Kingston Lacy

Dorset

A lavish family home re-imagined as a Venetian Palace in the rural Dorset countryside.

Wimborne Minster, Dorset, BH21 4EA

Opening times
Prices
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Sun shining on the house at Kingston Lacy, leaves on a tree in the foreground are starting to change colour and drop on the lawn

M	T	W	T	F	S	S

Open

Closed

Opening times for 6 September 2026
Asset	Opening time
House	10:30 - 15:00
Car Park	09:30 - 17:00
Garden	09:30 - 17:00
Park	09:30 - 17:00
Stables Café	09:30 - 17:00
Shop	10:00 - 17:00
Second-hand bookshop	10:00 - 17:00
Badbury Rings car park	Dawn - Dusk
Kitchen Garden Kiosk	10:00 - 16:00

The house closes at 4pm, with last entry at 3pm. The Kitchen Garden kiosk may close in bad weather.

Visits to the house are limited and entry to the house is not guaranteed on the day you visit. Ask at reception for a timed ticket when you arrive.

If you are visiting Badbury Rings on the wider estate, please note that there is a car parking charge for non members of £1.60 for one hour, £3.20 for up to four hours or £6.40 for the day.

Carers/ Companions

The Essential Companion card makes it simple to bring one or two carers or companions with you, free of charge. Show the card when you arrive, and your carer(s) or companion(s) won't need to pay an entry fee.

It's in your name so you can bring whoever you like, but even if you don't have an Essential Companion card, you can still bring carers or companions free - the card just makes it quicker and simpler for you.

For details on how to order your card visit our website Access for everyone | National Trust

House (if capacity), Garden/Parkland
Ticket type	With Gift Aid	Without Gift Aid
Adult (18+)	£25.30	£23.00
Child (5-17) under 5s free	£12.70	£11.50
Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children)	£63.30	£57.50
1 adult, up to 3 children	£38.00	£34.50
Group (Adult 18+)		£21.85
Group (Child 5-17)		£10.93

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Bookshop
Second-hand bookshop located in Laundry Courtyard, just opposite the shop.
Bookshop - more information
Café
A range of sandwiches, light snacks such as soup or sausage rolls, and heartier choices such as one-pot lunches served with bloomers. Cream teas and ice cream. Children's lunchbox. A range of vegetarian and vegan options. Hot and cold drinks (takeaway available). Tables inside and out.
Café - more information
Car park
The main car park is 0.25 miles from the main road down a tarmac driveway. The car park consists of tarmac driveways and loose stone and gravel mix.
Dogs allowed
Dogs on a lead are welcome in the car park, woodland walks, parkland and the Stables courtyard. Dogs not allowed in the formal garden, immediately behind the house, and in the house. Assistance dogs welcome everywhere.
Dogs allowed - more information
Electric vehicle charging point
5 AC electric vehicle charging points are available in Kingston Lacy's main car park. Chargers can be accessed using mobile app, RFID card, or contactless payment device. Visit our EV charging provider RAW Charging’s website to download the app in advance of your visit.
Electric vehicle charging point - more information
Guided tour
Volunteer-led tours of the garden
Guided tour - more information
Plant shop
Visit the shop in Laundry Courtyard to buy a range of seasonal plants.
Plant shop - more information
Shop
Located in Laundry Courtyard. A range of home furnishings, fashion accessories, kitchen ceramics, plants and seasonal food and drink, including products from local providers
Shop - more information
Toilet
Signposted as you enter the property. Family toilets with space for buggies and baby-changing facilities are available in Laundry Courtyard.
Blue Badge parking. Mobility scooters for hire. Accessible WC. House partly accessible, virtual tour available. Garden paths mainly gravel.
Visual guide to Kingston Lacy
Click here to access the full Accessibility Guide for Kingston Lacy - AccessAble.co.uk
Accessible route and/or map
Path and floor surfaces around the property are tarmac, concrete, gravel, flagstone, grass, tile, marble and carpet. Map of accessible route available from Visitor Reception.
Accessible toilet
Located in Laundry Courtyard. Two accessible toilets, one with Changing Places unit including hoist and adult-sized changing table.
Braille (guide or menu)
Braille guides are available from the Front of House team in the main entrance.
Designated parking
There are 14 designated spaces for disabled people, on a gravel surface. Bays are not marked. Car park has tarmac driveways and loose stone and gravel mix for parking bays. The overflow car park is grass. The parking area is 119 metres (130 yards) from Visitor Reception, up a tarmac slope with a 1:20 gradient.
Induction loop
Induction loops at Visitor Reception and in the shop.
Large print (guide or menu)
Large print guides are available from the Front of House team in the main entrance.
Level access to food outlet
Flooring within the restaurants is cobble stones or wood.
Level access to shop
Two entrance ways: one with steps down and the other (signposted) level. Flooring uneven flagstones.
Level access/terrain
Narrow corridors
Please leave backpacks and rucksacks in the bag store (free of charge), located in the Laundry Courtyard.
Powered mobility vehicle available
Four powered mobility vehicles are available for loan from Visitor Reception. Pre-booking advised, telephone 01202 883402 (line 2).
Ramped access/slopes
Steps/uneven terrain
Main entrance to the house is up four steps and access to ground, first and second floors is via staircases. Wheelchair users have level access to three rooms on the basement level only, via a door is located in Laundry Courtyard. Please ring the bell for admission if no one is on duty. One of these rooms contains the virtual tour.
Virtual tour
Audio-visual virtual reality tour available about the history of the house and the family as well as 360º degree imagery of all rooms. The touch screen is located on a 720mm high table within the interpretation space. The screen is positioned at an angle that can be adjusted. A chair without armrest is available.
Wheelchairs available
Three all-terrain manual wheelchairs (Mountain Trikes) and three manual wheelchairs are available for loan from Visitor Reception, in addition to four powered mobility vehicles. Pre-booking advised, telephone 01202 883402 (line 2).
Map
Directions via Google Maps
By road
on B3082 Blandford to Wimborne Road
Entrance to the property what3words ///nearing.daydream.fallback
Parking: Free at Kingston Lacy for all visitors. If you are visiting Badbury Rings on the wider estate, there is a pay-and-display car park: free for members (scan your membership card for an all-day ticket) and a charge for non members of £1 for one hour or £3 for the day.
Sat Nav: data unreliable, follow B3082 and brown signs to Kingston Lacy
By road - more information
On foot
The Hardy Way and other footpaths pass around Kingston Lacy from Blandford Road and Cowgrove Road.
On foot - more information
By train
Poole c.10 miles, Bournemouth c.12 miles.

Bus connections to Wimborne Minster. See below for onward journey.
By train - more information
By bus
Services from Bournemouth and Poole to Wimborne Minster, alight Wimborne Square. Taxi advised for onward journey to Kingston Lacy (3 miles). On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays Bus 88 runs from Wimborne to Kingston Lacy car park.

Bus X8 from Blandford Forum to Sturminster Marshall, c.3 miles on foot. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays Bus 88 runs from Sturminster Marshall to Kingston Lacy.

By bus - more information
Cycling
Cycle parking and facilities: Cycle parking is provided at our Visitor Reception. We have a bike pump, puncture repair kits and plugs available for e-bike charging should you need it.

Directions and access: Cycle route National Route 25 goes to Wimborne Minster from Blandford Forum. Wimborne is 20 minutes away by bike and you can hire Beryl Bikes there (https://beryl.cc/scheme/dorset). Kingston Lacy has its own woodland cycle track. Plan your cycle route using the link below and enter via the Kitchen Garden entrance. Once you have arrived please head to Visitor Reception, either by wheeling your bike through the garden or cycling along the woodland cycle track (access it at the Japanese Garden) until you reach the main driveway. Turn up the drive to the car park, and Visitor Reception is nearby. Once at Visitor Reception scan your National Trust Membership card or pay admission to support the National Trust’s conservation work, which allows access to these special places.

Cyclestreets journey planner: Plan your route to Kingston Lacy using the CycleStreets journey planner link below (This journey planner uses OpenStreetMap data which is generally excellent but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. If you come to a footpath or other cycle-prohibited track, please don’t ride on it).

Further information: In partnership with Dorset Council we run a weekly health cycle rides at Kingston Lacy every Thursday. For more information go to https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/activate-cycle-rides-in-east-dorset
Cycling - more information
Car-free
We hold the Good Journey Mark for welcoming car-free visitors. Travel a greener way and enjoy a hot drink with a valid bus ticket. Plan your journey by train, bus, bike or foot at Good Journey

Planning your visit

See all Kingston Lacy events

What's coming up at Kingston Lacy

There's always plenty to do at Kingston Lacy. As the year turns, the acers in the Japanese Garden fire up and the Lime Avenue and woodland turn golden. There's a show-stopping ivory-inlaid cabinet to admire and a very special trail coming for families.

A Japanese lantern with red and yellow leaved trees behind

Rani Lacy: revealing an Indian treasure

One of the National Trust's treasures has come back to Kingston Lacy after conservation. We're exploring the craftsmanship, culture and creativity surrounding the Visakhapatnam cabinet in an exhibition that will explain the secrets discovered during conservation, display related items from other National Trust properties and include specially commissioned installations. Discover more 1 June-23 October.

Eighteenth-century cabinet on a stand, made of wood and inlaid with ivory inlay

A Starlit Christmas Ball

Christmas 2026 will be full of starlight and sparkle at Kingston Lacy. Join us to be swept off your feet by a ball inspired by a winter's night sky, filled with plenty of festive stardust.

Christmas in the Dining Room at Kingston Lacy

Visiting Kingston Lacy with your dog

Enjoy nature and fresh air on woodland walks across the Kingston Lacy estate in Dorset, and find out all you need to know about visiting with your four-legged friend.

Visitor with therapy dog from the group Caring Canines at Kingston Lacy, Dorset

Group visits to Kingston Lacy

Groups of visitors are warmly welcomed by the National Trust at Kingston Lacy. Find out more about booking your tickets and the benefits you’ll get.

A group of people being shown around a garden. The tour guide is pointing left and people are looking that way.

Visit Kingston Lacy by bus for a free hot drink

We're encouraging visitors to arrive at Kingston Lacy by bus. We're offering a free regular hot drink with every valid bus ticket until further notice.

An outdoor table with a hot takeaway cup, a piece of cake, and a soft drink.

Accessibility at Kingston Lacy

At Kingston Lacy, there is Blue Badge parking and mobility scooters for hire. There are two accessible toilets, one of which includes a Changing Places unit. The house is partly accessible, and a virtual tour is available. Garden paths are mainly gravel.