Updated in October 2026, this Flower Forest Botanical Gardens guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
Flower Forest Botanical Gardens is a 53-acre garden of palms, tropical flowers and lookouts on the former Richmond Plantation in the hills of St Joseph, central Barbados. Adult admission is US$20 ($40 BBD), which is higher than the US$15 quoted in older guides. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the current admission prices, the daily opening hours and the accessibility notes.
Quick facts: the Flower Forest Botanical Gardens
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 8am to 4pm daily. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday. |
| Ticket prices | Adult US$20 ($40 BBD). Child (3 to 12) US$10 ($20 BBD). Under 3 free. |
| Address | Richmond Plantation, Richmond Road, St Joseph, Barbados |
| Nearest transport or parking | Free parking on site. Driving or a taxi is the usual way to reach the garden. |
| Typical time needed | About 1 to 2 hours |
Flower Forest Botanical Gardens opening hours
The gardens are open every day from 8am to 4pm. They are closed only on Christmas Day and Good Friday. The hours are the same all year, and there are no seasonal changes.
The Forest Café and the gift shop are on site. The trees and flowers bloom all year, and a flowering calendar on the garden’s website shows which plants are in bloom.
Phone the gardens on +1 (246) 433-8152 to check on the day.
Flower Forest Botanical Gardens ticket prices
An adult ticket to Flower Forest Botanical Gardens costs US$20, which is $40 BBD. Barbados dollars are fixed at two to one against the US dollar.
- Adult: US$20, or $40 BBD.
- Children aged 3 to 12: US$10, or $20 BBD.
- Children under 3: free.
- Guided tours: available for groups at an additional cost for the guide. Groups must book in advance.
- Wedding and event hire: the garden can host weddings and special events.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
5 great Barbados experiences to book
- 🏝️ See all the island highlights including Bathsheba Beach and Bottom Bay on the full day, round-island tour.
- 🐢 Snorkel with turtles on a catamaran cruise including lunch and open bar.
- 🌿 Take a half day adventure including Harrison’s Cave, Hunte’s Gardens and Bathsheba Beach.
- 🏛️ Pack in Barbados’ key heritage sites on a Bridgetown walking tour.
- 🐒 Enjoy a small-group monkey-feeding experience at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve.
How to get to the Flower Forest Botanical Gardens
The gardens are in central Barbados, on Richmond Road in St Joseph. Allow about 30 minutes’ drive from Holetown on Highway 2, and about 35 minutes from Bridgetown. From the airport, allow about 35 to 40 minutes. The drive runs through rural Barbados.
- By car: follow Highway 2 into the middle of the island, then follow the signs to Flower Forest and Richmond Road. The entrance road can be rough in places.
- By taxi: a taxi from Holetown or Bridgetown is a practical option. Name the destination as Flower Forest Botanical Gardens on Richmond Road.
- By tour: many island tours stop at the gardens, often with Welchman Hall Gully and Hunte’s Gardens.
- By bus: bus routes in the central hills are limited, and combining the central attractions by bus is not practical.
Parking at the Flower Forest Botanical Gardens
Free parking is available on site. The car park takes hire cars and tour buses. The road to the entrance has potholes, and a small overflow parking area is in a clearing in the forest.
How long to spend at the Flower Forest Botanical Gardens
Plan about 1 to 2 hours. Many visitors spend about 45 minutes in the garden, while others spend the whole day on the paths and in the hidden corners.
The main flat path takes less than an hour. Extra paths branch off it, so allow more time for the lookouts and the café.
Accessibility at the Flower Forest Botanical Gardens
The building, including the bathroom, is accessible. The paths through the garden are flat, but the elevation changes by about 15 metres across the garden.
Visitors who use a wheelchair need a strong companion to help them descend and climb back up in some areas. A helper is a necessity in the garden, and two helpers are better.
Benches are placed in shady, secluded spots for rests. Phone +1 (246) 433-8152 to ask about access before you visit.
What to see at the Flower Forest Botanical Gardens
The gardens are a cross between a botanical garden and a nature trail. They cover 53 acres, about 750 feet above sea level, in the Scotland District. The Flower Forest was once part of the Richmond sugar plantation.
The garden opened in December 1983. Don Hill led the project, and Richard Coghlan of Kew Gardens spent two years planning the layout.
Royal palms and mature forest trees shade the paths, with heliconias, gingers and anthuriums planted underneath. A laminated flower guide helps visitors identify the plants.
The paths have playful names, and short cuts and long cuts lead off the main route. You will not get lost, but the choices can be confusing.
Lookouts give views over the Scotland District, Chalky Mount and the east coast of Barbados. The area is home to green monkeys and a variety of birds.
The Forest Café serves lunch, tea and cold drinks on a terrace. Fish cakes and flying fish are on the menu, and a lemongrass or bay leaf tea is available. Order your food before you walk, so it is ready when you return.
The gift shop sells locally made art and crafts, including Earthworks pottery, straw baskets, mahogany carvings, jams and sauces. The garden also offers a 360-degree virtual tour and an interactive map online.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | The gardens open at 8am and close at 4pm. |
| Crowds | Many island tours include a stop at the gardens, so groups can be on the paths during the day. |
| Layout | The main path is flat and takes under an hour. Short paths branch off it to lookouts and quiet corners. |
| Entry process | Pay at the entrance. Groups wanting a guide must book in advance. |
| On-site logistics | Order food at the café before you walk. Wear comfortable shoes, because the garden has a 15-metre change in height. |
Frequently asked questions about the Flower Forest Botanical Gardens
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How much does it cost to enter the Flower Forest Botanical Gardens? | US$20 ($40 BBD) for adults. Children aged 3 to 12 pay US$10, and under 3 are free. |
| Is the Flower Forest Botanical Gardens suitable for children? | Yes. The paths are flat and there is a half-price child ticket. Children under 3 enter free. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Flower Forest Botanical Gardens? | No for individual visitors. Groups wanting a guide must book in advance. |
| Is the Flower Forest Botanical Gardens open on Sundays? | Yes. The gardens are open every day from 8am to 4pm, except Christmas Day and Good Friday. |
| Is the Flower Forest Botanical Gardens wheelchair accessible? | Partly. The building is accessible, but a helper is needed on the garden paths. |
Things to do near the Flower Forest Botanical Gardens
- Hunte’s Gardens: a tropical garden in a sinkhole at Castle Grant in St Joseph, about 5 minutes’ drive from Flower Forest.
- Welchman Hall Gully: a collapsed cave planted with tropical forest in St Thomas, about 5 minutes’ drive away.
- Bathsheba Beach: a rocky Atlantic beach on the east coast, about 15 minutes’ drive away and known for its surf and rock pools.
- Barbados Wildlife Reserve: a reserve with green monkeys in a mahogany wood in St Peter, about 30 minutes’ drive away.
- Animal Flower Cave: a sea cave at North Point in St Lucy, about 40 minutes’ drive away.
Alternative attractions
- Harrison’s Cave: a crystallised limestone cave in the central hills, visited on guided tram tours, about 5 to 10 minutes’ drive away.
- Coco Hill Forest: a private nature reserve in the interior with tall native palms, about 5 to 10 minutes’ drive away.
- Gun Hill Signal Station: an 1818 hilltop signal tower with views of the valleys and the south-west coast, about 15 minutes’ drive away.
- Orchid World: a garden of orchids in central Barbados, not far from Flower Forest and Hunte’s Gardens.
- Earthworks Pottery: a pottery studio and the garden’s sister attraction, selling hand-made stoneware.
