Knightshayes

Discover Knightshayes - a great post-war garden, 19th-century parkland and grand Gothic Revival architecture by Victorian visionary William Burges.

More about this place

Visitor approaching the house

Plan your visit 

Whether you've got an hour to spare or a whole day to enjoy Knightshayes, we've got some tips and ideas to help you plan your day. Please note the house will be open by guided tour only on weekdays until Friday 28 February. Please ask in reception on arrival and arrive early to avoid disappointment as tours are not bookable in advance.

Discovering Knightshayes' treasures

A family in the garden

Visiting with the family 

Whether you're coming with the whole family or just bringing your little ones to get some fresh air, we've got some highlights and info to help you plan your day.

The library

A complex creation: The house at Knightshayes 

Built for Sir John Heathcoat Amory (1829-1914), former MP for Tiverton, the house remained in the family for 125 years.

Visitor walking in the garden

The outdoors at Knightshayes 

Find out more about the formal and woodland garden, the kitchen garden, wider parkland and Impey woodland at Knightshayes and find out why they're some of the most significant and special spaces in the country.

Visitors walking their dog

Bringing your canine friends 

Everything you need to know about bringing your dog to Knightshayes, including walks in the parkland and woodland.

View of the valley at Buzzards, Devon

Exploring Buzzards woodland 

Why not take the chance to explore off the beaten track at this tranquil woodland in the Dart Valley? If you're lucky you might even spot an otter or two.

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Knightshayes

What's on

A Christmas fair

Christmas gift, craft and food fair - Stall holder booking applications now open 

Knightshayes' popular Christmas fair will be returning this November and we're now inviting booking applications from local businesses. So if you make the most delicious food, beautiful crafts or something else unique then get in touch.

Family with a trail

Easter at Knightshayes 

Find out more about what you can get up to this Easter at Knightshayes.

A volunteer room guide chatting with a visitor at Knightshayes

Join us for a winter tour  

During January and February, visitors can experience the house by guided tour and find out more about how we care for the house and the changes made when the National Trust took on this magnificent building. Tours are by first come first served basis for timed entry at 11am, 12.15pm, 1.30pm and 2.45pm.

Upcoming events

See all events

World Book Day: Puffling Trail

Sat 29 Feb 2020
11:00-16:30
Puffling and her friends are playing hide and seek in the house, can you find them all?

World Book Day: bookmark making

Sat 07 Mar 2020
11:00-16:00
Get crafty in the second-hand bookshop and create a bookmark to take home.

Seed Swap

Sat 14 Mar 2020
11:00-15:00
Flex your green fingers and take home your own piece of Knightshayes by coming along to our Spring seed swapping event in the kitchen garden.

Batty about bats trail

Sat 28 Mar 2020
10:00-17:00
Sort the fact from fiction when it comes to these elusive little creatures.

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt

Fri 10 Apr 2020
10:00-17:00
Complete the trail to find out more about the bats we see at Knightshayes and win a chocolate prize

How does our garden grow

Sat 23 May 2020
10:00-17:00
Tick off adventure no. 41 on our list of '50 things to do before you're 11¾' by find out how our garden grows and everything needed to make your own garden flourish.
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Knightshayes

Eating and shopping

National Trust coronation cauliflower

Eating and drinking at Knightshayes 

There's something tasty for everyone to indulge in at Knightshayes, from fresh home-made meals in the café, to delicious cake in the conservatory tea-room. With most of the produce used coming from the estate and local suppliers, it's not only tastes good but supports Knightshayes and local producers.

Knightshayes shop display of condiments

Pop into the gift shop 

We have plenty of local produce, seasonal fruit and vegetables, gifts, souvenirs, books and much more.

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Knightshayes

Learning

Two girls at Knightshayes investigating insects

Special opportunities for learning at Knightshayes 

The perfect outdoor classroom, join us at Knightshayes for workshops, learning sessions, self-led activities and more. Bring your school or youth group for a special one-off experience.

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Knightshayes

Get involved

A volunteer at work in the parkland at Knightshayes sawing branches

Volunteer at Knightshayes 

Why not get involved by volunteering at Knightshayes. There's plenty of different roles, so find out more how you can find the perfect opportunity.

Loofahs growing in the Kitchen Garden

Grow your own kitchen sponges (loofahs) 

Find out how to grow your own loofahs to use at home with some top tips from our Gardening Team.

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Knightshayes

Groups

Visitors from a group visit arriving at Knightshayes to be greeted by a staff member.

Organise a group visit 

With a spectacular country estate to discover, Knightshayes is the perfect place for a group visit.

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Knightshayes

History

View of Knightshayes house at dusk from the south gardens

A rich and varied history 

Discover more about this stunning Victorian manor house and delve into over 200 years of history.

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Knightshayes

Our work

Gardeners harvesting crops in the walled kitchen garden at Knightshayes

Find out more about the exotic veg being grown in the kitchen garden 

The team in the Knightshayes kitchen garden are an enthusiastic bunch who are keen to try and grow new things alongside maintaining the heritage of this special garden. Like the Victorian gardeners who tried to grow exotic fruit and veg, the team work hard to maintain heritage varieties and try new things.

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Knightshayes

Art and collections

Bendor Grosvenor with Knightshayes' portrait of Rembrandt

Could this portrait be painted by Rembrandt himself? 

Why is this little Rembrandt portrait under the spotlight? Find out more about its exciting journey in BBC Four's 'Britain's Lost Masterpieces'

South terraces at Knightshayes in front of the house in June

Why Knightshayes is special 

A Victorian visionary architect, great 20th century gardeners, and interiors the owners never really appreciated.

Our collections

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

Search the collections
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© National Trust Registered Charity 205846 Heelis, Kemble Drive, Swindon SN2 2NA

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