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Virginia Water Lake & Savill Garden
A Georgian cascade, a 100-foot Canadian totem pole, and 35 acres of gardens — the pack's slower-paced counterpart.
Virginia Water Lake sits inside Windsor Great Park, a genuine slower-paced counterpart to a full tournament day at Wentworth, just down the road. The lake's edge holds the ornamental Cascade waterfall, built from stones brought from Bagshot Heath and one of the last remnants of the park's Georgian ornamental heyday, still one of the more photogenic corners of the estate.
Worth knowing before you go: the lake's other famous feature, a 30-metre Canadian totem pole gifted by the Government of British Columbia in 1958 to mark the province's centenary, was taken down in 2024 at the end of its natural lifespan. In line with Kwakwaka'wakw First Nation tradition, it was left in situ on the ground to decay naturally rather than removed entirely, so there's still something to see at the site, just not the towering standing pole older guides describe. Don't plan a visit specifically to see it standing.
Savill Garden sits within the same estate, 35 acres of designed gardens and woodland with seasonal displays that change through the year. Entry runs £40 per person, which includes garden access and car parking for the day, open daily 9am to 6pm in summer (9am to 4:30pm in winter), closed only on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
This is the pack's deliberate change of pace. Everything else here, the grandstands, the Championship Village, the Celebrity Pro-Am, runs at tournament energy. Virginia Water Lake and Savill Garden are the opposite: a walk, a waterfall, a garden, and space to slow down before or after a day watching golf.
Why it's special
Every trip built around a tournament benefits from having somewhere to decompress that isn't just another hotel room, and this is exactly that. The Cascade's Georgian stonework is a genuinely underrated detail of the Surrey countryside, quietly impressive rather than showy.
Savill Garden's seasonal displays mean this isn't a one-visit attraction either. Whatever the specific week of BMW PGA lands on, there's likely to be something in bloom worth the detour, which isn't true of every "nearby nature spot" a travel pack tends to include out of obligation.
Insider tips
- 1
The Cascade is free to visit and requires no booking — a good low-commitment addition to a day if you don't have time for the full Savill Garden.
- 2
Savill Garden's £40 entry includes car parking for the day — factor that into cost comparisons if you're driving rather than walking from Virginia Water.
Practical info
- Hours
- Savill Garden: daily 9:00-18:00 (summer), 9:00-16:30 (winter), last entry one hour before closing; closed 24-25 December. Virginia Water Lake and the Cascade/Totem Pole area are open access, no fixed hours.
- Cost
- Savill Garden: £40 per person, including garden entry and car parking for the day. Virginia Water Lake, the Cascade, and the Totem Pole are free to visit.
- Access
- Savill Garden tickets can be booked online via windsorgreatpark.co.uk or purchased on arrival; Virginia Water Lake requires no ticket or booking.
- Getting there
- Virginia Water Lake and Savill Garden sit within Windsor Great Park, a short walk or drive from Wentworth Club and Virginia Water station.
- Address
- The Savill Garden, Wick Ln, Englefield Green, Egham TW20 0UU
What to avoid
Don't try to combine a full Savill Garden visit with a full tournament day at Wentworth — treat this as a rest-day or half-day activity rather than squeezing it in before or after hours of golf. And don't plan a special trip specifically to see the totem pole standing — it was taken down in 2024 and now lies in situ decaying naturally rather than standing as it did for decades; the site is still worth a visit for the Cascade and the wider park, just not for that landmark specifically.
