Explore Charlecote's parkland this winter

Winter 2021 lockdown: Information for prebooked ticket holders

Before you visit, please read the following to enable us to stay safe and permitted to stay open within current regulations:

Please follow Government guidelines on meeting others and staying local.

• Only travel to Charlecote if it is your nearest place to exercise.
• The parkland is open for local visitors to provide access to fresh and space for exercise during lockdown. Please consider visiting another time if you need to travel extensively to visit us.
• One adult can meet just one other adult.
• It is essential to pre-book your visits to help us with track and trace and to safely manage capacity. We cannot permit entry to those without a ticket.
• Parts of the parkland may be closed to help the ground and wildlife rest and recover. Please stick to the footpaths to help us look after the parkland.
• Please read and follow all signage. You will help us to look after the wildlife by doing so.
• The toilets will remain open.
• The Wood Yard Cafe, Orangery Shop, House, Secondhand Bookshop and Outbuildings are closed.
• Wellies or walking boots are recommended. The ground is heavily waterlogged and very muddy.
• Please check social media or the website before you set off for any last minute changes or updates.

What we do mean by 'local'?
Please refer to government guidance on what is meant by local. It states "If you need to travel you should stay local, meaning avoiding travelling outside of your village, town or part of a city where you live." It adds "Outdoor exercise should be done locally wherever possible, but you can travel a short distance within your area to do so if necessary, while shopping for goods and services and should be within your local areas wherever possible."

A winter landscape escape

Enjoy frosty mornings, blustery afternoons and rosy sunsets when you walk through the parkland this winter.

Stroll along the mown pathways through the parkland and along the rivers and lakeside.

Listen for uplifting birdsong and enjoy whatever the weather has in store when you visit. Look out for the deer in early morning mist. Frost glints on the long grass as low winter sun sparkles on the river. Rain patters on your brolly and you can feel the blustery wind on your face. Relax into the weather, don’t be in too much of a hurry to get back indoors and you’ll feel invigorated for the rest of the day. 

Warm up after your wintry walk with a takeaway hot drink or snack from the Wood Yard Cafe. Sturdy footwear or welly boots are recommended for your visit.

The parkland is open 9am - 4pm every day, with last entry at 3pm. Remember you’ll need to book your visit.

What to look out for this winter

Charlecote’s historic fallow deer herd

There has been a fallow deer herd at Charlecote for centuries, and legend has it that a young William Shakespeare was prosecuted for poaching here. 

Tread quietly and keep your distance from the mown paths and they may stand still enough for stunning photographs.

Please don't ever approach the deer to touch them. They are unpredictable wild animals and even our Ranger doesn't handle them. If you are asked to move it is for your safety and the wellbeing of the deer - please be courteous to our staff.

Centuries of tradition

Have you noticed the traditional cleft oak paling fencing? This is a rural craft that we're delighted to be able to keep alive. The varied heights of the panels confuse the deer so that they don't jump over the fence, although they easily could.

Spotting the spotty sheep

The fallow deer happily share the parkland with our pedigree herd of Jacob sheep with their characteristic chocolate-blotch fleeces.

Did you know that 'Bachelor' George Lucy introduced the very first flock of Jacobs to England from Portugal in 1755?

Caring for the environment

As part of the Higher Level Stewardship scheme we manage the parkland - the trees, wildflowers, birds and bugs - to ensure the widest possible environmental benefits.

Flowing through the park are both Shakespeare's Avon and its tributary the little river Dene. They add diversity to the wildlife in the parkland throughout the year, and you'll find benches around the parkland where you can pause to see what's around today.

Your visit is helping us preserve this ancient landscape that Shakespeare would have known.

The family church

Your parkland stroll will bring you to St Leonard's church, rebuilt by Mary Elizabeth Lucy in memory of her husband.

Please note that the gate is one-way and does not allow re-entry to the parkland.