*** Please note that the handbook information is out of date. The house is currently only open on weekend mornings, and is closed during week days due to on-going conservation work taking place ***
Overlooking the river Avon on the edge of Shakespeare’s Stratford, Charlecote Park has been part of this corner of rural Warwickshire for centuries.
The Victorian home set in a landscaped deer park, has over 180 acres to explore. Wander, picnic and play in the parkland, inspired by ‘Capability’ Brown. Enjoy tranquil views across the rivers Avon and Dene and spot a wide variety of wildlife around every corner, including the historic herds of Jacob sheep and fallow deer which roam freely in the parkland all year round.
Stroll through the garden that Mary Elizabeth loved so dearly, from the formal parterre to the shady woodland garden with rare plants and borders full of colourful herbaceous planting.
Tiptoe through the Scullery and Victorian Kitchen, to see them quietly preserved in time. Wander across the Service Courtyard to explore the Laundry and Brewhouse which once hummed with the activity of a busy working estate. Discover the stables which house the family’s carriage collection, each with its own story to tell.
Still the Lucy family home after 900 years, the house usually tells a story of the vision of the Victorian owners George Hammond Lucy and his wife, the formidable Mary Elizabeth, who extended their home and filled it with treasures from their European travels.
But in 2022, you’ll experience a slightly different vision around the house, while we prepare to refurbish the Victorian heating system, which will help protect the collection against mould and pests.
From spring, you’ll be able to linger in the five downstairs rooms in the central portion of the house which open to our visitors, to discover more about the how the work will protect the collection for generations to come.
