Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Canada
Mexico
the Dominican Republic
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Gardens · Manteo, North Carolina
The Elizabethan Gardens
Gardens inspired by 16th-century English gardens, created in the 1950s next to Fort Raleigh, on the Roanoke lagoon shore, as a tribute to the English colonists.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About The Elizabethan Gardens
The Elizabethan Gardens were created in the 1950s by the North Carolina garden club association on land adjacent to Fort Raleigh as a memorial to the English colonists of Roanoke Island. The design follows the style of English gardens from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, when the colonies were founded.
The route passes through a Tudor-style gateway, a sunken garden with formal beds and fountains, boxwood-lined paths, rose gardens and an herb garden. Antique statues, some brought from Europe, complete the ensemble, including one of Virginia Dare.
Paths lead to the Roanoke lagoon shore, with a lawn beneath old, moss-draped oaks.
The garden has blooms year-round, with highlights including camellias in winter, azaleas in spring and hydrangeas in summer. At the end of the year it hosts a Christmas light display.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
One to two hours.
Best time
In spring for the azaleas, and in summer for the hydrangeas; in December for the Christmas lights.
How to get there
It is on US-64, beside the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, about 5 km from downtown Manteo.
Tip
Combine the visit with Fort Raleigh in the same outing. Garden admission is charged separately.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about The Elizabethan Gardens
What are the Elizabethan Gardens?
Gardens in a 16th-century English style, created in the 1950s in honor of the Roanoke settlers.
Are the Elizabethan Gardens close to Fort Raleigh?
Yes, next door, at the northern tip of Roanoke Island.
What is the best time to visit the Elizabethan Gardens?
Spring and summer, for the flowers, and December, for the Christmas lights.