Fairytale gardens
The gardens at Hatley Park are a hidden treasure in Greater Victoria. The blend of horticulture and history — plus an iconic castle — have awed visitors for more than 100 years. You'll find pink cherry blossoms and vibrant rhododendrons, fragrant roses and gently burbling streams. You'll stroll the manicured Italian garden, find tranquility in the Japanese garden and marvel at the scent in the rose garden. And you can do it on your own or as part of a guided tour.
Visit the formal gardens
Royal Roads University offers free access to the formal gardens for visitors, so everyone can enjoy the beauty of this place.
Access to the formal gardens is through the garden booth beside Hatley Castle on College Drive. The gardens are open every day from 10 a.m. to dusk.
Castle access is permitted only with a guided tour.
Please note: Dogs must be on a leash at all times and are not permitted in the gated garden areas.
Photography
Personal, wedding and commercial photography sessions may be requested by emailing eventrequests@royalroads.ca.
If the university can accommodate your request, permission will be granted three weeks prior to the date of the session and no earlier, to accommodate activities on campus. A fee of $300 will need to be paid to secure your booking.
The session provides access to the formal gardens for up to 1.5 hours.Access to Hatley Castle is not permitted.
Filming by drone is not permitted on the property.
Explore the gardens
Guided tours
You can book one-hour guided tours of Hatley Park, with a walk through the first floor of Hatley Castle.
Plan your tour