The coronavirus outbreak is affecting people and businesses everywhere, including our member houses. While the situation unfolds, we're trying to keep on top of developments among our houses and keep you aware of any changes to their opening arrangements.
With our member places facing one of the worst crises in living memory, our work supporting independent heritage has never been more essential. We are grateful for the support of all our members. We understand that many will be disappointed by the reduction in free-entry benefits but we're working hard to ensure that we can still offer a great value membership when brighter times return.
Latest Update
With recent changes in government advice allowing gardens in England to reopen, individual Historic Houses gardens and parks are beginning to find ways to safely open to the public.
Remember, we are a cooperative association - that means we represent and support our member places but we don't own or operate them. We don't, and can't, make decisions for them.
Any access must be carefully managed to avoid spreading the disease, and significant preparation must be done to ensure places can open in accordance with government and industry guidelines.
That means that, however much they want to, not all our parks and gardens will be able to open right away. Please bear with owners and managers as they each overcome their own unique challeges and ensure that they've done the right thing by the public and their own staff and volunteers.
Finally, if you pay a visit to a member place, please make sure your own actions are socially responsible and in accordance with the latest official guidance.
If you want to visit a particular park or garden please check their own website to find the latest information on their opening status and arrangements. Otherwise, you will find a list of the updates that we are aware of below. Please also see our Latest News page for further updates.
Full List of Park & Garden Re-openings
Arley Hall, Cheshire - Daily from 29 May 10am-5pm
Athelhampton House Gardens, Dorset - every day from 4 June
Belvoir Castle, Lincolnshire - local community only
Blenheim Palace Park, Oxfordshire- From 6 June
Borde Hill Gardens, West Sussex - Pre-booked tickets from 29 May
Browsholme Hall, Lancashire - Book tickets online
Castle Howard, Yorkshire - Season ticket holders from 3 June, then 8 June
Chillingham Castle, Northumberland - Gardens now open, daily, 11am-4pm
Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire - Weekends from 30 May to 28 June
Easton Walled Gardens, Lincolnshire - Now open
Godinton House & Gardens, Kent - From 16 June, Tues to Fri, 1pm to 4pm
Hergest Croft Gardens, Herefordshire - Daily, 11:30am-5pm
Hever Castle, Kent - From 1 June (booking required)
High Beeches Woodland & Water Garden, Sussex - From 25 May most days
Hindringham Hall, Norfolk - from 27 May
Hole Park, Cranbrook - Fully open, no booking required
Holkham Hall, Norfolk - Coastal car parks now open, Holkham Park car park reopening 17 June
Holme Pierrepont Hall, Notts - Every Wednesday
Kentwell Hall, Suffolk - From 6 June, selected days
Kiftsgate Court Gardens, Gloucestershire - From 26 May
Kingston Bagpuize House, Oxfordshire - from 7th June
Kiplin Hall, North Yorkshire - From 5 June, Fridays - Sundays
Knebworth House Gardens, Stevenage - Formal gardens and Dinosaur trail
Mapperton gardens, Dorset - From 7 June
Minterne Gardens, Dorset - Now open, daily, 10am-6pm
Mount Ephraim Gardens, Kent - From 3 June
Muncaster Castle Gardens, Cumbria - From 27 May, book online
Newby Hall Gardens, Yorkshire - Season ticket holders 3 June, then 6 June
Painshill, Surrey - Season ticket holders from 28 May, then from 1 June
Painswick Rococco Gardens, Gloucestershire - 29 & 30 May trial
Pashley Manor Gardens, East Sussex - From 2 June Tues-Fri
Penshurst Place Gardens, Kent - From 3 June
Powderham Castle, Devon - Grounds open from 30 May
Raby Castle, County Durham - Deer park and walled garden open
Ripley Castle, North Yorkshire - From 2 June, Tues-Sun
Rodmarton Manor, Gloucestershire- gardens open from 6 June
Scampston Hall, North Yorkshire - Thurs to Sundays from 4 June
Sherborne Castle, Dorset - Gardens now open, daily, 10am-5pm
Stonor Park, Oxfordshire - Wed-Sun each week from 27 May
Sutton Park, York - From 8 June, honesty box in place
Riverhill Gardens, Sevenoaks - Online booking system in development
The Bishop's Palace, Wells - One way system in place through gardens
The Manor Gardens, Hemingford Grey - Now open, 10am-6pm
Wollerton Old Hall Garden, from 25 June, online booking
Whatton House, Leicestershire - From 13 June, 11am-6pm, closed Thurs
Regional guidance
England
Parks and gardens may now re-open in England where the owner feels able to do so responsibly. Please note that not all our member places are open and those that are may impose timed-ticket or other restrictions. Always check an attraction's own website before making a journey.
Cumbria
Muncaster Castle
Ravenglass
Gardens (only) open from 27 May - not the Castle or Hawk & Owl Centre. Visitors must pre-book a ticket on the website. Historic Houses members must bring their membership card.
East Anglia
Hindringham Hall
Norfolk
Gardens open from 27 May. No tea room or lavatories. A one-way system applies around the gardens. Extra parking space available to help with social distancing. Visitors are allowed to bring their own picnics but must take their own rubbish home with them.
https://www.hindringhamhall.org/
Holkham Hall
Norfolk
Coastal car parks now open, Holkham Park car park reopening on 17th June.
https://www.holkham.co.uk/visiting/covid-19-coronavirus-update
Kentwell Hall
Long Melfod, Suffolk
From 6th June. Gardens and take-out service. One way system in place. Kentwell's gardens are now open to pre-booked visitors on selected days. All visitors must follow current social distancing guidelines, and follow the specific instructions for the one-way route around the gardens. We will publish precautions and rules for guidance. We ask all visitors to bring their own gloves and hand sanitiser. You are welcome to wear masks or face-coverings.
https://www.kentwell.co.uk/events/house-and-gardens-early-summer
East Midlands
Belvoir Castle
Lincolnshire
Gardens open for the local community only. No public lavatories or other shared facilities. Admission will be limited to manage social distancing.
https://www.belvoircastle.com/
Holme Pierrepont Hall
Nottingham
Gardens open every Wed until end of Sep, 11am to 4pm. No facilities available.
Heart of England
Eastnor Castle
Herefordshire
Weekends from 30 May through June. Further updates after then. Historic Houses members can book tickets online for free access.
Hergest Croft Gardens
Kington, Herefordshire
Now open. Daily, from 11:30am to 5pm. The gift shop and tea room remain closed, but they hope to be able to open them soon. New sculptures by Rachel Ricketts and Rolf Hook have just been installed, and everything is looking glorious.
Kiftsgate Court Gardens
Gloucestershire
Garden open from 26 May; tearoom and shop closed for the time being. Limited admission to maintain social distancing. Lavatories available on the basis of ‘one in, one out’. A one-way system is in place.
http://www.kiftsgate.co.uk/covid19
Painswick Rococco Gardens
Gloucestershire
Cautiously opening on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th May 2020.
https://www.rococogarden.org.uk/news/planning-to-open-cautiously-this-fri-sat/
Rodmarton Manor Gardens
Gloucestershire
Open from 6 June. No tearoom. Lavatories available. Full details:
https://rodmarton-manor.co.uk/
Wollerton Old Hall Garden
Shropshire
Planning to re-open from 25 June. Limited numbers allowed because of size of garden so timed tickets required (system currently being built for online ticket sales). Historic Houses members can click exemption but must bring their card to gain free entry.
North West
Browsholme Hall Gardens
Hopeing to re-open for locals at the end of the week using an online ticketing system. Please refer to their website for updates.
Northumbria
Chillingham Castle
Chillingham, Northumberland
The gardens and grounds will be open to day visitors from Monday 1st June 2020. Please see our News page for further details.
The Castle, guided tours and self catering accommodation will remain closed until government restrictions are lifted.
https://chillingham-castle.com/your-visit/
Raby Castle
County Durham
The Deer Park and Walled Gardens at Raby Castle in County Durham are now open. The refreshment kiosk is also open, serving take-away refreshments only.
The Castle, Stables Café and Shop, and the Woodland Play Area remain closed.
Admission is being limited to help manage social distancing, and visitors are asked to book tickets online in advance.
Full details about visiting, and the social distancing measures that have been put in place can be found at www.raby.co.uk/coronavirus
South East
Borde Hill Garden
West Sussex
Following the latest government advice, we’re looking forward to welcoming pre-booked visitors back to the Garden from 29 May. This is an ideal opportunity to get out into the fresh air and to experience the beauty of the Rose and Italian Gardens in bloom, along with the many flowering trees and shrubs located around the Garden.
To ensure your safety we’ve reduced the number of people who can enter at any one time and have introduced an online booking system to help manage social distancing throughout the day. We’re sorry but those arriving without a pre-booked ticket, including our valued Friends, will not be admitted to the Garden.
Godinton House Gardens
Kent
Historic Houses members may pre-book tickets by email from 16 June (general public from 29 June). Garden only open Tuesday to Friday with booked times starting at 1 pm, then every half an hour until 4 pm, closing at 5pm. Cafe and house will remain closed for the rest of the year.
Hever Castle
Kent
Re-opening from 1 June. Booking in advance required: https://www.historichouses.org/resources/latest-news/hever-castle-gardens-reopen-from-1st-june.html
As Historic Houses member can I still book a visit online?
Yes, you can but the usual restrictions still apply. Booking online is essential so that we can manage our daily visitor numbers to ensure that we are complying with government guidelines to enable social distancing. Please use the option for partner offers when making your booking (no charge is made). Please remember to bring your Historic Houses membership card with you otherwise you may be charged in full. If you arrive on a restricted day payment in full will be requested on arrival.
Historic Houses Members can book for Monday to Friday excluding Bank Holidays, Kent school holidays and Christmas:
1 June to 22 July
1 September to 23 October
2 November to 20 November
High Beeches Woodland & Water Garden
Sussex
Garden open from 25 May, 1pm - 5pm; then open every day except Wednesdays from 1pm to 5pm.
Hole Park
Cranbrook
Fully open, no pre-booking necessary. The Coach House Café is not fully open but a takeout service is offered and refreshments can be enjoyed in the gardens.
Lavatories open but visitors must follow social distancing guidelines; specific instructions issued on arrival.
Pashley Manor Gardens
East Sussex
From 2 June, open from Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 3pm. Cafe and shop are closed.
https://www.pashleymanorgardens.com/
Penshurst Place
Kent
Gardens only open for limited numbers of pre-booked tickets from 3 June.
https://www.penshurstplace.com/
Riverhill Gardens
Sevenoaks
Currently creating an online ticket booking system which will allow visitors to book timed slots in advance and working to ensure safe social distancing throughout (e.g. removing gates and creating one way systems and passing places).
Thames & Chilterns
Knebworth House
From 27 May, formal gardens and dinosaur trail open daily from 11am to 4pm. Pre-booking online essential: time-slots of 11am - 1.30pm and 1.30pm - 4pm available. Parkland available for games and picnics outside of allotted garden time-slots. Adventure Playground remains closed.
Wessex
Athelhampton House
Dorset
Gardens only from 4 June, seven days a week. Advance booking online required.
Mapperton House
Beaminster, Dorset
Mapperton gardens will be re-opening from Sunday 7th June.
Minterne Gardens
Dorchester, Dorset
Gardens now open. Daily. 11am to 6pm. Garden loos will be closed. One way system in place.
Sherborne Castle
Sherborne, Dorset
Gardens now open daily from 10am to 5pm (last admission 3:30pm). Contactless card payments only.
https://www.sherbornecastle.com/visiting/#times
The Bishop's Palace
Wells
Gardens only, open 10am to 5pm; numbers limited, one-way system in operation, pre-booked tickets.
Yorkshire
Kiplin Hall
Richmond, North Yorkshire
Garden opening from 5 June, Fridays to Sundays. Payment by card is preferred, while Historic Houses members must bring their membership card. Visitors will not be required to touch anything to enter, except in the case of entering pin numbers on the card machine. Appropriate cleaning will be provided for the card machine.
https://kiplinhall.co.uk/covid-19-updates/
Newby Hall Gardens
Ripon
Current holder of 'Garden of the Year' will reopen (gardens only) on 3 June for season ticket holders and 6 June for the general public.
Ripley Castle
Harrogate
Limited pre-booked tickets available from 2 June, Tuesdays to Sundays, 10am to 3pm. Take-away tearoom snacks and lavatories available.
https://www.ripleycastle.co.uk/
Scampston Hall
Malton
Opening the walled garden, hall gardens, parkland and plant nursery initially for 4 days per week, Thursdays to Sundays, from 4th June.
Sutton Park
Sutton on the Forest, York
Gardens (only) open to all from 8 June. Entry fee via a paper-only system and honesty box. Historic Houses can visit for free but must bring their membership card.
Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland
We hope for positive announcements from the devolved governments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland soon. However, official advice for these nations remains that all private gardens and outdoor ticketed attractions must remain closed.