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Stourhead
Palladian house and world-famous landscape garden
near Mere, Wiltshire, BA12 6QD
Important notice
Sunday 22 December: We hope to open by 10am, but this is dependent on the wind. Please check that we are open before visiting.
Storytime with Father Christmas is cancelled. Should Christmas at Stourhead be cancelled we will update shortly after 2pm.
Opening times for 21 December 2024
Asset Opening time Garden 09:00 - 15:00 House 11:00 - 15:00 Restaurant 09:30 - 16:30 Shop 10:00 - 17:00 Second-hand bookshop 09:00 - 15:00 Last orders in the restaurant is half an hour before closing.
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Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £22.00 £20.00 Child £11.00 £10.00 Family £55.00 £50.00 1 adult, 2 children £33.00 £30.00 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Available for functions
Plant shop
Bookshop
The second-hand bookshop is in the Spread Eagle Courtyard.
Pub
Car park
Restaurant
Cycle parking
Cycle parking is located in the main car park, next to the coach park. There is also a cycle rack next to the shop and restaurant.
Shop
Dogs allowed
Dogs on short leads are welcome in the garden all year round.
Toilet
Some steep routes with steps and uneven surfaces. Accessible toilets in Spread Eagle courtyard. Mountain trike wheelchairs available to hire. A Baronmead Stairmate Major stairclimber is available, enabling wheelchair users to access the house.
Accessible route and/or map
Some routes in the garden include sections of stony and steep descents. This will be unsuitable for anyone with restricted mobility and non 'all-terrain' wheelchairs. We offer a volunteer led guided tour of the garden via a buggy between March and November, please call us on 01747 842030 or email stourhead@nationaltrust.org.uk for dates and availability.
Powered mobility vehicle available
We have a couple of trampers available to hire, please call us on 01747 842030 or email stourhead@nationaltrust.org.uk to book ahead (at least 24 hours). We offer first come first serve on the day for in-person requests, subject to availability.
Accessible toilet
Located at visitor reception
Stairclimber
A stairclimber is available to enable wheelchair uses to access the house. Last entry to the house with this service is 3pm and the use of it must be booked in advance. Please call 01747 842030 or email stourhead@nationaltrust.org.uk to book.
Braille (guide or menu)
A braille guide offering an introduction to Stourhead and it's history.
Steps/uneven terrain
Wheelchair accessible gravel paths with marked routes, steep in places
Designated parking
Transfer available
A shuttle bus service is available from Visitor Reception to the Spread Eagle Courtyard and house. This is a volunteer run service and therefore may not always be available. We advise phoning on the day to avoid disappointment.
Level access to food outlet
Wheelchairs available
A limited number of mountain trike wheelchairs are available to hire, please call us on 01747 842030 or email stourhead@nationaltrust.org.uk to book.
Level access to shop
By road
Please arrive at Stourhead via the main road network, following brown signs off A303 or the B3092 from Frome. The main carpark postcode is BA12 6QD.
On foot
There are two walks that you can take to Stourhead, one from Mere (1hour to Stourhead) and one from Bruton (2.5 hours to Stourhead). Wyle Way goes to Stourhead and Whitesheet Hill to the East. The Leland Trail stops around Afred’s Tower, which you can walk from too (2 hours).
By train
Trains run to Gillingham from:
- Basingstoke (70 mins)
- Exeter Central (80 mins)
- Salisbury (30 mins)
Trains run to Warminster and Bruton from:
- Bath Spa (35/55 mins)
- Bristol Temple Meads (60/70 mins)
Trains run to Warminster from:
- Southampton Central (50 mins)
Trains run to Bruton from:
- Weymouth (70 mins)
By bus
Buses stop in Zeals which is a 45 minute walk to Stourhead. Busses from Gillingham train station take 10-15 mins and from Salisbury 60 mins.
By bicycle
Cycle parking is in the main visitor car park.
Stourhead is on National Route 25 of the National Cycle Network.
This links with Frome and the National Route 24 at Longleat and runs south through Gillingham and Poole to Bournemouth of the Dorset Coast.
Car free
We hold the Good Journey Mark for welcoming car-free visitors. Travel a greener way. Plan your journey by train, bus cycle or foot at Good Journey.
Planning your visit
Events at Stourhead
Take a look at all our upcoming events and activities.
Article
Christmas at Stourhead
A million twinkling lights are set to bring the garden to life as the Christmas at Stourhead illuminated trail returns in 2024.
Article
Visiting Stourhead with your dog
Find out about visiting the Stourhead estate with your dog, from where you can and can't take them, to the facilities available to dog owners. Stourhead is a two pawprint rated place.
Article
Accessibility at Stourhead
We are committed to making sure that Stourhead is equally accessible for all our visitors. Whilst the historic spaces and landscape can present challenges to accessibility for all, we are taking steps to make sure that as many people as possible can access the estate and its story.
Article
Group and educational visits to Stourhead
Find out everything you need to know about booking a group visit to Stourhead, from admission prices and benefits to educational tours.
PDF
Venue hire
Article
Hire a venue at Stourhead
Stourhead iconic landscape garden with picturesque views across the lakeside is the ideal setting for your ceremony or special event.
Highlights
Palladian house
One of the first grand Palladian-style villas to be built in England, with a carriage entrance leading to the piano nobile, or main floor.
Landscape garden
World-famous landscape garden with a lake set among lawns and classical temples, surrounded by trees and with sweeping views.
Garden temples
Buildings include the Temple of Flora, the Temple of Apollo and the Pantheon, which was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome.
Countryside
2,650 acres of countryside, with walks through chalk downs, ancient woods, Iron Age hillforts and farmland.
Alfred's Tower
A triangular, 160ft-tall folly on the wider estate that offers panoramic views across three counties.
Eating
National Trust restaurant and take-away kiosk available daily, local amenities such as a historic inn, an ice cream parlour and a farm shop.
Shopping
Stourhead shop and plant centre open daily for gifts, treats and mementos. There is also a farm shop, gallery and second-hand bookshop.
Visitor reception
Maps, guidebooks and information are available for your visit. Wheelchairs for hire and access information.
Spotlight events
Article
Festive fun at Stourhead
Get ready for a season of festive joy at Stourhead, with a schedule full of wonderful activities and a spectacular after-dark illumination trail. Experience a magical Christmas season and make magical memories.
Article
Christmas at Stourhead
A million twinkling lights are set to bring the garden to life as the Christmas at Stourhead illuminated trail returns in 2024.
The Splendours of Stourhead
This is the opportunity to be part of an exciting international photography exhibition.
Things to see and do
Article
Things to see in the garden at Stourhead
Stourhead is home to one of the world's most famous gardens, with myriad temples, grottos, trees and water features to explore. Read more about what you'll see during your visit.
Article
Things to see inside Stourhead House
Stourhead House was one of the first Palladian-style villas to be built in England. Find out more about the Hoare family's home and why they decided to make this their main residence outside of London.
Article
Explore the estate at Stourhead
Explore the wider countryside around the Stourhead estate. Discover an Iron Age hillfort, Alfred’s Tower and ancient woodland. Then rest a while and listen to the wide variety of birds and creatures that call this estate home.
Article
A family day out at Stourhead
Find out the family-friendly things to do at Stourhead, from events in the garden to exploring the house.
Top trails
Trail
Stourhead Park Hill Camp walk
This picturesque circular walk takes in Park Hill Camp Iron Age hillfort and the Six Wells Valley, with plenty of birdlife to look out for and carpets of bluebells in spring.
Trail
Alfred's Tower walk at Stourhead
This historic circular walk takes in an Iron Age hillfort and a tower named for King Alfred the Great, with impressive views over three counties.
Trail
Bonham Wood walk at Stourhead
This gentle walk takes you behind the Temple of Apollo through the picturesque Bonham Wood, and returns along a WWII airfield. A springtime hotspot also for daffodils and bluebells.
Trail
Stourhead White Sheet Hill walk
Look out for an array of wildflowers & wildlife and take in the wide views of Stourhead estate on this challenging walk up White Sheet Hill, a site of great archaeological interest.
Eating and shopping
Article
Eating and shopping at Stourhead
Discover the best places to eat, drink, and buy gifts and souvenirs during your visit to Stourhead.
Places to stay
89 Church Lawn
Sitting at the entrance to Stourhead, this secluded cottage has a world-famous garden on the doorstep.
Lytes Cary
Stay in the west wing of Lytes Cary Manor within the Arts and Crafts inspired garden.
3 Lytes Cottage
Stay in the grounds of the Lytes Cary estate in this pretty Victorian cottage.
Upcoming events
Event
Storytime with Father Christmas
Join us for some festive magic. Create cosy Christmas crafts, gallop with hobby-reindeer and snuggle up for a festive story with Father Christmas in his magical grotto.
Event
Behind Closed Doors tours
A chance to see behind the normally closed doors of Stourhead House. Tours may cover four floors with many stairs and will give you an insight into what goes on behind the scenes.
Event
Winter warmer weekends
Come and warm up by the log fire in the Entrance Hall of Stourhead House.
About Stourhead
When Stourhead first opened in the 1740s, a magazine described it as ‘a living work of art’. The world-famous landscape garden has at its centrepiece a magnificent lake reflecting classical temples, mystical grottoes, and rare and exotic trees, and offers a day of fresh air and discovery.
Uncover the fascinating history of Stourhead house with an Italian ‘Grand Tour’ adventure and enjoy the unique Regency library, Chippendale furniture and inspirational paintings. The Palladian house is set amid ‘picnic perfect’ lawns and extensive parkland.
Explore the 1,072 hectare (2,650 acre) Stourhead estate where chalk downs, ancient woods and farmland are managed for wildlife.
History
Article
History of Stourhead House
Discover the fascinating story of Stourhead House in Wiltshire, and find out how different generations of the Hoare family helped to shape it over the years.
Article
History of the garden at Stourhead
Discover the history of Stourhead's garden, from its creation by Henry Hoare II in the 18th century, to the various buildings and features that have been added since.
Our work
Article
Our conservation work at Stourhead
From the Pantheon roof to a rare Axminster carpet, discover how the team at Stourhead have been protecting the past for future generations to enjoy.
Article
Caring for the countryside at Stourhead
The team of rangers at Stourhead work tirelessly to ensure that this historic estate in Wiltshire is well looked-after all year round. Find out about their essential work.
Art and collections
Stourhead's objects and collections
Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Stourhead on the National Trust Collections website.
Article
'Penelope and Euriclea' returns to Stourhead
Following a dramatic race against time to secure the painting, Angelica Kauffman’s Penelope and Euriclea has returned to Stourhead, cared for by the National Trust, 140 years after it was first sold at auction.
Support us
Article
Volunteering at Stourhead
Discover the benefits of volunteering at the Stourhead estate in Wiltshire, and how to join the friendly team.