden tour into a thrilling, forbidden adventure.
The high-profile warnings about the risk only add to the excitement for many tourists, making it a very popular, and dangerous, holiday spot.
For visitors planning a trip, be aware that you cannot enter this lethal collection without a supervised tour, which you should book well in advance, especially during the busy summer holidays.
You must park your car in the large visitors' car park for the main estate, and it is a long walk from there to the garden entrance, so wear your sturdy boots.
The strict rules are essential, so keep your hands in your pockets at all times, and don’t forget to pack your raincoat in your boot, as you’ll be outside for the main garden tour.
This unique place, home to beautiful plants that can kill and where visitors have actually fainted from the fumes, is a genuine piece of forbidden beauty and a terrifying piece of hidden history. The unique place we are finally revealing is The Poison Garden, Alnwick.
Remember - LeaveNoTrace!
As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!
Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.
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