Plan Your Visit

Visiting Tips & Garden Etiquette

We have compiled Visiting Tips and answers to Frequently Asked Questions to help you make the most of your experience. Be sure to review our calendar of events to plan your day.

Parking

Your group should park personal vehicles in the main parking lot. Buses should park in our designated bus parking lot. The group should remain on the bus while the group leader picks up the tickets by entering the building through the Group entrance, which is located on the right side of the Visitor Center.

Check-In/Ticketing

Group leaders should check-in at the Group Ticketing Window in the Visitor Center which is adjacent to the bus parking lot. Tickets will be given to the leader. The leader is responsible for the distribution of all tickets for all members of the group. Longwood cannot be held responsible for holding individual tickets for latecomers. Once your group leaves the Gardens, re-entry is not permitted.

Amenities

Our mobile map on our website helps enhance and guide your visit. Restrooms, wheelchair/electric scooter rentals, a mobile charging kiosk, and our GardenShop are also located inside the Visitor Center. Dining facilities are located a short 7-minute walk from the Visitor Center.

Payment Policy

• Prices subject to change.
• A major credit card is required at the time of booking to hold the reservation.
• Final group count and payment is due three weeks prior to the date of your group's visit.
• Payment via check is accepted, but it must arrive in the Group Visits Office three weeks prior to the date of visit. We do not accept purchase orders as a form of payment.
• No exceptions will be made to this policy.

Please Note

Complimentary admission is offered to each motor coach driver and tour operator in a group of 15 or more ticketed guests with an advance reservation.

Group Dining Options

• Gift Cards
  Groups may purchase Gift Cards to use in The Café and 1906. Gift Cards offer groups flexibility when dining at Longwood. Pre-loaded cards are available in varying amounts. Please factor in the number of Gift Cards needed, including Leaders and Bus Drivers.
• Picnic Area
  We offer a Picnic Area located across the street from the main parking lot for Longwood visitors only, available seasonally (mid-April through early-October). Please note that picnicking or bringing in any outside food or beverages (except water) is not permitted in other areas of the Gardens. Please use the Picnic Area before or after your visit. Re-entry to the Gardens is not permitted after leaving the Gardens and visiting the Picnic Area.
• Explore the Region
  The Brandywine Valley has so much to offer, visit a local restaurant to show your support of the region.
• Private Dining or Meeting Accommodations
• We can not accommodate private dining or meeting space and tables cannot be held or reserved for parties of any size during regular Gardens hours. Dining is on a first-come, first-served basis. 1906 can only accommodate parties of 8 or less by advance reservation. Learn more about dining at our Frequently Asked Questions.
  

Book Your Visit

Contact our Group Visits office at 610.388.5223 or groupvisits@longwoodgardens.org.

Self-Guided Youth Visits

There are specific guidelines for self-guided youth visits who are non-school affiliated. 

Plan Your Visit

Chaperones

• A ratio of 1 chaperone to 5 children is required.
• All children must be with an adult chaperone at all times.
• All guests must observe Garden etiquette guidelines. Adult chaperones are responsible for communicating these guidelines to ensure the safety of all guests, exhibit and plant collections.

Dining

• If you plan on dining during your visit, you may eat in The Café or you must drive to our Picnic Area. We offer a Picnic Area located across the street from the main parking lot (2-minute drive) for Longwood visitors, available seasonally (mid-April through early-October). Please note that picnicking or bringing in any outside food or beverages (except water) is not permitted in other areas of the Gardens.
• Outside food is not permitted in the Gardens.
• In the event of rain and thunderstorms during any meal hour, please arrange for alternate plans for a dining location offsite.

Personal Belongings

• Longwood will not store any personal belongings, including, but not limited to coolers, backpacks, or lunches.
• All personal belongings must be left in buses or in personal vehicles.

Programming / Lessons

• Your program may not interfere with another guest’s experience.
• You may not perform other camp-related arts and crafts activities while onsite.
• Longwood must not be the primary location for your week-long external run camp.

Transportation

• If children/campers are being dropped off by parents at the Gardens, an adult must be present at all times and the drop off location must be approved by Longwood.
• The phone number of the camp/field trip organizer chaperone must be provided to Longwood in the event we need to redirect questions from parents.

Book Your Visit

Contact our Group Visits office at 610.388.5223 or groupvisits@longwoodgardens.org.