Ightham Mote

Looking across the daffodil filled orchard to the north side of the house on a sunny day — A blanket of daffodils in the orchard at Ightham Mote on a spring day

Bluebells and primroses in Scathes Wood on the Ightham Mote estate — Woodland flowers in Scathes Wood

Important notice -

The outdoor areas, café and shop are open, to ensure entry, pre-booking is advisable. The lower floor of the house is open, limited tickets available daily at visitor reception only, first come, first served

Outstanding 14th-century moated manor house

Please book ahead before visiting Check availability

Overview
Opening times
Prices
How to get here
Facilities and access
Contact us
Property map

Visitors walking through a garden in spring

Visiting this spring

Our gardens, parks, cafés, shops and countryside locations are open to visit. Many houses in England and Wales have reopened, with houses in Northern Ireland expected to reopen from 24 May. Advance booking for visits helps us keep everyone safe and socially distanced. At quieter times such as weekdays, booking shouldn't be necessary, but to guarantee entry we recommend booking in advance, especially at weekends and bank holidays.

Ightham Mote

What's on

Ightham Mote Kent

Please book ahead before visiting

The gardens, estate and car park at Ightham Mote have now re-opened. We've introduced advance booking to keep everybody safe and maintain social distancing. To avoid disappointment, please book in advance, especially at busier times such as weekends, school holidays and bank holidays. However, where space is available on weekdays, pre-booking may not always be necessary. Please book your tickets by 3.00pm the day before your visit. Members can book for free, while non-members will need to pay when booking. We'll be releasing tickets every Friday. We're looking forward to welcoming you back.

Book now

Timed entry to Ightham Mote (17 May - 23 May)

Tue 18 May 2021

+ 5 other dates

10:00-16:00

Book your timed entry to visit Ightham Mote.

Ightham Mote

Things to see and do

Visit the house

We’re looking forward to welcoming you back to the ground floor of Ightham Mote’s impressive house, a showcase of centuries of history. Ightham Mote is not indicative of any one period, but a home reflecting the changing fashion and needs of its owners through time.

The atmospheric Great Hall at Ightham Mote

Ightham Mote house tickets

To ensure our visitors get a safe experience and to help protect our historic collection, we provide entry to the house on a ticketed basis, read on to find out how our ticketing works.

Two people walking in the dappled light of the woodland in spring

Put a spring in your step

With the damp greys and browns of winter, replaced by warmth, light and colour, renew your love affair with the countryside on a walk. Each time you visit, you help us conserve a slice of Kentish countryside.

Ightham Mote

Our work

The £10 million house

Aiming to retain the original fabric of the house wherever possible, and to use traditional methods and materials, the conservation work at Ightham Mote took 15 years to complete.

Flood water in the house courtyard — If only water could read

Caring for Ightham Mote

In 2016, the team were met with a challenge that called for extensive conservation work, here's a reminder of what happened and what work is needed to care for Ightham Mote.

Ightham Mote

Eating and shopping

Feeling peckish?

Our café has now re-opened for a take-out service. We've got a full range of hot and cold drinks, sweet cakes and bakes, light lunches, snacks and ice cream. Please note we can only accept card payment at the moment. We've introduced safety measures including queuing systems and screens. We look forward to welcoming you back and know that you’ll support us to make this a safe experience for everyone.

View upstairs iinside the shop at Ightham Mote

Stop off at the shop

No visit is complete without a browse of the shop. We've got a wide array of gifts and souvenirs to tempt you. From stylish home accessories to moreish tasty treats, there's something for everyone.

Ightham Mote

History

Looking from the courtyard, across the North Bridge — Please come in...

Ightham Mote Kent

The owners of Ightham Mote

Who used to live here? Uncover the stories of some of the families who have lived here over the past 700 years including medieval knights, Tudor courtiers, high society Victorians and an American businessman.

Find out more about some of Ightham Mote's owners

Ightham Mote

Art and collections

Our collections

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

Search the collections

General

Please adhere to government guidance and stay local.

Please go to What’s on to book your visit to the garden

The house is currently closed.

To facilitate social distancing, there's a self-led one way system around the garden

Registered assistance dogs welcome in all areas of the site

Dogs on leads welcome on the wider countryside walks but not in the garden

Bike racks are located within the walled garden car park

The shop is open. Please remember to wear your face mask

Cafe open for takeaway light refreshments. Card payments only. Masks to be worn in cafe

Toilets located by the cafe

Please leave your tents, gazebos and BBQs at home.

Cameras are welcome in the garden but due to narrow paths please do not use tripods or camera stands

Paths in the garden may become slippery after rainfall, please take care and wear sturdy footwear

Please be aware there are open waters, moat and ponds around the garden

From 17 May, the lower floor of the house will re-open, owing to social distancing measures and limited capacity, purchasing a ticket to visit doesn't guarantee entry to the house.

Family

Pushchairs admitted to the garden although it is steep in places with steps and gravel and grass pathways. Double buggies will need to take alternative route around the gardens – speak to staff on arrival

Bikes, tricycles and scooters are not allowed on site due to narrow paths, steep slopes and open water.

Please leave your frisbees, ball games, raquet games etc. at home

Natural play area is open

Toilets with baby changing facilities located by the cafe

Access

Pre-booking is required, please book via What’s On section of website.

Designated parking spaces for disabled visitors in the main car park

We're sorry, our volunteer-driven shuttle buggy is not available.

We're sorry, our manual wheelchairs are not available to borrow.

Disabled drop off point available – please ask staff on arrival.

Gardens have a mixture of gravel and grass paths, some steep slopes, undulating terrain and steps.

Assistance dogs welcome in all areas of the site.

Full access statement below but some are areas may be closed at present with limited access for wheelchair users and double buggies.

Estate walks will be muddy at this time of year please wear suitable footwear

Toilets located by the cafe

Gift Aid

Standard

Adult

N/A

£8.00

Child

N/A

£4.00

Family

N/A

£20.00

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

Tuesday 18 May

Wednesday 19 May

Thursday 20 May

Friday 21 May

Saturday 22 May

Sunday 23 May

Monday 24 May

Ightham Mote

Important notice -

More about this place

Visiting this spring