Hestercombe House and Gardens
Hestercombe Gardens, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 8LG
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Accessible parking
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Bike storage facilities
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Cafe / restaurant
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Facilities for children
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Free parking
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Mostly wheelchair accessible
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Pet friendly
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Picnic area
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Shop
We very much welcome people with disabilities, their carers and their assistance dogs ~ we hope you will find the information below useful in planning your visit.
About our site
For People On Wheels
The majority of Hestercombe’s historic estate was built at a time when little thought was given to making places accessible, so we have made reasonable adaptations as far as we can within the limitations of a listed building and grounds. There are still some areas that unfortunately cannot be accessed because they include steps and stairs, but we have marked out an all accessibility route in yellow on our Guide Map. On the Guide Map, we have marked routes suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
Although we are unable to provide specialist helpers or assistance, our staff will endeavour to help wherever possible.
If you normally require assistance and help please ensure that you bring a helper with you. Both people with disabilities and their helpers pay half-price admission, but if you’re a member with disabilities, then your helper will also have free admission.
Mobility access
We have a four wheel All-Terrain ‘Tramper’ mobility scooter available for hire at £5 per two hour slot. Please pre-book this in advance by calling 01823 413923 (payment is required to secure booking). The tramper scheme is operated by Countryside Mobility, and they require any non-members of the scheme to join for a one-off fee of £3.00.
Hestercombe House
There is wheelchair access throughout the ground floor of the House to the Gift Shop, Second-hand Book Shop and toilets. The art gallery on the first floor does not have disabled access yet but we show an audio narrated video about our current exhibition on a pre-recorded video downstairs, with seating available. The audio is not available on a loop, although headphones can be requested. Assistance dogs are most welcome in the House but must be identifiable.
Toilets
There are fully accessible toilets by the entrance to the Ticket Office, Visitor Centre Courtyard and Café, Hestercombe House and the Mill.
Changing Place Toilet in Hestercombe House
We are delighted that the accessible toilet in Hestercombe House has now received accreditation as an official Changing Places Toilet. A Changing Places toilet provides sanitary accommodation for people with multiple and complex disabilities who have one or two assistants with them. The facility includes a height-adjustable, adult-sized changing bench, ceiling track hoist system, adequate space for the disabled person and up to two assistants, peninsular toilet with space both sides for assistants, privacy screen, wide paper roll, large waste disposal bin, washbasin and back rest on toilet seat. The project was jointly funded by the Somerset Community Foundation and Reflect PMLD to whom we are incredibly grateful.
Hestercombe’s famously restored gardens span three centuries of garden design. Sir Edwin Lutyen’s hallmarks are everywhere: iris-choked rills, pergolas, seats, relieved staircases and pools where reflections twinkle on recessed apses. Gertrude Jekyll’s planting is bold and simple, which adds vigour. The combination of Lutyen’s design and Jekyll’s plants is extremely photogenic: Hestercombe is a highly rewarding garden to learn about symmetry, balance and proportion.
The secret landscape garden, which Coplestone Warre Bampfylde laid out in the late 18th century, is a fair match for the Edwardian area: 40 acres of lakes, temples, combes and woodlands that lay undiscovered for more than 100 years.
Add to this arcadia, the centrepiece of Hestercombe House and you will see a reunited estate. Open to the public for the first time in more than 200 years, Hestercombe House offers a fascinating contemporary art gallery, a second-hand bookshop and well-stocked gallery shop. In the Visitor Centre, you’ll find a small yet bountiful plant centre, and a recently refurbished restaurant and café serving tasty homemade brunch, lunch and afternoon tea.
Please note: this garden is partially accessible.
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.
Summer opening hours
Gardens – 10am to 6pm, daily (last entry 4:30pm)
Hestercombe House & Gallery – 11am to 5pm, daily
Winter opening hours
Gardens – 10am to 5pm, daily (last entry 3:30pm)
Hestercombe House & Gallery – 11am to 4pm, daily
Adult £15.30
Child (4 – 15 years) £7.65
Child (Under 4 years) Free
Wheelchair User Half Price
All excluding gift aid.
We welcome groups and tours of any size to Hestercombe, and can tailor your experience in a number of different ways to suit your requirements.
Voted in the Top 50 Coach-Friendly UK Attractions, Hestercombe has fantastic facilities for your group. These include 50 acres of beautiful gardens from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries to walk through and enjoy; a contemporary art gallery with a series of changing exhibitions; a second-hand book shop, gift shop and plant centre.
Special rates are exclusive to group visits to Hestercombe, for parties of 15 or more. These discounted rates apply provided that the group is pre-booked and pays with one single payment.
We very much welcome people with disabilities, their carers and their assistance dogs ~ we hope you will find the information below useful in planning your visit.
About our site
For People On Wheels
The majority of Hestercombe’s historic estate was built at a time when little thought was given to making places accessible, so we have made reasonable adaptations as far as we can within the limitations of a listed building and grounds. There are still some areas that unfortunately cannot be accessed because they include steps and stairs, but we have marked out an all accessibility route in yellow on our Guide Map. On the Guide Map, we have marked routes suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
Although we are unable to provide specialist helpers or assistance, our staff will endeavour to help wherever possible.
If you normally require assistance and help please ensure that you bring a helper with you. Both people with disabilities and their helpers pay half-price admission, but if you’re a member with disabilities, then your helper will also have free admission.
Mobility access
We have a four wheel All-Terrain ‘Tramper’ mobility scooter available for hire at £5 per two hour slot. Please pre-book this in advance by calling 01823 413923 (payment is required to secure booking). The tramper scheme is operated by Countryside Mobility, and they require any non-members of the scheme to join for a one-off fee of £3.00.
Hestercombe House
There is wheelchair access throughout the ground floor of the House to the Gift Shop, Second-hand Book Shop and toilets. The art gallery on the first floor does not have disabled access yet but we show an audio narrated video about our current exhibition on a pre-recorded video downstairs, with seating available. The audio is not available on a loop, although headphones can be requested. Assistance dogs are most welcome in the House but must be identifiable.
Toilets
There are fully accessible toilets by the entrance to the Ticket Office, Visitor Centre Courtyard and Café, Hestercombe House and the Mill.
Changing Place Toilet in Hestercombe House
We are delighted that the accessible toilet in Hestercombe House has now received accreditation as an official Changing Places Toilet. A Changing Places toilet provides sanitary accommodation for people with multiple and complex disabilities who have one or two assistants with them. The facility includes a height-adjustable, adult-sized changing bench, ceiling track hoist system, adequate space for the disabled person and up to two assistants, peninsular toilet with space both sides for assistants, privacy screen, wide paper roll, large waste disposal bin, washbasin and back rest on toilet seat. The project was jointly funded by the Somerset Community Foundation and Reflect PMLD to whom we are incredibly grateful.
Getting here
Hestercombe Gardens, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 8LG
Hestercombe is conveniently situated just 10 minutes from the M5, Junction 25 and only a few miles outside of Taunton town centre.
*Please note: use the postcode TA2 8LQ for Sat Nav*
What 3 Words address: ///fancy.arena.tanks
The route is marked out with brown daisy signs from the motorway all the way to Cheddon Fitzpaine.
Upon following the sign from Cheddon Fitzpaine, stay on the main road until you reach Hestercombe Gardens. Do not take a turn onto Hestercombe Road as this will take you to the farm and not to Hestercombe Gardens.
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