A Victorian home set in landscaped deer park
Enjoy picnics in the parkland, lazy walks by the river and summer holiday activity trails for all the family this summer. Find out what's on, what's open, where the toilets are and how to get that all important cup of tea! This article will help you to plan ahead and make the most of your visit at Charlecote Park.
*** Please note that the handbook information is out of date. The 5 ground floor rooms of the house are currently only open in the mornings, on weekends and are closed during week days due to a major conservation project taking place to refurbish the heating system. The house looks very different inside at the moment, with much of the collection covered up, or packed away. If you wish to visit the house to see the collection and original features, you are encouraged to check back and visit again when the house reopens in the autumn. ***
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.
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.
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £12.10 | £11.00 |
| Child | £6.10 | £5.50 |
| Family | £30.30 | £27.50 |
|
Group Adult
Minimum group size 15
|
N/A | £9.00 |
|
Group Child
Minimum group size 15
|
N/A | £4.50 |
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
Please head to Visitor Reception in the carpark when you arrive to access the parkland.
The parkland is open as normal, everyday from 9am - 5pm with last admission at 4pm. *** There is a major conservation project taking place in the house this year to refurbish the Victorian heating system. Only the 5 ground floor rooms are open, in the mornings, on weekends only. Most of the collection is covered up or has been moved into safe storage. You can see the progress and the rooms looking very different inside, when the house is open in the mornings, on weekends and bank holidays between 10.30am - 1.30pm, with last entry at 12.45pm. Timed tickets for the house are issued on a first come, first serve basis at Visitor Reception. ***
