Gosford House
Palatial mansion on the southern banks of the Firth of Forth.
Aberlady, Longniddry, East Lothian, EH32 0PX
Facilities
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Easily accessible without car
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Free parking
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Parkland / open spaces
There are no lifts in the house and several sets of stairs.
The bottom corridors are narrow but do allow wheelchair access for visits.
Our shortest tour takes visitors around the bottom level of the house. It is accessed by ramps from the front door. The top tier of the house is not accessible.
Gosford House, the seat of the Earls of Wemyss and March, is set in 5,000 acres of combined coast and parkland in East Lothian on the south side of the Firth of Forth and close to the celebrated golf courses of Muirfield, Gullane and Craigielaw.
The property is dominated by Gosford House, an imposing neo-classical mansion which was one of the last great architectural commissions of the celebrated Scots architect, Robert Adam. Constructed for the seventh Earl of Wemyss, the building was completed in 1800 – eight years after the architect’s death – and is recognised as an outstanding example of the later period of his work.
Inside, the building exceeds the expectations raised by its elegant exterior. The Marble Hall, in the south wing, is arguably the most arresting of its many fine features. It was completed in 1891 by William Young for the tenth Earl of Wemyss and rises to a height of three storeys, with a magnificent double staircase leading to a surrounding picture gallery. The elaborate fireplace, alabaster colonnades and ornate plasterwork reflect the strong Italianate taste of the tenth Earl, while the Palladian screen of Venetian windows are reminiscent of Adam’s original designs.
Private visits can be arranged upon request, subject to our guides’ availability outwith our normal opening season.
Tour length
The minimum recommended tour time would be 45 minutes to allow you to see a varied selection of rooms. The suggested visit time ranges from 1h15min to 2hrs for the house, depending on your schedule and whether your party can easily manage stairs and a longer tour. We recommend to keep an additional 30 minutes aside to view the lovely grounds and ponds area.
Tour topics
Our tours cover the architectural history of the house, as well as the family and their vast art and furniture collection. The House has also been used for various film productions, which can be covered by our guides if this is an area of interest.
A minimum fee of £300 applies, which covers access for up to 15 guests. Additional visitor tickets are charged £15 per head for private visits.
For private visits, please contact Carole at [email protected] with your preferred dates, times and areas of interest.
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.
Gosford House offers a variety of attractions and events for visitors, including house tours, grounds access, and special events. Below is a detailed summary of the opening times and conditions for each offering:
House Tours
Gosford House is open for guided tours during specific open days and by private arrangement:
- Open Days 2025: Thursday 17th April to Monday 21st April 2025.
- Open Days 2026: Thursday 2nd April to Monday 6th April 2026 and Thursday 23rd July to Monday 17th August 2026 (Monday to Thursday only).
Two types of tours are available on open days:
- Short Tour: 45 minutes, covering the ground floor of the South Wing. Tour times: 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM.
- Full Tour: 1.5 hours, covering the South Wing and Central Block. Tour times: 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, and 2:45 PM.
Private tours are available year-round, subject to availability, with a minimum charge of £300 for up to 15 guests. Additional guests are charged £15 per person.
Grounds Access
The grounds of Gosford House are open year-round for walking, except during private events. Access requires a day or annual permit, which can be purchased from the estate office (Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM) or the Gosford Bothy Farm Shop (Tuesday to Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM). Annual permits cost £20.
Special Events
- Wondrous Woods 2023: An illuminated trail event running from October 27 to November 19, 2023, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tickets are priced at £12-£13 for children and £19-£20 for adults.
- Family Firework Spectacular: A Guy Fawkes Night event featuring fireworks, entertainment, and food. Tickets are available online.
For more information or to book tours, contact Gosford House via email or phone.
For tours on public open days, you may pay cash or with cheques at the door.
Adults £10 full tour/ £8 for the shorter tour
Seniors (over 65) £8 / £6 shorter tour
Students £6 / £4 shorter tour
Children 12-18 £6
Family ticket £28 / £20 shorter tour (2 adults and 2 children)
Children under the age of 12 and carers go free.
Annual Grounds Permit £20
For small private tours outwith the open days please contact [email protected] or call 01875 870806.
Please note that there is a minimum charge of £300 for private tours of up to 15 guests. Additional visitor tickets are charged £15 per head for private visits.
For small private tours outwith the open days please contact [email protected].
Summer tours are now open: Thursdays to Mondays from 25th July to 19th August 2024.
A minimum fee of £300 applies, which covers access for up to 15 guests. Additional visitor tickets are charged £15 per head for private visits.
There are no lifts in the house and several sets of stairs.
The bottom corridors are narrow but do allow wheelchair access for visits.
Our shortest tour takes visitors around the bottom level of the house. It is accessed by ramps from the front door. The top tier of the house is not accessible.
Getting here
Aberlady, Longniddry, East Lothian, EH32 0PX
On public open days or for private tours, you may access the house from the main gates on the coast road (A198) between Aberlady and Longniddry. Outwith the open days, these remain accessible for residents only and grounds access is via the carpark near our Bothy Farm shop.
Parking is available for visitors in the courtyard. In keeping with the natural surroundings, this is gravel-surfaced.
There is a bus stop at the gates of the House. East Coast buses 124 and X5 both service this stop at the time of writing.
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