Mapperton House, Gardens & Wildlands
"The finest manor house in England."
Beaminster, Dorset, DT8 3NR
Facilities
-
Accessible loos
-
Accessible parking
-
Cafe / restaurant
-
Facilities for children
-
Free parking
-
Parkland / open spaces
-
Pet friendly
-
Picnic area
-
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. The property is closed on Fridays and Saturdays, except for special events. Please check the website and social media before visiting, as the property occasionally closes for special events.
Gardens & Wildlands Hours
1st March to 2nd April 2026: Sunday to Thursday, 11am – 3pm
5th April to 1st October 2026: Monday to Thursday, 10am – 5pm; Sundays, 11am – 4pm
4th to 29th October 2026: Sunday to Thursday, 11am – 3pm
Last entry to the Gardens and Wildlands is one hour before closing time.
House Tours
Guided house tours are available throughout the season and last 50 minutes. Tours run at 12pm and 1pm during March and October, and at 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm from April to September. The house closes for the season on Thursday 22nd October.
Attractions & Exhibitions
- American Heiress Exhibition: Available during the open season in line with house opening times
- Mapperton Wildlands – Self-Guided Safari: Open throughout the season with last entry one hour before closing
- Wild Play Areas: Available during the open season
- Kitchen Garden: New for 2026, open on Tuesdays only
- Virtual Tour of Mapperton House & Gardens: Available at any time
Special Events & Activities
Throughout the 2026 season, Mapperton hosts a variety of special events and activities, including:
- Snowdrop Sundays (early season)
- Spring Dawn Chorus Walk at Mapperton Wildlands – Ranger's Ramble (Spring 2026)
- Daffodil Week (Spring 2026)
- Easter Trail (Easter period 2026)
- Introduction to Rewilding Guided Safari (2026)
- Heritage Open Day – House Tour and Garden Ticket (September 2026)
- Super Summer (Summer 2026)
- Pippa and the Pumpkin Trail (October 2026)
- Halloween Trail (October 2026)
For specific dates and further details about events, please check the website and social media.
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
Become a Historic Houses member
Explore the nation’s heritage from just £71 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.
