Shaw's Corner
Visitor information
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© National Trust/Lizzie Dunford
Shaw's Corner in June
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© John Hammond
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© LSE
Shaw stands in front of the garage gate.
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© National Trust/Lizzie Dunford
Shaw's Corner gate and Socks the Cat in the snow.
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© National Trust/Lizzie Dunford
The Drawing Room at Shaw's Corner, newly hung with reinstated Morris & Co c
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© Lizzie Dunford
The terrace becomes the stage, as the audience watch Professor Higgins.
Notice: Our usual opening hours are: Wednesday to Sunday: Garden and shop: 12.00noon - 5.30pm, House 1.00pm to 5.00pm, with last entry to the property at 4.30pm.
Country home of playwright Bernard Shaw for 44 years
No dwelling place can rival Ayot:
So there I labour at my job,
And boil my kettle on the hob
Deeming I have the best of reasons,
For staying here through all the seasons.
Playwright, politician, philosopher and wit George Bernard Shaw lived in this Edwardian villa for over 40 years from 1906. When he moved in, he was at the height of his fame. If you'd been walking up the drive 70 years ago, you would have been coming to visit one of the most famous, most photographed and most quoted men in the world.
Today, his home remains much as he left it. You can walk from room to room, enjoying the beautiful Arts and Crafts interiors, and finding fascinating links with the past. The tranquil gardens are a restorative and relaxing place at any time of year. They provide you with a space to reflect on the wit and wisdom of this great man of words - and maybe find the inspiration to write masterpieces of your own.
Shaw at Home Conference 2013
We're delighted to be hosting the 2013 International Shaw Society Conference in June. Open to all, the conference will bring together Shaw scholars and experts from around the globe.
Outdoor Theatre at Shaw's Corner
Our Outdoor Theatre productions always draw a crowd
Every year Shaw's Corner hosts two outdoor productions of Shaw's plays. This year will be Geneva 21-23 June and Misalliance 26-28 July. Tickets are available to book now, and you can find lots of information about the plays, as well as how to book, on the outdoor theatre page.
GBS quotes and more
"I want to be all used up when I die."
Born in 1856 and dying at the age of 94 in 1950, Shaw lived a long and fascinating life during turbulent and rapidly changing times. His works are deeply reflective of his era and his beliefs, and his home reflects this.