Mompesson House
Homely and welcoming 18th-century townhouse in the heart of Salisbury's Cathedral Close
The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2EL
Important notice
Opening times for 18 November 2024
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Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £1.00 Child £0.50 Family £2.50 Family (one adult) £1.50 House and Garden
Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £9.00 Child £4.50 Family £22.50 Family (one adult) £13.50 Group Adult £8.55 Group Child £4.27 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Assistance dogs only
Throughout the property.
Tea-room
Garden tea-room serving drinks and light bites
Bookshop
Second-hand bookshop with a variety of books and jigsaw puzzles.
Toilet
Two toilets, one of which is accessible
Guided tour
Introductory talks available throughout the day.
Limited Blue Badge parking available. Ground floor of house accessible. Level access to garden. Manual wheelchair available. Accessible toilet.
Accessible toilet
Two toilets, one of which is accessible.
Seating available
Designated parking
Limited spaces for Blue Badge holders; please book in advance by phone or email
Wheelchairs available
A manual wheelchair bookable in advance by phone or email
Level access/terrain
Ground floor of house accessible. Level access to garden.
By road
Park and ride on all main routes into city.
Parking: Pay and display available in the city centre (not National Trust).
On foot
From city centre follow tourist signs to the Cathedral. Enter the Cathedral Close through the High Street Gate and take the turning to the right in front of Choristers' Green.
By train
Salisbury train station ½ mile. Turn right out of the station onto Mill Rd, follow the road past the park and over a bridge. Turn right at the traffic lights into The Cathedral Close.
By bus
Buses to city centre from surrounding area.
Planning your visit
Mompesson House is no longer on a pre-booked ticket system. Please just arrive on the day for entry. Please note last entry into the house is at 3.30.
Group visits
If you're interested in visiting Mompesson as a group, please phone 01722 335659 or email mompessonhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk for more details.
Ceremonies and events at Mompesson House
Mompesson House, with its city-centre location and picturesque 18th-century townhouse, is the ideal setting for your ceremony or special event.
Highlights
House
18th-century town house with tea-room in the heart of Salisbury's Cathedral Close.
Garden
Tranquil walled garden with traditionally planted herbaceous borders and pergola.
Tea-room
Peaceful tea-room with indoor and outdoor seating. Enjoy cakes, bakes, hot and cold drinks and light lunches in this former summerhouse with views over the garden.
Second-hand bookshop
A large range of modern and antiquarian books available, with new stock coming in weekly.
Spotlight events
A fairy tale Christmas at Mompesson House
Mompesson will be open upstairs and downstairs for Christmas. Fairy tales meet a Victorian Christmas in this immersive storytelling experience, perfect for both the young and the young at heart. Discover the three bears' Christmas feast, follow Hansel's trail to the tea-room and listen to some fairy tales in the Library. Throughout Christmas we'll have a free activity sheet to keep little minds occupied.
Christmas story telling sessions
We'll be reading some of our favourite Christmas stories for half hour sessions in the second-hand bookshop. Please do not leave children unattended for this event. Suggested ages 3-7 but everybody is welcome.
Things to see and do
Things to see and do at Mompesson House
Step inside the 18th-century town house, wander through the atmospheric rooms and discover a tranquil walled garden in the heart of Salisbury’s historic Cathedral Close. Take a moment to relax and treat yourself in the peaceful tea-room.
Family-friendly things to do at Mompesson House
Count the hidden faces in the plasterwork, imagine yourself back in time and check out the creaky staircase.
Christmas at Mompesson House
For Christmas 2024, take a trip back in time to 1846 at Mompesson House. As the Townsend family sleep on Christmas Eve, their books come to life...
Top trails
A walk around Cathedral Close, Salisbury
While visiting Salisbury, take this walk around the historic Cathedral Close and soak up the atmosphere and history of this special place.
Places to stay
89 Church Lawn
Sitting at the entrance to Stourhead, this secluded cottage has a world-famous garden on the doorstep.
524 Pamphill Green Cottage
An eye-catching thatched cottage on the Kingston Lacy estate, where you’ll find miles of footpaths through lush rolling countryside waiting to be explored.
Upcoming events
A Fairytale Christmas at Mompesson House
This 2024, fairy-tales will come alive at Mompesson House as we take you back in time for a magical Victorian Christmas.
Christmas storytelling sessions
Join us for a free storytelling session in our second-hand bookshop.
About Mompesson House
Visiting Salisbury’s Cathedral Close, you step back into a past world. Mompesson House, which featured in the film Sense and Sensibility, has a warm and inviting atmosphere and many different families have called the house ‘home’.
The sense of tranquillity is enhanced by the magnificent plasterwork, graceful oak staircase and fine period furniture, which are the main features of this quintessential Queen Anne townhouse. Mompesson has one of the finest displays of English 18th century drinking glasses and a collection of watercolours by former resident Barbara Townsend.
The garden, with its traditional herbaceous borders and pergola, is an oasis of calm.
History
History of Mompesson House
Discover the stories of the people who have lived at Mompesson House over the past 300 years, from Charles Mompesson in 1701 to Denis Martineau in the 1950s.
Art and collections
Mompesson House's objects and collections
Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Mompesson House on the National Trust Collections website.
Support us
Volunteering at Mompesson
We're looking for House, Collections Care & Conservation and Visitor Welcome volunteers to join the Mompesson team in 2024. Please phone 01722 335659 or email mompessonhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk for more details.
Supporter groups in Wiltshire
There is one National Trust supporter group in Wiltshire where you can join to meet like-minded people, make new friends and learn more about the work of the National Trust.