A popular horticultural attraction has secured the position of the county’s most visited site.

Wakehurst, which is Kew’s countryside botanic garden located in Sussex, has retained its title as Sussex’s leading destination for visitors for the second consecutive year, according to fresh 2025 data published on March 20 by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions.

The site also maintains its place within the top 20 most popular destinations in the South East region.

Wakehurst’s director, Susan Raikes, expressed her pleasure at the site once again receiving recognition as Sussex’s premier visitor destination, and noted her satisfaction at its inclusion among the top 20 in the South-East.

She stated that over the previous 12 months the team had strived to enhance all elements of the Wakehurst offering, accommodating additional guests and providing genuinely unforgettable experiences.

Notable achievements from the period include marking 25 years of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank through celebrations of seed research and conservation, introducing new displays when the Elizabethan Mansion reopened, and concluding the year with the magical Glow Wild illumination event themed around a Seed Safari.

She explained that guests are coming back not merely for the attractive scenery and engaging activities, but because Wakehurst operates with intention – serving as a functioning research space, supporting cutting-edge scientific work and housing the greatest wild seed collection worldwide, all committed to safeguarding and reviving the natural world.

The team looks forward to greeting fresh visitors throughout the coming months, particularly with the introduction of the Henry Moore exhibition and additional outdoor displays in June, presenting Moore’s renowned sculptures alongside pieces by three globally recognised living artists.