Ashby Manor House

Private Guided Tours

Discover over 900 years of history at Ashby Manor House, one of England’s most fascinating historic houses and the ancestral home of Robert Catesby, mastermind of the Gunpowder Plot.

We are delighted to welcome private groups of up to 35 guests for an exclusive guided tour of the house and gardens, personally led by owner Nova Guest.

The experience begins inside the Manor House, where guests are taken through the principal reception rooms, exploring the architectural evolution of the house from its Tudor origins, including surviving beams dating from the Catesby family’s ownership, through to the remarkable early twentieth-century remodelling by the celebrated architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. Along the way, you’ll hear the story of the Guest (later Wimborne) family, whose vision transformed Ashby into the magnificent country house it is today.

The tour continues through the gardens, taking in Lutyens’ formal landscape design, the recently restored walled gardens, and the beautifully refurbished Grade II listed summerhouse, while learning about the ongoing restoration of this remarkable estate.

After the garden tour, guests are invited to enjoy homemade cake and refreshments before the final chapter of the visit—a guided tour of the famous Plot Room within the Tudor Gatehouse. It was here that Robert Catesby and his fellow conspirators met to plan the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, making Ashby Manor House one of the most significant houses in British history.

Allow approximately two hours for the visit, which combines architecture, gardens, history and restoration in a relaxed and engaging setting.

As this remains a private family home, tours are available by prior arrangement only, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience a historic house that is still lived in and lovingly cared for today.