Stepping onto the grounds of Old Westbury Gardens feels like leaving Long Island behind and entering the English countryside. One of the finest surviving Gold Coast estates in New York, Old Westbury Gardens combines breathtaking formal gardens, a magnificent English-style manor house, and more than a century of history. Originally built as the country home of the Phipps family, the estate remains one of Long Island’s most spectacular historic destinations, offering visitors a glimpse into the elegance of America’s Gilded Age.
If your a New Yorker who has never been to England, there is a parcel of land in Old Westbury where you can experience a bit of English flair right in the middle of Long Island. Known today as Old Westbury Gardens, the history of the buildings and surrounding countryside dates back to the beginning of the twentieth century. The land in which the manor at Old Westbury Gardens now sits was purchased in 1905 by John Shaffer Phipps. The American businessman was the son of Henry Phipps.
In 1861, Henry Phipps began a business relationship with his friend Andrew Carnegie. The two men would become involved in big business ventures such as the United States Steel Corporation, in which Henry Phipps served as director. John Shaffer Phipps would eventually stand as the heir to the Phipps family fortune.
In 1903, John Shaffer Phipps married Margarita Celia Grace. John Shaffer Phipps’ bride had come from a family with many business interests, including the Grace Shipping Line. The wedding took place in England. John Phipps, an American, promised to build Margarita a home in the United States similar to her home in England. The land at Old Westbury Gardens had originally been a Quaker farm. John Shaffer Phipps purchased 160 acres of the land. Out of the 160 acres purchased, John Shaffer Phipps made sure that seventy of the acres would be reserved for gardens in the old English tradition. The main house on the property was built in the English Restoration style. The house was designed by George Crawly of England.
In 1959, Margaret Phipps Boegner, daughter of John Shaffer Phipps and Margarita Celia Grace, opened the house to the public. Since its public opening, the house and surrounding gardens have been visited by millions of visitors.
We recently visited Old Westbury Gardens and were taken aback by the beauty of the surrounding landscape. The entrance way to the Old Westbury Gardens leads visitors past a small ticket booth into a large dirt parking lot. It is about a five-minute walk to the front of the beautiful manor house. Visitors are allowed to tour the house on their own There are a few security guards stationed within the house as the manor now serves as a museum. The building is filled with many 18th-century antiques. Photos of the Phipps family hang from the walls. The dining room is magnificent and set like many of the rooms one would see at the great European Museums like The Louver in Paris.
The most breathtaking view at Old Westbury Gardens stems from the backyard terrace. While staring out at the large, perfectly manicured green fields from the terrace, one may wonder whether one is looking at a painting rather than an actual landscape. The same view of the gardens from the house is just as daunting when standing at the far ends of the gardens looking back at the house. It feels like being in the English Countryside in the 18th century. It is truly magnificent.
While exploring the large green lawns of Old Westbury Gardens, one will find perfectly trimmed hedges, rose bushes that look as if they were carved in heaven, and a beautiful Italianate walled garden. There are ponds, small cottage houses, and stairways that look like they lead into another world. There is good reason why many wedding photographers travel to Old Westbury Gardens for engagement shoots and more.
Old Westbury Gardens is open to the public from April to November. The best time of year to visit Old Westbury Gardens is in the spring when all the flowers and roses are in full bloom. However, any time of the year will still do, as the green fields, the spectacular manor house, and the 18th-century English vibe are not to be missed.
All Photos Brian Kachejian ©2018
For more Long Island history, be sure to visit our articles on Sagamore Hill, Old Bethpage Village Restoration, Jones Beach State Park, and Oheka Castle.
Updated June 29, 2026.
