Leckford Estate: The Waitrose & Partners Farm in the Hampshire Test Valley
Leckford Estate sits in the heart of the Hampshire countryside, a 2,800-acre working farm and country estate owned by Waitrose and run as part of the John Lewis Partnership. For more than 90 years the Estate has been farmed under a regenerative, sustainability-led philosophy first set out by its founder, John Spedan Lewis. Today it is one of the most unusual visitor destinations in southern England, combining a farm shop, café, plant nursery, water garden, golf courses, fly fishing on the River Test, a working vineyard and a thriving programme of countryside events.
A 2,800-acre country estate in the Test Valley
Leckford Estate is located near the market town of Stockbridge in the Test Valley, Hampshire. The postcode for the main hub - the Farm Shop, Café and Nursery at Longstock Park - is SO20 6EH. The Water Garden is a little further along Longstock Park Road at the same postcode, and the Golf Course sits in the village of Leckford at SO20 6JF. With 40% of the landholding managed primarily for habitat and landscape value, the estate is as much a nature reserve as it is a commercial farm, and it is recognised as the Waitrose & Partners Farm - the only UK retailer-owned farm producing fresh local produce at scale.
More than 100 Partners (as John Lewis Partnership employees are known) work on the estate. They manage farmland, orchards, vineyards, water meadows, woodlands, golf greens, fishing beats and the ornamental water garden, and they run the farm shop, café and nursery that welcome visitors year-round.
History: John Spedan Lewis and the founding of a pioneering estate
Leckford was purchased as a private estate by John Spedan Lewis in 1929. Spedan, the founder of the John Lewis Partnership, was a visionary retailer with a deep personal knowledge of botany, entomology and aquatic life. He invested heavily in housing, farm mechanisation, partner welfare and the environment - and he laid out the Longstock Park Water Garden that still draws visitors nearly a century later.
Those founding principles - quality, sustainability and the wellbeing of people and place - are still carried forward in how the estate is farmed and run today. In 2013, a long-held dream was realised when the Estate opened Longstock Park Farm Shop alongside the plant nursery, creating a hub at the centre of the community that sells the farm's own-grown produce alongside carefully sourced goods from local and regional makers.
The Estate is also home to the John Spedan Lewis Trust, an environmental Trust set up with a clear purpose: to promote the natural sciences through education and study. The Trust continues Spedan's work both on the estate and beyond.
Wine and cider from the Estate's own vineyard and orchards
Although Leckford is best known for its farm shop, bread and honey, the estate is also one of the UK's only retailer-owned vineyards. Waitrose & Partners was the first UK retailer to have its own vineyard, and the Leckford vineyard is now part of an estate-wide regenerative system.
Leckford Estate Brut Sparkling Wine
The signature wine is Leckford Estate Brut, a fresh, fruity sparkling wine made from grapes grown on the estate's own Regenified Vineyard. The wine is sold through the farm shop, selected Waitrose stores and Leckford's cheese-making partner.
One of its most distinctive uses is in the No. 1 Leckford Creamy Washed-Rind Cheese, a semi-soft cheese whose rind is washed using Leckford Estate Brut - creating a closed-loop story from vine to dairy.
Ciders from the Leckford orchards
The estate's thin, chalky orchard soils produce crisp, intensely flavoured apples and pears, which are used for two seasonal ciders:
- Longstock Park Pear Cider, crafted in collaboration with Purbeck Cider Company from pears grown on the estate.
- Leckford Vintage Apple Cider (2024) and the blended Leckford Estate Vintage Pear & Apple Cider (2024), made from regeneratively grown apples and pears harvested at peak ripeness in autumn 2024. Both pair well with grilled meats, seasonal dishes and warm afternoons outdoors. The Vintage Apple Cider is available from the farm shop and online via Waitrose.
Leckford & Daily Dose Apple Juice
For a non-alcoholic option, the estate produces Leckford & Daily Dose Apple Juice in partnership with Daily Dose, using apples from the UK's first certified regenerative orchard. The juice carries the 'Championing Regenerative Farming' logo.
Longstock Park Farm Shop: the heart of the estate
The Longstock Park Farm Shop is described by the estate as "the heart of Longstock Park." It brings together the best of Leckford and the region, stocking an exceptional selection of quality food, drink and gifts.
All the estate's own produce is grown or produced within a few miles of the shop. Beyond the wines, ciders and apple juice already mentioned, shelves are filled with:
- Leckford Rapeseed Oil - a cold-pressed oil made from the estate's own rapeseed crop.
- Leckford Flour - milled from wheat grown on the farm using regenerative methods.
- Leckford Farmhouse Loaf and Leckford Seeded Baguette - both baked with Leckford Flour.
- Leckford Fruit & Seed Hot Cross Buns - made with Leckford Flour and carrying the 'Championing Regenerative Farming' logo.
- Leckford & Hampshire Honey - a smooth, set honey created in collaboration with Roselea Apiaries, whose 54 hives were placed in the estate's orchards.
- No. 1 Leckford Creamy Washed-Rind Cheese.
- Apples and pears - straight from the chalk-soil orchards.
- Leckford Beef Herd - a Hereford suckler herd that grazes the water meadows and chalk grasslands, with 30% more space and no growth hormones.
- Leckford Milk - processed on the estate through the Waitrose & Partners on-site processing dairy and microbiology lab.
Local and regional partners
Around 40% of products in the farm shop are from local or regional suppliers. The wine and spirits aisle includes the estate's own Leckford Brut, plus award-winning local wines, beers and spirits. Test Valley Gin is distilled using pure water sourced from the River Test. Other names you'll find on the shelves include Wiltshire Shaved Ham from Wessex Country Gammons (RSPCA Assured), Chococo chocolates, Lucy's Farm homeware and gifts, Jude's Ice Cream (a certified B-Corp from nearby Winchester), and the Longstock Park Candle Collection - three bespoke fragrances (The Orchard, The Water Garden and Herbal Ley) inspired by the estate.
Artisan breads, pantry essentials, fresh flower bouquets, plantable seed-embedded wrapping paper and Longstock Park gift cards round out the offering. The farm shop also acts as a John Lewis Click & Collect point, in addition to accepting John Lewis/Waitrose paper vouchers and HTA gift cards.
Longstock Park Café and Cherry Tree Café
The Longstock Park Café is an oak-framed space with views over the nursery's walled garden and herbaceous border. The menu is built around the highest-quality fresh, seasonal ingredients, many of which are sourced from the farm itself. Cakes and biscuits are baked daily in-house by Partner Katrina using Leckford Flour.
Café menu highlights
The all-day menu includes:
- Breakfast - the Leckford Full Breakfast, a vegetarian breakfast, breakfast rolls, smashed avocado on Hoxton sourdough, smoked salmon & cream cheese bagel, breakfast bagels and baked beans on toast.
- Lunch - homemade soup, hot pork and apple sausage roll, sandwiches (cheddar & chutney, ham & mustard mayo, avocado/tomato/chilli jam, tuna mayo, coronation chicken), toasted sourdough melts, slow-baked potatoes and flatbreads.
- Children's menu - jacket potato with cheese and beans, beans on toast, ham and cheese sandwiches or wraps.
Food service runs Monday to Saturday 9am - 3:30pm and Sunday 10am - 3pm. Note that the café does not take bookings - visitors simply turn up.
Cherry Tree Café
For an outdoor option, the seasonal Cherry Tree Café is a charming wooden cabin tucked under cherry trees beside the nursery's herbaceous border and National Buddleja Collection. Open from spring through autumn, it serves hot and cold drinks, homemade cakes, sandwiches and light snacks - and its picnic-table area can be booked for group visits by contacting the farm shop team.
Longstock Park Water Garden: "the finest water garden in the world"
Perhaps Leckford's most photographed asset is the six-acre Longstock Park Water Garden. Created by Spedan Lewis himself, it has been named "the finest water garden in the world" by the International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society. Crystal-clear water wraps around islands and woodland valleys, crossed by charming wooden bridges and lined by an 80-metre herbaceous border and more than 100 different trees.
The garden nurtures a remarkable plant collection, including over 40 different waterlily species alone. In July the water lilies put on what the estate calls its "Monet moment" - a riot of pinks, whites and yellows that draws photographers from across the region.
Opening hours, tickets and prices
The Water Garden is open 1 April - 31 October, Tuesday to Sunday, 10am - 4pm (closed Mondays except for special openings). The garden reopens on 1 April 2026 with new extended hours. Standard entry is £10 per adult and £5 per child (under 5s free). Card payments only; no picnicking and no dogs except assistance dogs. Wheelchair access is available to most areas, although the irregular surface means care is needed.
Three notable special openings are scheduled for 2026:
- Plant Heritage Plant Fair on Monday 4 May (10am - 4pm).
- RNLI Day on Monday 8 June, with all admission fees going to the RNLI.
- National Garden Scheme Open Day on Sunday 28 June, with proceeds going to NGS charitable causes.
Outside the main season, the garden is open for self-guided Winter Walks every Friday in February (11am - 2pm).
Season tickets
Regular visitors can buy a Water Garden Season Ticket at the gate. An Adult Season Ticket is £40 and a Joint Adult Ticket (two people) is £75. Benefits include unlimited entry during the open season, a bi-monthly Garden Newsletter, a complimentary Water Garden Guide Book, 10% off purchases at Longstock Park Farm Shop and Nursery, and free entry to evening openings.
Longstock Park Nursery and the Walled Garden
Longstock Park Nursery has been supplying quality plants and gardening advice for over 60 years. Set in the Test Valley alongside the Farm Shop and Café, it holds the National Collection of Buddleja and is one of only a handful of preferred stockists for David Austin Roses. The collection ranges from alpines and perennials to trees, hedging, shrubs, houseplants and seasonal bulbs.
At the heart of the nursery is the Walled Garden, home to the famous 80-metre herbaceous border and the iconic clematis archway woven through apple trees. Entry to the walled garden is free during normal nursery opening hours and it is open for most of the year, although the clematis archway and buddleja collection can be closed in winter following snow and ice.
The Garden Shop
The newly refurbished Nursery Garden Shop stocks gardening essentials, hand and pruning tools, peat-free composts and soil improvers, seeds and bulbs, pots and planters, houseplants, gardening accessories and gifts. It also sells outdoor living essentials including Big Green Egg charcoal BBQs, John Lewis outdoor furniture and Garden Trading ranges, and a full Crane Garden Buildings display sits alongside the car park. Longstock and National Garden gift vouchers are available.
Longstock Park Landscapes: garden design and landscaping
The estate's gardening expertise is also offered as a commercial service through Longstock Park Landscapes. Hampshire-based designers and landscapers offer a complete garden design and build service, supported by the nursery's own plant supply and the Crane garden buildings range.
The process is simple:
- Book a free visit and complete an online questionnaire.
- A team member visits to understand the brief.
- A fully costed quote is produced.
- The project is booked and a start date scheduled.
- Final checks are completed on completion.
Services include bespoke garden design, hard landscaping (porcelain terraces, stone detailing, raised beds, garden walls, firepits), soft landscaping (planting, wildflower turf, herbal leys), bespoke garden maintenance packages, and the supply and installation of Crane garden buildings and the Nova Pergola Collection.
Design services are charged at an hourly rate of £65 (billed in 15-minute increments). For construction work valued over £1,000 (inc. VAT) a 25% deposit is required; below £1,000 no deposit is needed and the balance is payable on completion. A free consultation visit is offered within 20 miles of the SO20 6EH postcode. All plants supplied and planted by the team come with a 12-month guarantee (provided they are properly maintained and watered).
Leckford Golf: two nine-hole courses in the Test Valley
Tucked into the village of Leckford and overlooking the River Test, Leckford Golf offers two nine-hole courses managed in harmony with the surrounding nature reserve. The Old Course has been described as one of the finest - and one of the most challenging - nine-hole courses in the country. The New Course, set high on the valley side, is more modern and ideal for improvers, hobbyists and lower-handicap players alike.
Both courses are managed sustainably: more tolerant turf grasses reduce pesticide and fertiliser use; wildflower areas provide natural pest control; rough is left longer to cut machinery use; and sheep graze surrounding land to add organic matter. Members have built and sponsored bird boxes across the courses, and the courses are home to two of the John Spedan Lewis Trust's designated nature reserves.
Membership is run through leckfordgolf.co.uk. Members can turn up and play seven days a week year-round; there is no pay-and-play option, but members may bring guests (card payments only) by contacting the club in advance. Professional golf tuition is available with Advanced PGA Professional Kevin Caplethorn. The clubhouse offers two welcoming places to relax between rounds.
Leckford Fishing: chalkstream fly fishing on the River Test
The River Test is one of the world's most famous trout rivers, and the chalk-stream-fed beats and lakes on the Leckford Estate give anglers a true Hampshire chalkstream experience. The fishery comprises sixteen dedicated river beats plus two stillwater lakes (Testside and Longstock Park), both stocked with estate-reared rainbow and brown trout and open year-round.
River season runs 1 May - 15 October; lake fishing is available all year round. Day-rod bookings are taken online via leckfordfishing.co.uk/booking. School holiday and beginner fly fishing tuition sessions are available on the lakes, where all equipment is provided. A comprehensive fishing price list covering full-season, half-season and day rods is available. Anglers should read the fishery rules in advance.
For special occasions, the Longstock Park Lodge beside Longstock Park Lake can be hired for fishing trips or family gatherings.
Contact details
- Fishing Manager Tom: 07860 541933
- Riverkeeper Andy: 07973 742172
Events and what's on
The estate runs a year-round events programme, with public guided evenings, forest bathing sessions, butterfly counts and seasonal celebrations. At time of writing, the following upcoming events are confirmed:
An Evening in the Water Garden - August 2026
Four Friday evening openings (10am - 6pm) on 7, 14, 21 and 28 August 2026. The opening on Friday 7 August runs until 8pm with live music from brass ensemble KV Brass between 6pm - 8pm. Entry £10 adults / £5 children / free for under 5s. Pay at the gate - arrive by 4:30pm to enjoy the whole garden. More information and timings.
Join the Big Butterfly Count at Longstock Park
Running 17 July - 9 August 2026, the estate is hosting a free Big Butterfly Count around its spectacular 80-metre herbaceous border and National Buddleja Collection. Pick up a free spotter chart from the Nursery Garden Shop or use the Butterfly Conservation app. Open 9am - 5pm. Full details.
Forest Bathing: A Sensory Nature Experience
Guided three-hour forest bathing sessions and an extended Retreat Day with guides Monica Wilson and Janice Butler in the Water Garden. Upcoming dates include Monday 3 August 2026 (Retreat Day, 10am - 3pm, £65), Thursday 24 September 2026 (3pm - 6pm, £45) and Tuesday 13 October 2026 (10am - 1pm, £45). For ages 18+. Advanced booking is essential via Monica Wilson. View event details.
Farming for Nature: regenerative farming at the heart of Leckford
Leckford Estate is the centre of excellence for Waitrose's Farming for Nature initiative, which supports more than 2,000 British farmers in moving to more nature-friendly practices. The estate has explicitly followed five regenerative principles since 2020:
- Minimising soil disturbance with strip-till or no-till methods.
- A 12-year crop rotation plan that builds diversity and reduces synthetic inputs.
- Cover cropping to avoid bare earth and protect soil structure.
- Keeping living roots in the soil for as much of the year as possible.
- Integrating livestock - the Hereford suckler herd grazes herbal leys and winter cover crops.
The wider Waitrose & Partners business has set a target of becoming carbon net zero by 2035. Notable firsts at Leckford include being the first UK farm to start harvesting fugitive methane from farmyard manure to power a biomethane tractor (2023), running all mains electricity on a green contract, installing photovoltaic panels on farm buildings, and replacing diesel maintenance vans with electric vehicles. The estate has been LEAF Marque certified for over 20 years.
Around 28 kilometres of hedgerows and 156 hectares of woodland help sequester carbon alongside the soils, and a full-time Biodiversity Officer oversees habitat management across 40% of the landholding. Monitoring focuses on the "Big Three" - breeding and hibernation habitats, summer food sources, and winter foraging opportunities - with priority species including water voles, grey partridges, corn buntings and lapwings.
The estate's work has won multiple industry awards, including the 2024 Compassion in World Farming Award for Sustainable Food & Farming, and CiWF Best Retailer four years in a row.
Visiting Leckford Estate
There is free parking on site at Longstock Park, and the estate is a fantastic full-day destination that combines food shopping, gardening, walking, eating and outdoor sport.
Seasonal opening hours
- Farm Shop - Mon-Sat 9am - 5:30pm; Sun 10am - 4pm.
- Café - Mon-Sat 9am - 5pm; Sun 10am - 3pm.
- Nursery - Mon-Sat 9am - 5:30pm; Sun 10am - 4pm.
- Estate Office - Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5pm.
- Water Garden - 1 April - 31 October, Tue-Sun 10am - 4pm.
- Longstock Park Landscapes - Mon-Fri 8am - 5pm.
Only assistance dogs are allowed indoors at the farm shop, café and nursery. Dogs on leads are welcome in outdoor shopping and eating areas. Picnicking is not permitted on the estate. Leckford Estate gift cards can be bought from the farm shop and nursery garden shop and redeemed across Longstock Park Nursery, Farm Shop, Café and Longstock Park Landscapes; they cannot be used in Waitrose, John Lewis or online. John Lewis/Waitrose paper vouchers are accepted in the farm shop and nursery.
Contact details
- Farm Shop & Café: 01264 810270
- Nursery: 01264 810894 / 01264 810984 (mobile 07730192336)
- Landscaping services: 07730192336 / [email protected]
- Estate Office: 01264 812110 / [email protected]
- Water Garden: 01264 810904
- Golf: 07860 719184 / [email protected]
- Fishing: 07860 541933 (Tom) / 07973 742172 (Andy)
Plan your visit
For walkers and shoppers, foodies and gardeners, anglers and golfers, families and quiet couples, Leckford Estate is one of the most rewarding day-out destinations in southern England. Pick up a bottle of Leckford Estate Brut from the farm shop, linger over a glass of cider on the café terrace, lose an hour or two in the Longstock Park Water Garden, and bring home a loaf of bread, a jar of Hampshire honey and a pot of Leckford rapeseed oil. With more than 90 years of careful stewardship behind it - and a clear-eyed regenerative plan for the next century - Leckford is a place where English country living still feels entirely real.