VISITOR GUIDELINES

Guidelines

To ensure you have the best visit possible, we encourage you to do the following:

  • Explore our website prior to your visit.
  • Click the maps below to download them, and learn about our unique garden spaces.
  • Check our hours of operations and note special announcements.
  • Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring water, a hat, sunscreen, and bug spray as needed. Insects, including ticks, bees, and mosquitoes, are part of our ecosystem.
  • Bring your own wheelchair, mobility scooter, stroller, or wagon. Wheelchairs are available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Visit the Garden Shop for gifts and tools for aspiring and veteran gardeners of all ages!
  • Add a membership to your ticket purchase for instant access to member discounted tickets! If you are a member, please bring your membership card to take advantage of discounts in the Garden Shop.
  • Follow us on social media, @newenglandbg, to learn about upcoming events.
  • Take photos! Photography Policy
  • Picnic on our lawns throughout the formal gardens.
  • Bring your dog to walk.
  • Please be considerate when using your cell phone.

Please refrain from the following during your visit:

  • Straying from the paths and disobeying posted signage and safety barricades.
  • Rearranging plants, plant labels, containers, benches and other structures that are part of the garden.  
  • Sunbathing (shirts and shoes required at all times).
  • Climbing trees, picking plants and flowers, walking into fountains or water features.
  • Feeding and touching the wildlife.
  • Releasing plants, seeds, or creatures, including butterflies, at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. To learn why this is important, please see Xerces Society butterfly release policy.

The following items are prohibited in the Garden:

  • Smoking, e-cigarettes, vaping, and any illegal substances.
  • Small group picnicking is allowed, but no barbecuing, outside alcohol, or outside catering. Carry out what you carry in, including trash.
  • Pets, except service animals and leashed dogs.
  • Toys that can cause damage to the plant collection and wildlife, such as balloons.
  • Radios, musical instruments, and equipment for active sports (balls, Frisbees, kites, scooters, and bikes).
  • Drones.
  • Firearms and other weapons.

Other Guidelines

Leashed dogs are welcome year-round except during special after hours events, such as Night Lights. All dogs must be leashed, and are not permitted indoors further than the Visitors Center Lobby.

  • Dogs not covered by a Tails ‘n Trails membership are charged $8 admission per dog.
  • Only one dog per person is allowed to visit the Garden at one time.
  • Dogs are allowed to visit the Garden year-round, except during special after hours ticketed events such as Night Lights. Service dogs are welcome throughout the property during all open hours.
  • Dogs must be leashed at all times and under the control of their handlers. Dogs should not go off leash at any time during your visit.
  • The only area of the building where dogs are permitted is in the lobby of the Visitor Center at the Garden.
  • We ask that you please use discretion where you permit your dogs to relieve themselves. The Garden has a world renowned and scientifically important collection of plants, which may be sensitive to dogs’ urine. Dogs are not permitted to walk onto planting beds or into fields or woodlands. The Garden also has a high tick population so we encourage keeping your dogs on paths and trails.
  • Our ponds are habitats for birds, turtles, small fish as well as certain aquatic plants. In order to ensure these precious habitats remain intact, please do not allow your dog in or near the ponds. Even walking your dog on the edges of the ponds can damage this sensitive ecosystem.
  • Dog handlers are required to clean-up after their dogs. Dog handlers must use “doggie bags” and dispose of them in the designated receptacles.
  • The Garden has the right to revoke a Dog Membership or remove any dog at any time if dog handlers do not clean-up after their dogs or abide by any of the dog policies.
  • Aggressive dogs are not permitted. The Garden reserves the right to refuse entry to or remove any dog thought to be dangerous to guests or other dogs.
  • Tails ‘n Trails membership program and dog admission is only available for dogs. We ask that you leave all other pets at home.

Instructors leading external for-fee classes must pay a $500 fee to visit the Garden with their class. In addition, the instructor and students must pay garden admission. All external fee-based class visits must be submitted in advance to the Private Events Department for approval by New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. Alternatively, you can contract with us to teach a program at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. We work with instructors from across the United States to deliver high-quality education programming for adults. Find out more here.