Winterbourne House was built in 1903 for the industrialist John Nettlefold and his wife Margaret who landscaped the 6 acre grounds in the style of Gertrude Jekyll, a famous horticulturist of the day who believed that a garden should resemble an oil painting in colour, texture and experience.

The garden contains a south-facing terrace, lawns and geographic beds that adjoin an arboretum leading to a rock garden, stream lawn, Japanese bridge and Edgbaston Pool.

Both the house and garden were bequeathed to the University of Birmingham in 1944. The house is now a museum and hospitality venue containing Edwardian furniture and antiques, historical displays about the Nettlefold family, and a gift shop and tearoom.