Monty Don, the long-time presenter of BBC's Gardeners' World, has made his home in the tranquil market town of Leominster in Herefordshire since the early 1990s. The average property in the town sells for around £235,809, according to recent sold-price data from Rightmove.
Longmeadow: The Garden at the Heart of the Show
Don and his wife Sarah purchased Longmeadow in Ivington, Herefordshire, in October 1991, when the property was in a state of disrepair. The house was little more than a ruin, and the two-acre garden was an abandoned field scattered with builder's rubble and overgrown with rough grass, nettles, and brambles.
According to Monty's website, "There was just one tree when they bought the property: a hazel that now stands in what is known as the Spring Garden." The couple initially rented elsewhere while restoration work was carried out, finally moving into Longmeadow towards the end of 1992.
Why Leominster?
Don has previously explained his choice of location to English Home, noting that Leominster is "sufficiently far" from any London commuter belt, making it more economical. He described his property as a Tudor oak-beamed hall house with 10 workrooms and studios.
The garden is divided into four areas: the Cottage Garden, Jewel Garden, Paradise Garden, and Vegetable Garden. Since 2011, much of Gardeners' World has been filmed at Longmeadow, making the garden almost as recognisable as Don himself.
Property Prices in Leominster
Leominster sits in northern Herefordshire, just 10 minutes from Hereford town centre. The town is believed to have originated around a great Anglo-Saxon abbey founded in 660 AD.
Over the past year, the majority of properties sold in Leominster were detached homes, selling for an average of £322,427. Terraced properties fetched £188,075 on average, while semi-detached properties sold for £236,519. Overall, homes sold in Leominster were 1% down on the previous year and 2% up on the 2022 peak of £230,076.
