A PLACE WORTH KNOWING
Make time for the gardens
Come for a browse, then follow your curiosity outside. Trago’s Newton Abbot site brings shopping, themed gardens and a miniature railway into the same outing.
The Garden Park is the part to linger in: twelve themed show gardens designed by Paul Stone, with a clapper bridge, miniature pub and a full-size canal boat among the surprises. Look closely at the planting, take a few photographs and leave time for the next corner. The flowers and foliage change with the season; these photographs capture different moments in the gardens.
The lovely little details
- Show gardens and a garden centre
- Bickington Steam Railway
- Shopping and a café stop
SOMETHING TO LOOK OUT FOR
Beyond the plant benches
Explore the themed show gardens during your garden-centre browse. The little Devon pub and canal scene reward a closer look.
From the venueTHE USEFUL LITTLE DETAILS
Make a little plan.
Getting there
Just off the A38 between Exeter and Plymouth. Use the signed Trago entrance; on-site parking includes spaces for disabled drivers.
Before you set off
Check the store, gardens and railway information separately. Attraction times, ride availability and prices may differ from shop opening hours.
A café pause
Riverside Retreat serves drinks, cakes, sandwiches and paninis. Check its current service times before making it your lunch stop.
Check the detailsRide the miniature railway
Bickington Steam Railway advertises a 25-minute circuit. Steam haulage is offered at weekends when possible, so check the day’s service.
Check the detailsFamily Fun Park
The adjoining fun park has reopened under Play Leisure. Check the operator’s latest arrangements for rides and seasonal facilities before planning around them.
Check the detailsAccess
There are designated parking spaces. Ask Trago about routes through the gardens and railway access if you have particular requirements.
Check the detailsDetails checked 24 October 2026. Opening times, menus and access arrangements can change; confirm anything essential directly before travelling.
About this feature & our sources
This is an editorial discovery, researched from the venue’s own information and any visitor sources linked here. It is not a paid partnership or a first-hand review. Individual visitor tips reflect that person’s experience; they are not a live rating or a promise about your visit.
- Trago — Newton Abbot visitor information ↗
- Trago — Garden Park and photographs ↗
- Trago — Bickington Steam Railway ↗
- Trago — Riverside Retreat ↗
- Play Leisure — current Family Fun Park operator ↗
- Trago — official Instagram ↗
- Tripadvisor — visitor reviews ↗
Each photo has its own source and credit in the gallery. Spotted something that needs updating? Let us know.
