The Laburnum Arch at Bodnant Garden: A Golden Tunnel Near Betws-y-Coed
For three short weeks each year, the Bodnant Garden Laburnum Arch turns heads across Wales. Golden chains of laburnum flowers hang from a 55 metre tunnel of trained trees. Visitors travel from across the country just to walk beneath it. The arch sits around 12 miles from Bryn Bella, making it an easy addition to a day out from Betws-y-Coed.
A Victorian Vision Almost 150 Years Old
Henry Davis Pochin bought the Bodnant estate at auction in 1874. He was a Victorian industrial chemist with a passion for plants. Within a few years, he had transformed plain lawns and pasture into something extraordinary.
Pochin hired landscape designer Edward Milner to lay out the formal gardens. Milner had trained under the great Joseph Paxton, designer of the Crystal Palace. He brought that same ambition to the Conwy Valley. Together, they planted the Laburnum Arch in 1880. Nearly a century and a half later, it still blooms in the same spot.
The Longest Golden Tunnel in Britain
The arch stretches 55 metres along a raised terrace near the garden entrance. Historians believe it to be the oldest and longest laburnum arch of its kind in Britain. Its design borrows from the pergola walkways that graced European gardens in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Wide gravel paths run beneath the arch. As a result, wheelchair and pushchair users can enjoy it just as easily as everyone else.
When the Laburnum Arch Blooms
The display usually peaks towards the end of May and into early June, though the exact timing depends on the weather each year. During that short window, roughly 50,000 visitors pass beneath the arch to see it at its best. Because of the crowds, the National Trust recommends booking ahead for the busiest dates and opens the garden for longer hours during peak bloom.
Outside those few weeks, Bodnant still rewards a visit. Rhododendrons and magnolias light up the wider garden from March through June, and the Dell, with its Waterfall Bridge and calm reflective pool, offers colour and shade at almost any time of year.
Beyond the Arch: A Garden of National Importance
Bodnant Garden holds five National Collections, including magnolia, embothrium and eucryphia. Many of its rarest specimens grew from seed that plant hunters George Forrest and Ernest Wilson collected on expeditions through China in the early twentieth century. Henry McLaren, the 2nd Lord Aberconway, sponsored those expeditions. He later bred around 300 rhododendron hybrids with head gardener Frederick Puddle, and roughly 185 of those still grow in the garden today.
The estate also holds around 40 UK Champion Trees and 130 Welsh Champion Trees: more than any other garden in Wales.
Planning Your Visit
Bodnant Garden sits at Tal-y-Cafn, near Colwyn Bay, postcode LL28 5RE. Free parking is available a short walk from the entrance. Current admission runs to around £19 for an adult and £9.50 for a child, though it is worth checking the National Trust’s Bodnant Garden page before you travel, since prices and hours change through the year. The Pavilion tea room and Magnolia Café serve hot meals, cakes and drinks. Dogs are welcome on short leads on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through the summer months.
Getting There from Bryn Bella
Bodnant Garden is around 12 miles from Betws-y-Coed, about 18 minutes by car along the A470 through the Conwy Valley. It pairs naturally with a stay at Bryn Bella, whether you visit on your arrival day or save it for a gentler morning after exploring things to do in Betws-y-Coed. Book your stay and add the Laburnum Arch to your North Wales itinerary this spring.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to see the Bodnant Garden Laburnum Arch in bloom?
The arch usually flowers between mid May and early June, with peak bloom lasting around three weeks. Warm spring weather can shift the display earlier, so check the National Trust’s website closer to the time.
Do I need to book tickets to see the Laburnum Arch?
The National Trust asks visitors to book ahead during the busiest dates in late May and early June. Outside that period, you can usually visit without a ticket.
How far is Bodnant Garden from Bryn Bella?
Bodnant Garden sits around 12 miles from Bryn Bella, about an 18 minute drive along the A470 through the Conwy Valley.
Is Bodnant Garden dog friendly?
Dogs on short leads are welcome on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between April and September. Assistance dogs are welcome every day.
Is the Laburnum Arch accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs?
Yes. The arch sits near the garden entrance on level ground, and wide gravel paths lead beneath it.