Personalised oak rope swings and luxury oak tree swings, made in Britain
There’s something timeless about a swing: the gentle motion, the quiet pause, the sense of being outdoors in a more present way. Our oak rope swings - also known as oak tree swings - are handcrafted in Britain from air-dried FSC oak and finished with beautifully tactile hempex rope for an enduring, natural feel.
Designed for gardens, orchards and country spaces, each swing is made with considered proportions and materials chosen for longevity outdoors. Optional carved inscriptions add a personal note - perfect for gifting, marking a family home, or creating a place that feels unmistakably yours.
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Commonly Asked Questions Around Rope Swings
What sizes are available?
We make four styles of rope swing. The Single is a generous 75cm wide - comfortable for one adult or two children sitting side by side. The Double extends to 110cm, designed for two adults and a long-standing favourite for wedding gardens and anniversary gifts. The Round swing offers a softly sculpted disc seat - playful in character and suited to the more adventurous. The Triple Rope Double is the same width as our standard double, with a third central rope that adds stability and makes it particularly well-suited to families. All four can be hung from a tree, beam, ceiling or one of our purpose-built oak frames.
Is a rope swing only for children?
Not at all - and increasingly, it's adults buying them for themselves. There is something about the simple, rhythmic motion of a rope swing that appeals well beyond childhood: a moment to pause, to let the garden slow down around you. Our singles and doubles are built to adult proportions and adult weights. We've made inscribed doubles for wedding days, anniversaries, and - one of our favourites - a single commissioned by a customer as a gift to herself for her 70th birthday, carved with the words: Still Swinging at 70. The swing doesn't care how old you are.
What if I don't have a suitable tree?
It's a very common situation and easily resolved. Our oak frames are available in multiple heights - including an extra-height option designed for a longer arc and a more generous swing - and they're built from the same FSC-certified oak as the swings themselves. If you have a beam, porch ceiling or pergola, our stainless steel pivot set makes that a straightforward option too. If you're unsure whether your tree is strong enough, a local tree surgeon can assess it quickly; we'd always rather you checked than guessed.
How is it delivered, and can it be left outside?
Rope swings are sent directly to you by post, securely packaged, with free UK delivery included. International delivery is available on request. The oak seat is built to live outdoors - seasoned, air-dried FSC oak that weathers with the same quiet character as our larger pieces. The hempex rope is rot-resistant by design. A simple annual clean and occasional treatment with a recommended wood oil will keep the swing at its best for many years.
Is it safe - particularly for children?
Yes. Every swing is made from seasoned, air-dried FSC oak - structurally sound and free from the unpredictable behaviour of green oak, which can split as it dries. Edges and corners are gently rounded across all models. The rope is threaded through the seat rather than spliced around it, which protects the wood at the point of greatest stress. Our swings are placed in RHS gardens and National Trust properties, where safety testing is rigorous; that trust has been earned and is something we take seriously. If you're hanging from a tree, we'd always recommend having the branch assessed by a tree surgeon if there's any doubt about its condition.
What is the rope made from, and why does it matter?
We use hempex - a marine-grade synthetic rope that carries the traditional look and feel of natural hemp, but without the risk of rot. Where other makers splice the rope around the swing seat - a method that can cause the wood to split over time - ours is threaded through the seat and reinforced at each entry point with purpose-built oak battens underneath. The rope is made by a long-established marine rope maker and arrives pre-spliced, ready to hang. It's a detail that matters considerably for the long-term life of the swing.
How do I hang the rope swing?
Yes - and it's one of the things that makes a rope swing such a considered gift. Any swing can be hand-carved with a name, a date, a phrase or a short message of your choosing. Allow up to 14 working days for carved swings, compared to around 5 days for uncarved. Inscriptions are particularly popular for weddings, christenings, milestone birthdays and anniversaries - but some of the most moving ones we've made have been purely personal, chosen by someone for their own garden and no one else's occasion
Can I add a personalised inscription?
Once your seat is commissioned - typically ready within 4–6 weeks - our installation team will deliver it to your garden and assemble it in position. They check that it sits level and swings freely before they leave; the job isn't complete until you've had a moment to settle in and are entirely satisfied. We deliver and install across mainland UK. If you have specific access considerations or are enquiring from outside the UK, please get in touch and we'll advise accordingly.
How long does it take to make and deliver?
Uncarved swings are typically ready within 5 working days. Carved swings allow up to 14 working days to do justice to the inscription. Every swing is made to order in our Devon workshops. We'll be in touch throughout - with progress updates and photos - and you can make amendments right up until the point of dispatch. If you need a swing for a specific date, tell us at the point of order and we'll do our best to accommodate.
For more frequently asked questions, please see the Garden Swing Seats FAQ page
In their own gardens. In their own words.
For more than twenty years, Sitting Spiritually has been chosen by garden-proud homeowners, country house hotels and estates from the Cotswolds to California. Read what they had to say – in their own words, in their own gardens.
Our Rope Swing Customer Gallery
Enjoy some of these stunning photographs of our seats taken across customer gardens.
Rope Swing Dimensions and Footprint
Due to the handcrafted nature of our products the final footprint can vary slightly from seat to seat, measurements provided are for the largest expected dimensions.
Click an image to enlarge
What should you look for when buying a Rope Swing?
There’s nothing in life quite the same as sitting on a rope swing and watching the world fly beneath your feet. Whether you’re a child, an adult or a couple. Our Oak rope swings can be hung from your own tree or - if you don’t have the right tree in your garden - can be fixed to one of our high oak frames.
Our ropes are made by a highly respected marine rope maker, and threaded through the swings to avoid splitting. Our rope swings are strengthened with battens, and we provide a unique, simple, no knots hanging system as standard.
All of our rope swings can be engraved with an optional inscription of your choice. Why not order yours from our website today?
Watch as Sitting Spiritually founder Martin Young guides you through the decision making process for purchasing a bespoke Rope Swing.
Elegant, Robust & Beautifully Made
Our new rope swing is an elegant, robust and beautifully made addition to the garden. It was simple to hang and is of the best quality one could hope for. A timeless, classic swing that looks as though it has been lifted from the illustrations of a much loved children’s book. Many thanks for the craftsmanship, love and care that have gone into this swing. May we all approach everything that we do and make with the same ethos.
Google Review
Oak Rope Swings for Adults & Children Alike
Not all wooden swings are for children. Adult swings are made from oak and are made to hang from either a tree or a high oak frame. There are few things in life quite like swinging and watching the world go by. Wooden swings for adults give you the chance to relax and watch the world go by in comfort on our customised rope swing seats. Not sure if the rope swing is for you? Take a look at our range of garden swing seats.
Common Questions About Hanging a Rope Swing
Measuring for a Rope Swing
Hanging a rope swing really needn't be anything to worry about.
Hanging from a Beam or Ceiling
Our stainless steel pivot set makes hanging from a beam or ceiling a piece of cake.
Working with a Sloping Bough
Our step by step guide on changing the fulcrum point when you have a sloping bough.
What makes a Sitting Spiritually rope swing the best?
There’s something alluringly nostalgic about a rope swing, and installing one in your outdoor space will conjure up magical childhood memories of carefree Sunday afternoons spent in the garden when all is right with the world.
Strengthening Oak Battens
Our rope swings have strengthening oak battens underneath them adding to their stability, and each rope swing comes with our unique, simple, no knots hanging system as standard.
Customised Inscriptions
If you’re looking for an extra dose of individual charm, you can also add a custom inscription to your swing; maybe a meaningful phrase, or the name of the recipient? The choice is yours!
Marine Quality Hempex Ropes
Where others have the ropes spliced around the rope swing, meaning the wood may be prone to split over time, our ropes, which are made by a long established marine rope maker, are threaded through the rope swing.
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