Canons Ashby

A tranquil Tudor manor house set in rare terraced gardens, with the 'antient' Dryden family at its heart

More about this place

Enjoy summer at Canons Ashby

Children jumping for joy in the paddock

Summer fun for the family 

Enjoy Canons Ashby at it's best this summer. There's plenty of fun, interesting things to see and do. Find out what you can expect as you explore the garden, grounds and house.

Two children using binoculars in a field of wildflowers.

50 things to do before you're 11¾ this summer 

Have some family fun with outdoor games and lot's of exploring, for little and big adventurers.

A family group admiring the gardens

Enjoy summer at Canons Ashby 

Enjoy the warm weather and make lasting memories at this wonderful Tudor manor house with its rare terraced gardens and early medieval landscape.

Outdoor theatre at sunset

See a performance at Canons Ashby 

Come and see a performance in the beautiful surroundings of Canons Ashby. Whether it’s music or drama, children or adults, we have something coming up for everyone to enjoy.

Get out in the fresh air

Dog walking at Canons Ashby

Dogs at Canons Ashby 

Plan your pup's visit to Canons Ashby.

Walkers setting off from car park

Walks at Canons Ashby 

Try these fantastic trails for walkers, wildlife spotters, history enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates stunning countryside views.

Need to know and plan your day

Children playing with their dog in the paddock

Need to know info for family days out 

All the need to know stuff for a great family day out

An open sign

Plan your day 

With lots to explore and discover, take a look at what Canons Ashby has to offer and enjoy your day, your way

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Upcoming events

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In the picture: then and now

Thu 16 Aug 2018
10:00-16:30
See Canons Ashby's outdoor spaces through the eyes of the talented creative women who lived here long ago on this fascinating self-led trail.

Bird spotting: 50 things to do before you're 11¾

Thu 16 Aug 2018
11:00-15:00
Borrow some binoculars and a spotting sheet and see what you can find living in our gardens and grounds. Then have a look at our collection of fascinating finds up close.

The Adventures of Doctor Dolittle, by Illyria

Fri 17 Aug 2018
18:00-20:00
Bring the family and a picnic to enjoy this much-loved story, brought to life by Illyria in the beautiful grounds of Canons Ashby.

Discover British Wildlife

Thu 23 Aug 2018
11:00-15:00
Meet the experts on British Wildlife and see what you can find exploring our grounds. If you're with younger visitors, try our messy and fun activity: "Whose poos"?

Bookfest

Sat 25 Aug 2018
10:30-16:30
There will be bargains aplenty at the Brewhouse Bookshop's annual sale, raising money to look after our historic site. Spend the day perusing our second-hand books and stock up in preparation for those cosy autumn evenings.

Create a bird house: 50 things to do before you're 11¾

Thu 30 Aug 2018
11:00-15:00
Decorate a bird house to take home for your feathered friends at home, and maybe help to fill our wildlife refuge with bedding for them to hide in, ready for autumn,
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Canons Ashby

Eating and shopping

Shopping and Eating

A selection of souvenirs from the Coach House shop

Visit our Coach House shop 

Browse our shop for plants, gifts and second-hand books.

A serving of tea in the tearoom

Visit the Stables Tearoom 

Indulge in our homemade sweet and savoury treats for a light lunch or afternoon tea.

The interior of the Brewhouse Bookshop

The Brewhouse Bookshop 

From science fiction to gardening books, from cross stitch instructions to murder mysteries, there are plenty of second hand books to browse in our cosy Brewhouse Bookshop.

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Canons Ashby

History

Alice Dryden and her parents under the cedar tree

The women who shaped Canons Ashby 

Find out more about the incredible women who helped to shape Canons Ashby as you see it today.

South front of Canons Ashby House

A family home for 400 years 

Learn more about the fascinating history of this beautiful family home.

Example of arcading architecture

Canons behaving badly 

The Priory at Canons Ashby has a long history and was once home to monks who preferred the public house to holy service.

Sir Henry Dryden stands outside the Church Priory

Sir Henry Dryden the Antiquary 

Discover more about Sir Henry Dryden, who inherited the estate in 1837 at just 19 years old.

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Canons Ashby

Our work

Historic Pebble Court at Canons Ashby

Our historic building survey 

Find out what's being discovered in our Historic Building Survey, as archaeologists examine Canons Ashby in more detail than ever before.

Canons Ashby Stew Ponds 2018 view one

Projects at Canons Ashby 

Take a look at the completed and ongoing projects that keep Canons Ashby alive, from ancient archaeology to up to date visitor facilities.

Carved heads on a wooden bedpost

Canons Ashby's curious collection 

Uncover more about the collection we care for, from merry bedposts to mechanical bellows.

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Canons Ashby

Get involved

A volunteer taking photographs

Become a volunteer 

Find out the benefits of volunteering, the roles available and how to join our team.

A group enjoying a garden tour

Join a supporter group 

Get more involved and meet like-minded people by joining a local supporter group.

A Volunteer in Tudor Costume

From visiting to volunteering 

Rhona Milner shares her story of how she came to volunteer at Canons Ashby.

A mid 20th century family photo

A matter of family 

Find out how Nick Hall helps visitors become part of the story.

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Canons Ashby

Art and collections

Our collections

Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Canons Ashby on the National Trust Collections website

Search the collections
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