Mapperton House, Gardens & Wildlands
"The finest manor house in England."
Beaminster, Dorset, DT8 3NR
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Accessible parking
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Cafe / restaurant
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Facilities for children
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Free parking
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Parkland / open spaces
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Pet friendly
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Picnic area
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Shop
- Wheelchair ramps/routes
- Accessible toilets
- Accessible parking
Mapperton House is the home of the Earl and Countess of Sandwich. The family moved here from Hinchingbrooke House, near Huntingdon, in the 1950s, bringing with it the family collection.
Mapperton was voted ‘The Nations Finest Manor House’ by Country Life and was principal location of 2015 film ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’.
It is a glorious Jacobean manor overlooking a 15 acre Italianate garden, with orangery, topiary and borders, descending ponds and arboretum. The house has outstanding views of Dorset hills and woodlands.
The house and gardens welcome visitors and Mapperton also hosts weddings.
Historic House members can join a house tour free of charge on the day subject to availability. However this cannot be booked in advance; please enquire upon arrival.
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.
Opening Times
General Season: Mapperton House, Gardens & Wildlands is open from Sunday 1st March to Saturday 31st October 2026.
Gardens & Wildlands
Peak Season (5th April to 1st October):
- Monday to Thursday: 10am – 5pm
- Sundays: 11am – 4pm
- Usually closed Fridays and Saturdays (except for special events)
- Last entry one hour before closing
October (4th to 31st October):
- Sunday to Thursday: 11am – 3pm
- Friday 30th and Saturday 31st October: 11am – 3pm
- Last entry one hour before closing
The Wildlands Self-Guided Safari is open during the general season, following the same opening hours as the Gardens.
Kitchen Garden: New for 2026, open Tuesdays only during the general season.
Mapperton House Guided Tours
April to September: Tours run at 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm daily.
March and October: Tours run at 12pm and 1pm daily. Please note that the House is closed entirely from Sunday 4th to Saturday 10th October 2026 for a private event. House tours resume on Sunday 11th October.
Special October Opening: On Friday 30th and Saturday 31st October, the House, Gardens, Wildlands and Coach House Café are open 11am – 3pm, with House tours at 12pm and 1pm.
September Closure: The House is closed for tours 1st–3rd September. The Gardens remain open as normal during this period.
Special Events & Membership Benefits
Throughout the season, Annual Membership holders enjoy free access to special events including:
- Snowdrop Sundays (late winter/early spring)
- Daffodil Week (spring)
- Easter Trail
- Super Summer (summer season)
- Halloween Trail (October)
- Pippa and the Pumpkin Trail (October)
House & Gardens tickets
Adults: £20 (includes guided tour)
Children 5-15 yrs: £7
Children under 5 yrs: free
Gardens only tickets
Adults: £15
Children 5-15 yrs: £5
Children under 5 yrs: free
House, Gardens & Wildlands tickets
Adults: £28 (includes guided house tour)
Children 5-15 yrs: £12
Family (2 adults, up to 4 children): £75
Children under 5 yrs: free
Wildlands only tickets (Self-Guided Safari)
Adults: £12.95
Family (2 adults, up to 4 children): £39.95
Children under 16: £6.95
Children under 5: free
Historic House members can join a house tour free of charge on the day subject to availability. However this cannot be booked in advance; please enquire upon arrival.
Mapperton welcomes many groups and coaches each year to visit our historic house and gardens, and to enjoy lunches and teas in the Coach House café. We can also offer virtual tours of our historic house by pre-booked appointment – perfect if you and your group are not able to travel to visit Mapperton in person at the moment.
Our knowledgeable and friendly house guides provide visitors with an informative and entertaining tour of the house and the Sandwich collection of pictures and furniture.
Special rates are available for groups of 10 people or more. House tours are generally an hour in duration and can be followed by a visit to the gardens.
Our group pricing for 2025 is as follows:
House (including guided tour and the Gilded Age American Heiress Exhibition) & Gardens
£18 per person
Gardens only
£13 per person
Guided tour of the gardens:
Additional £5 (must be pre-booked)
- Wheelchair ramps/routes
- Accessible toilets
- Accessible parking
Getting here
Beaminster, Dorset, DT8 3NR
2 miles southeast of Beaminster, follow brown signs on B3163.
You can travel to Crewkerne train station, then take a taxi from Crewkerne to Mapperton.
Lord David Cecil, Some Dorset Country Houses, 1955
Throughout the house, the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries meet each other at every turn. Yet, – and this is notably characteristic of Mapperton – they do not quarrel. Diversity never means discord. Rather the different ages combine to create an unexpected and richer harmony.
Mapperton stars in new Netflix film
Mapperton House and Gardens has another starring role in a new film version of Daphne du Maurier’s classic Gothic novel “Rebecca” released on Netflix today (Wednesday 21 October).
Houses nearby
Minterne House & Gardens
Minterne Magna, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7AU
Forde Abbey
Chard, Somerset, TA20 4LU
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
Buller's Way, Abbotsbury, Dorset, DT3 4LA
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