Athelhampton House & Gardens
One of England's prettiest, and most important, medieval manor houses.
Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7LG
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Accessible parking
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Cafe / restaurant
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Easily accessible without car
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Free parking
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Pet friendly
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Shop
- Accessible parking
- Guide dogs welcome
- Wheelchair ramps/routes
- Accessible toilets
Athelhampton is one of England’s finest Tudor Manor Houses. The Great Hall, the heart of the House, was built in 1485, when it would have served as the entire accommodation.
The West Wing was added in the 16th century as the house became domesticated, with further additions over the centuries.
With its linenfold paneling, ancient heraldic stained glass & minstrels gallery, the Great Hall is a fine example of Tudor architecture.
Please note: The information on the Historic Houses website is advisory, but please always check the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling.
Athelhampton is open every season,
Autumn & Winter 10.00am to 4.00pm
Spring & Summer 10.00am to 5.00pm
Athelhampton closes for Christmas & New Year on 23rd of December for 2 weeks.
Athelhampton opens some evenings – check website.
Athelhampton will be closed on Saturday 6th May, Saturday 16th September and Saturday October 7th
Athelhampton is proud to be a member of Historic Houses, the association for independent and privately owned houses in the UK that are open for visiting. Your HH membership allows free entry at Athelhampton and 5% discount in our shop and restaurant.
House and Gardens (10% off when you book online)
Adult £19.50
Child 5-11 £10.00
Child under 5 free
Student 12-15 (over 15 with Student ID) £16.50
Garden (10% off when you book online)
Adult £14.50
Child 5-11 £6.00
Child under 5 Free
Student 12-15 (over 15 with Student ID) £11.50
Dog £1.00
A disabled person pays full price, with free or reduced entry for a carer.
Athelhampton welcomes Group Bookings, whether arriving individually or by coach. Visitors enjoy their visit to the fabulous house and its stunning interiors and the stunning grade 1 listed gardens.
We offer discounted admission prices for pre-booked groups of 12 or more, making your day with us excellent value. A further discount is available when you book one of our catering packages for your group. Our group admission rate is £9.50 per person, a discount from our usual Adult / Senior admission prices.
To enhance your day we offer a range of talks and guided tours, which can be customised by our head steward to suit your groups particular interest.
We welcome visits from primary and secondary schools.
Our Heritage is of great importance to us at Athelhampton, and we work hard to maintain Athelhampton for future generations. As part of our work we welcome schools and their pupils who’s curriculum can be supported by a visit to Athelhampton.
Our education staff are welcoming to pupils of all ages. We help your pupils take a step back in time to imagine and explore what all aspects of life would have been like in tudor times.
We make the school visits relevant to the Key Stage 2 national curriculum study, focusing on characteristic features of the periods and societies being studied, including the ideas, beliefs, attitudes and experiences of men, women and children.
Contact us on 01305 848363 or enquiry@athelhampton.co.uk
- Accessible parking
- Guide dogs welcome
- Wheelchair ramps/routes
- Accessible toilets
Getting here
Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7LG
Athelhampton is located 5 miles east of Dorchester, off the A35 at the Puddletown Northbrook Junction, then follow the brown signs for 1 mile. For Sat Nav directions enter the postcode DT2 7LG.
There is a public bus that runs Monday to Saturday, this stops outside Athelhampton.
Dorchester is 7 miles from Athelhampton and is served by two train stations, London – Weymouth line and Bristol to Weymouth line, a coach station and taxi firms.
Athelhampton House & Gardens: In Pictures
From the Great Hall to the Marriage Chamber
From the Great Hall you can wander through the various rooms that make Athelhampton House. In the West Wing, the Great Chamber with fine furnishings and then upstairs to the Library with its billiard table and collection of books, as you pass The Kings room, an ancient room where taxes would have been collected has a fine example of a C17th Oak Tester Bed and Armada Chest.
In the East Wing, the Dining Room & Drawing Room on the ground floor, and then on the first floor The Marriage Chamber leading through to an Art Deco Bedroom from the 1920’s reflecting the changes in fortune and fashion that Athelhampton has enjoyed.
Award winning gardens
Athelhampton is home to glorious award winning Grade 1 listed gardens. Dating from 1891, the Inigo Thomas designed gardens are full of architectural vistas. The walled gardens include the 12 world famous topiary yew pyramids, Ham Stone courts, ponds and fountains, with the River Piddle leading you around to the C15th Dovecote.
The Kitchen Garden began it’s 10 year restoration in 2014 and is being restored to it’s former glory with fruit trees, vines, herb borders and vegetable beds to provide produce for the restaurants, the Kitchen Garden will continue to evolve over the next few years.
When you visit find out about Athelhampton’s Hardy connection with our short film shown in our new audio visual room.
Athelhampton is a Historic Houses/Christie’s Garden of the Year Award winner.
Peer inside the Armada Chest at Athelhampton House
Forthcoming events
Remember, special events are excluded from free entry for members
O Flow’ry May – Words & Music from Dorset and beyond all to do with Spring, May Day, the turning of the year towards summer
Athelhampton House & Gardens
Tudor Rebellions Study Day
Athelhampton House & Gardens
Peter Pan – Outdoor Theatre
Athelhampton House & Gardens
Summer Pop Up Producers, Growers & Makers Market
Athelhampton House & Gardens
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet – Outdoor Theatre
Athelhampton House & Gardens
The Secret Garden – Outdoor Theatre
Athelhampton House & Gardens
Autumn Pop Up Producers, Growers & Makers Market
Athelhampton House & Gardens
Tudor Week – Living History at Athelhampton
Athelhampton House & Gardens
Looking to visit Athelhampton House & Garden?
Athelhampton House & Garden is open all year to visit, every day, from 10am to 4:30pm. Heritage Saturdays are our programme of events designed for families with children, when Athelhampton is open on a limited range of dates, each with a themed activity or entertainment. See their website for more information on these. Historic Houses members can enjoy free entry when showing their card at the gate and when booking online, and enjoy a 5% discount in the shop and restaurant.
If you’re interested in joining Historic Houses as a member, you can find out more about membership below. Members enjoy free access to almost three hundred independently owned historic houses across the UK for free using their membership card, as well as a quarterly magazine and monthly online lectures about the houses.
Other houses members can visit nearby
Deans Court
Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1EE
Lulworth Castle & Park
Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QS
Minterne House & Gardens
Minterne Magna, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7AU
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.
