Courtesy of the Waitrose/John Lewis Partnership, the wonderful water garden at Longstock Park will be open for the RNLI on Monday, 8th June 2026. The event runs from 10.00 – 4.00 at Longstock Park Water Garden, near Stockbridge SO20 6EH. The site is in the lovely Hampshire countryside and includes a popular café and farm shop, nursery, garden centre, walled garden with a clematis archway, a noted buddleja collection, arboretum and the water garden itself. RNLI staff and volunteers will be present as well.
Tickets are £10 for adults, £5 for children under 16 years and free for children under 5 years old. Advance booking through Eventbrite is recommended to secure a timed entry, though cash and card admissions should be possible at the entrance on the day. The following links go to the booking page:
longstockwatergardenopenday2026.eventbrite.co.uk
There were over 9,000 lifeboat launches last year. The RNLI has saved more than 146,000 lives since it was founded in 1824. RNLI-trained lifeguards, celebrating 25 years in service this year, operate on many beaches in the summer months. The RNLI promotes water safety, and its “Float to Live” campaign is saving lives. This event is a repeat of the successful opening for the lifeboats in 2024 to celebrate the RNLI’s 200th anniversary.
Chris Green, from the Romsey & District RNLI fundraising branch, said “We are absolutely delighted that Waitrose/John Lewis are again working with us to help the RNLI in its vital work of saving lives at sea. We thank them so much for their generosity in granting us a special day at the Longstock Park Water Gardens. We hope people will support us by visiting the water garden on 8th June.”
