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Upton House and Gardens
Lord and Lady Bearsted’s 1930s country retreat with dramatic terraced gardens and world-renowned art collection.
near Banbury, Warwickshire, OX15 6HT
Important notice
Upton House, the Pavilion Cafe and the Shop are open Saturday 23 November. The Gardens and Woodland walk will be closed due to high winds.
Opening times for 23 November 2024
Asset Opening time Garden Closed House 11:30 - 15:30 Restaurant 11:00 - 16:00 Shop 11:00 - 16:00 Last entry to the house is at 3pm, there is a 5 - 10 minute walk between the car park and the house. Please note the visitor route follows the galleries on the ground and lower ground floors. On busy days access to the house is via timed ticket and these are available to select upon arrival at reception. Please note: on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 - 28 November, Upton House will be open via an accompanied visit. On accompanied days, you will need to join one of the time slots to go into the main house. It isn’t a tour, rather there will be a couple of house volunteers who will take you from room to room at a relaxed pace and be on hand to answer any queries. Essentially it will be self-guided, but within a 45-minute time frame. Tickets for each accompanied visit can be collected at Visitor Reception on arrival. (Start times are 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:45pm, and 2:45pm). The second accompanied visit from 12.30pm – 1.15pm will be a level-access visit of the ground floor only. If you would enjoy a more leisurely visit, please visit on Monday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. From Saturday 23rd November until 4th January, our Picture Gallery will be closed for its annual deep clean and condition check. Whilst the house is decorated for Christmas, we take the opportunity to clean and check each of our paintings in our Picture Gallery and give the room an in-depth clean from top to bottom. The Entrance Hall, the Dining Room, the Long Gallery, the Porcelain Lobby and the Picture Room are decorated for Christmas. Upton houses an important collection of art and porcelain, however it isn't possible to have all items or rooms on permanent display. If you're visiting to see a particular collection item or room, we recommend contacting us before you visit.
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Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £16.50 £15.00 Child £8.30 £7.50 Family £41.30 £37.50 One Adult Family £24.80 £22.50 Group Adult £14.25 Group Child £7.10 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Assistance dogs only
We welcome assistance dogs in all areas of the property if they are wearing their tabards/harness and working. Please ask your dog to toilet before entering the property. A tap is available in the plant centre if you need to refill a water container for your dog. Please ask if you require assistance.
Cycle parking
Children under 5 on scooters, balance bikes and bikes with stabilisers are allowed under close supervision except in the formal gardens and in the Quiet Orchard. For everyone else there are cycle racks at reception.
Bookshop
Located adjacent to the Squash Court Gallery.
Family friendly
Children under 5 on scooters, balance bikes and bikes with stabilisers are allowed under close supervision except in the formal gardens and in the Quiet Orchard.
Café
Shop
Car park
300 yards from the House, Pavilion Cafe and Shop
Toilet
The House, Pavilion Café and Shop are 300m from the car park. The garden is partially accessible to visitors with mobility impairments. There is a ramped entry at the main garden entrance. There is also access via sloping paths through the orchard opposite the café. Beyond the south lawn, the gardens descend steeply in a series of terraces, the routes are via stone staircases or steep grass and crushed stone pathways. There are unguarded ponds, slopes and drops throughout the garden. There is designated ‘disabled’ parking available, we offer a volunteer operated driver-assisted buggy, an accessible toilet, an accessible wheelchair route through the ground floor of the house and through parts of garden. Please note – we are not able to accommodate pushchairs or large bags in the main house; they can be stored in the summer house adjacent to the shop. We do have hip carriers available to borrow (subject to availability). Please ask at Visitor Reception or upon entrance to the main house for more information
Accessible route and/or map
Level access to food outlet
Accessible toilet
Adapted WC available in the courtyard outside the shop, right hand transfer.
Level access to shop
Braille (guide or menu)
Braille guides available that include an introduction to Upton House and Gardens and its collections. These are available upon request at the entrance to the house.
Level access/terrain
We are located on the edge of an ice age valley and there are several sheer drops. Most of the garden access is via steep steps and slopes, but can be seen from the edge of the South Lawn which overlooks a 30m drop to the Mirror Pool below. The open rooms on the ground floor are fully accessible.
Designated parking
300 yards from the house
Ramped access/slopes
There is a ramped side access to the House. Please ask at the main entrance to the House where you will be directed.
Drop-off point
On days when the transfer vehicle is unavailable please ask at reception upon arrival who will facilitate access for you to the drop off point.
Seating available
In the gardens there is some seating available, but you are welcome to bring along a small fold-up chair or rug. There is seating available in the House, please ask any of our House Hosts for assistance.
Induction loop
Hearing loops are available in Visitor Reception, Shop and Pavilion Cafe.
Transfer available
There is a covered golf buggy available between reception and the House, Shop and Pavilion Cafe. This is a volunteer run service, so on days when it is unavailable please ask the welcome team at reception for alternative arrangements.
Large print (guide or menu)
Available within the house.
Wheelchairs available
By road
On A422, 7 miles north of Banbury, 12 miles south-east of Stratford-upon-Avon. Signed from exit 12 of M40. From exit 11 follow the signs for the A422 via Wroxton.
Parking: The car park is 300 yards from the house and garden. The car park is locked outside of the opening hours for Upton House and Gardens.
Sat Nav: When using your SatNav please follow the directions to the postcode area, then look for the brown signs to find our car park. The entrance is on the main road, the A422.
On foot
footpath SM177 runs adjacent to property, Centenary Way ½ mile, Macmillan Way 1 mile.
By train
Banbury train station is 7 miles
Planning your visit
Events at Upton House and Gardens
See all we have going on over winter and Christmas to help you plan your visit
Article
Family-friendly things to do at Upton House and Gardens
Find out what's on for families at Upton House and Gardens, spot wildlife on the Woodland Walk or simply let off steam in acres of space outdoors. If you're planning for winter and the festive period, find out more about about all we have coming up including our Christmas displays.
Article
Group visits to Upton House and Gardens
Bring your group to visit Upton House and Gardens, see the famous art collection, enjoy the beautiful gardens or hear stories of Upton's history as a home.
PDF
PDF
Upton House and Gardens map
Take a look at the map of Upton House and Gardens to help plan your visit
Article
Accessibility at Upton House and Gardens
Here you'll find information about access across the different areas of Upton House and Gardens and how to make the most of your visit.
Highlights
House
Honey-coloured country house, remodelled for Lord and Lady Bearsted’s 1930s country retreat. Houses a world-renowned art collection and fine Chelsea porcelain.
Garden
Dramatic terraced gardens designed by Kathleen Lloyd Jones during the 1930s with herbaceous boarders, orchard, mirror pool and woodland walk.
Eating
The Pavilion Café serves a range of hot and cold light lunches, snacks, and drinks with indoor and outdoor seating.
Shopping
Gift shop and plant centre with a selection of unique gifts and seasonal gardening ranges and second-hand bookshop.
Things to see and do
Article
Christmas at Upton House and Gardens
Enjoy enchanting displays based around Aesop’s fables with plenty to keep the little ones entertained with a family quest. There are special themed events including winter afternoon tea talks, a festive visit after dark, and wreath making workshops.
Article
Family-friendly things to do at Upton House and Gardens
Find out what's on for families at Upton House and Gardens, spot wildlife on the Woodland Walk or simply let off steam in acres of space outdoors. If you're planning for winter and the festive period, find out more about about all we have coming up including our Christmas displays.
News
Smartify – your personal digital guide to the Bearsted Art Collection at Upton House
Delve deeper into the treasured collection at Upton House using the new Smartify app.
Article
Discover the house and collection at Upton
Immerse yourself in one of the finest art collections in 20th-century England, which was the country house and weekend retreat of 2nd Viscount Bearsted, Walter Samuel.
Article
Visiting the garden at Upton
Visit Upton's historic garden and marvel at the view that unfolds in front of you. Discover the Mirror Pool and enjoy the winter walk.
Eating and shopping
Article
Eating and shopping at Upton
Stop by the Pavilion Café on your visit to Upton House and grab a bite to eat, a hot or cold drink and a slice of cake. Buy a souvenir of your visit in the shop, or pop into the second-hand bookshop for a new read.
Top trails
Trail
Edge Hill views walk from Upton House
Amble through arable land for spectacular views across Warwickshire and down to the site of the historic first battle of the English Civil War.
Trail
Upton House ley line walk
Trace the ley lines first discovered by an amateur archaeologist in 1921 in this history-packed circular trail from Upton House.
Trail
The Shenington Round from Upton House
Arable ambling in Warwickshire's countryside, with the opportunity to stop off at a village pub along the way.
Places to stay
Bog Cottage
On the grounds of Upton House, overlooking the bog garden, this former banqueting house is a stylish retreat.
1 Home Farm Drive
With its own private garden, this former stable on the Upton estate has an Art Deco-inspired interior.
Upcoming events
Event
Aesop's Fables Cheeky Creature Christmas Quest
We invite children and their families to share the fun of Aesop's ancient and well-known fables, which we've re-imagined with a cheeky hint to Upton. Bring smiles to little faces when you join in with our special family quest.
Event
Aesop's Fables - Christmas at Upton House and Gardens
Join us as we re-imagine Aesop's fables this Christmas. See the house decorated with enchanting displays of some of these ancient moral tales.
Event
A festive evening visit at Upton House
Enjoy Upton's Christmas decorations after dark followed by a glass of Prosecco with the Property Curator and the illustrator who designed and created Upton’s fable-inspired Christmas.
Event
Christmas wreath-making workshop
Make your own Christmas wreath under expert guidance with materials sourced from the gardens.
Event
Winter afternoon tea talks
Feed your senses this winter with our series of afternoon talks about the collection followed by traditional afternoon tea.
Event
New Year's Day guided walk
Start your new year with a gentle guided walk around the Upton estate.
About Upton House and Gardens
Nestled within the Warwickshire / Oxfordshire border, Upton houses a treasured art gallery showcasing the fine collections of Old Master and British pictures including Bosch, El Greco and Canaletto.
Lord Bearsted purposefully redesigned and extended the original honey coloured house to best display his cherished art and rare French and English Chelsea porcelain.
Lady Bearsted turned her attention to the gardens and commissioned one of the first professional female garden designers Kitty Lloyd-Jones to improve them for leisure and pleasure. The topography is distinctive with steep terraces parallel to the house tumbling down into the ice age valley.
Take a wander and admire the soft planting, strong colours and fashionable styles. Highlights include the Wild Garden and Herbaceous Borders, Mirror Pool and South Lawn beneath the magnificent Cedars.
Remodelled for recreation and relaxation, the house, collections and gardens are largely as they were in their heyday from the 1930s.
History
Article
The history of Upton House and Gardens
Discover more about the history of Upton House and how following its acquisition by Lord and Lady Bearsted in 1927, they set about improving the estate and hiring garden designer Kitty Lloyd-Jones to improve the garden.
Our work
Article
Our work at Upton House and Gardens
Take a look at some of the conservation work that takes place at Upton to look after this place for everyone, for ever.
Project
Project
Conserving a rare Tintoretto
Discover how a rare painting by Venetian artist Jacopo Tintoretto is being researched, and conserved in a new project.
Art and collections
Upton House's objects and collections
Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Upton House on the National Trust Collections website.
Article
Volunteer at Upton House and Gardens
Interested in volunteering with the National Trust at Upton House and Gardens? Discover how to get involved, as well as the benefits of joining our team of over 200 volunteers. Upton’s volunteers are involved in all aspects of the property and help to make sure that our visitors have the best experience possible.