Kelmscott Manor
The Cotswold retreat of William Morris, Victorian textile designer, poet, novelist and father of the Arts and Crafts Movement.
Kelmscott, Lechlade, Gloucestershire, GL7 3HJ
Facilities
-
Accessible loos
-
Accessible parking
-
Bike storage facilities
-
Cafe / restaurant
-
Facilities for children
-
Free parking
-
Mostly wheelchair accessible
-
Parkland / open spaces
-
Pet friendly
-
Picnic area
-
Shop
Our car park is approximately half a mile from the manor. We provide a shuttle bus to assist visitors who are unable to make the walk from the car park to the manor which runs regularly from 10am till the close of the site.
There is step free access to all the buildings on site and we have a 360 degree digital tour for visitors who are unable to access the 1st floor and attics of the manor house.
Wheelchairs are available on request and an accessible toilet is also available.
Morris loved the house as a work of true craftsmanship, totally unspoilt and unaltered, and in harmony with the village and the surrounding countryside.
He considered it so natural in its setting as to be almost organic, it looked to him as if it had, ‘grown up out of the soil;’ and with, ‘quaint garrets amongst great timbers of the roof where of old times the tillers and herdsmen slept.’
Its beautiful gardens, with barns, dovecote, a meadow and stream, provided a constant source of inspiration for Morris until his death in 1896. After his death, his wife Jane purchased the house, and his daughter, May, spent much of her adult life there.
This seventeenth-century Grade I manor house on the river Thames—perhaps the most evocative of all the houses associated with Morris—contains an outstanding collection of the possessions and works of Morris, as well as of his family and associates.
This includes furniture, original textiles, pictures and paintings, carpets, ceramics and metalwork. The estate also boasts a beautiful garden with easy access to the Thames Pathway, as well as a licensed tearoom and shop.
Important information: opening info is generated by artificial intelligence; check specific attraction details before travelling.
The indicator above will show ‘open’ when the public have any kind of access to any part of this property. That could be the park, a shop, or a special event, and may not reflect regular admission times to the main attraction. Always consult the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling to check that the attraction you are interested in is open.
Kelmscott Manor is currently closed for the 2025 season and will reopen to the public on 2nd April 2026. Tickets for the 2026 season will be available for purchase starting from mid-February 2026.
General Visiting Information
The open season for Kelmscott Manor runs from April to the end of October, with public open days on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The estate opens at 10:30am and closes at 5:00pm. The manor house itself opens at 11:00am, with the last admission at 3:45pm. From 1st October, the manor house opens at 10:30am, with the last admission at 3:30pm.
Timed tickets are required for entry to the manor house, with entry slots available at 15-minute intervals. Visitors can explore the gardens, meadows, shop, and tearoom either before or after their timed entry to the manor house. Entry to the gardens and grounds (including the tearoom and shop) is free, though donations are appreciated.
Group Visits
Organized group visits are available on Wednesdays in May, June, and July 2026. Guided tours are offered for groups of 25 to 48 people and must be booked in advance. Bespoke group visits can also be arranged outside of the regular group tour program, offering exclusive access and specialized experiences.
Tearoom
The tearoom is open from 10:30am to 4:30pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during the open season. Light lunches are served from 12:00pm to 2:00pm. The tearoom offers homemade food, including cakes, cream teas, and daily specials, with ingredients sourced locally and from the manor's own garden.
Admission Prices
- Adult: £15.50 (£17.25 with Gift Aid)
- Students and Children (5–16): £10.00 (£11.00 with Gift Aid)
- Family (2 adults & 2 children): £36.00 (£39.75 with Gift Aid)
- Children under 5: Free
- Essential companions: Free
- Historic Houses members: Free entry with valid membership card (cannot pre-book online)
- Art Fund National Pass members: 50% off standard admission price (cannot pre-book online)
Annual passes are no longer issued, but existing valid passes can still be used until their expiry date.
Additional Information
Kelmscott Manor is located near Lechlade and is accessible by car, with free parking available. There is no direct public transport to the manor, but limited bus services are available. A free shuttle minibus is provided for visitors unable to walk from the car park to the manor.
Free for Historic Houses members.
Adult price: £15.50
Concession: £10
Family: £36
Historic Houses members cannot pre book online. Tickets for the first available slot can be collected on the day on production of a valid membership card. Failure to bring your membership card will require payment of a full-price ticket.
Kelmscott Manor promises a unique experience for groups at the spiritual home of the Arts and Crafts Movement. We welcome groups of all ages and interests to former Cotswold retreat of William Morris. With so much to see and do both in the Manor and in the surrounding Kelmscott village, we would recommend allowing a minimum of two hours for your visit.
Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate large groups on our open days however, Wednesdays are available from April to October for pre-arranged groups.
On arrival groups will be welcomed to our tearoom for tea or coffee and biscuits where they will receive a 15 minute introductory talk about William Morris and the manor. They will then be either taken on a guided tour around the manor or be able to view the rooms on a ‘free-flow’ basis. There is options to enjoy a light lunch or cream tea after their tour depending on the time of arrival.
Please contact us for more details.
Our car park is approximately half a mile from the manor. We provide a shuttle bus to assist visitors who are unable to make the walk from the car park to the manor which runs regularly from 10am till the close of the site.
There is step free access to all the buildings on site and we have a 360 degree digital tour for visitors who are unable to access the 1st floor and attics of the manor house.
Wheelchairs are available on request and an accessible toilet is also available.
Getting here
Kelmscott, Lechlade, Gloucestershire, GL7 3HJ
The main visitor entrance is at ///pushover.civil.park. What does this mean?
Kelmscott Manor is located along the Thames in the picturesque village of Kelmscott.
Kelmscott is approximately 3 miles from Lechlade (on B4449). Signposted from both the A417 and the A4095, visitors can easily travel by car; it can also be reached by walking or cycling along the Thames Path. Additionally, the Manor has a private mooring and can be reached by boat.
Due to the idealistic rural setting, public transport to the Manor is very limited.
Become a Historic Houses member
Explore the nation’s heritage from just £68 per year.
Hundreds of the most beautiful historic houses, castles, and gardens across Britain offer our members free entry.
Also: receive a quarterly magazine, enjoy monthly online lectures, get exclusive invitations to buy tickets for behind-the-scenes tours, and take up a range of special offers on holidays, books, and other products you might like.
