Stourhead
Things to see & do
The house
Stourhead house is an iconic Palladian building from the early 18th century
© Stourhead images
Henry Hoare I bought Old Stourton House in 1717 and swiftly demolished it. He then built a Palladian villa on adjacent land and named it Stourhead. After his father's death in 1725, Henry Hoare II completed the house and filled it with treasures, which you can still discover today.
The garden
A gap in the trees reveals this unexpected view to the Temple of Apollo
© Paul Clegg
In the 1740s Henry the Magnificent began designing Stourhead's acclaimed landscape garden, creating a living work of art which changed the way gardens were designed forever. Two hundred years later, we were given this wonderful garden to preserve for the nation.
The walled garden
The walled garden supplies fresh fruit and vegetables all year round
© National Trust
Discover the walled garden and see the amazing work that takes place.
Find the bug hotel, and investigate how we make our own compost.
Before you leave Stourhead why not visit the Farm Shop and take home some of the walled garden's produce.
The wider estate
There are eleven scheduled ancient monuments on this site at Stourhead
© Stourhead images
The 2,650-acre estate around Stourhead house and garden is wonderfully diverse, from chalk downland and open farmland to the immense conifer forests, ancient trees at Park Hill Camp and King Alfred's Tower.
The tallest oak
The tallest oak tree in the U.K. here at Stourhead
© Stourhead images
Stourhead is home to the tallest English oak tree in the UK.
The oak stands at 40.4meters tall, and is a great addition to the champion trees that we already have in this world-famous garden.
See if you can find it on your next visit to Stourhead.
What's on
Our exciting events programme has something for everyone, with music and drama, walks and tours, family fun and opportunities to discover the secrets of Stourhead, including how we manage the estate.
Estate walks
Explore Stourhead's 2,650 acres of countryside on one of our estate walks. The routes will take you through farmland, woodland and past ancient monuments and historic sites. Follow the link below and type in 'Stourhead'.
Private picnics
Enjoy spectacular views from the glorious tulip tree at Stourhead
© Stephen Robson
Stourhead has so much to offer those who want that little bit extra Are you planning a treat for a loved one, or a family get together? Enjoy exclusive use of our buildings and grounds for private picnics. Have a cream tea in Flora, drinks and nibbles at Apollo, or a romantic meal for two. A hamper packed for the whole family is also an option. If you are feeling adventurous, take a boat trip to one of the private islands on the lake and learn to climb our magnificent tulip tree where you can enjoy panoramic views of this famous garden.