Lodge Park and Sherborne Park Estate
England's only surviving 17th-century grandstand, within a tranquil Cotswold estate full of diverse wildlife
Sherborne Park Estate, Aldsworth, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL54 3DT
Opening times for 23 April 2024
Asset Opening time Lodge Park Closed Sherborne Estate Dawn - Dusk MTWTFSS12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293012345OpenPartially openClosedLodge Park
Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £7.00 Child £3.50 Family £17.50 1 adult, with up to 2 children £10.50 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Car park
Ewe Pen Barn and Water Meadows car parks on the Sherborne Park Estate are open. Pay & Display parking at Ewe Pen Barn, £1 for up to 1 hour, £3 up to 3 hours, £4 all day. The pay and display machine accepts coins only. Parking at Lodge Park is for open days only.
Dogs
Dogs must be on leads around the Sherborne Estate. Assistance dogs only inside Lodge Park during open days.
Uneven surfaces on estate walks. Ramp access to Lodge Park with stairs to upper floor. Accessible toilet at Lodge Park.
Steps/uneven terrain
Terrain varies across the estate. Pathways are made up of Cotswold stone, earth and grass paths, the latter two can become waterlogged in wet weather. Footpaths through the Pleasure Grounds are well maintained, with wide accessible gates. The water meadows can become flooded in heavy rain and the ground is very uneven. Paths are cut during the summer only.
By road
Sherborne Park Estate (use postcode GL54 3DT) Approach from the A40, follow the road sign to Sherborne (left turn from Cheltenham direction, and right turn from Oxford direction - ignore the first Sherborne road sign and take turning opposite the Lodge Park turning). The Ewe Pen Barn car park is approximately half a mile along the road, signed to the right. For Sherborne village turn right at the cross roads approximately 1 mile along the road.
Parking: For Sherborne Estate: Ewe Pen Barn car park 163:SP158143, Water Meadows 163:SP175154 (off A40 towards Sherborne). Both car parks are pay and display. For Lodge Park: Car park available when property open.
Sat Nav: If using SatNav, use postcode GL54 3DT for the Ewe Pen Barn car park. For Water Meadows car park, use postcode GL54 3DL. For Lodge Park, use postcode GL54 3PP.
By train
For information about travelling to this site by public transport please visit the Cotswold AONB 'Explore the Cotswolds' website
By bus
For information about travelling to this site by public transport please visit the Cotswold AONB 'Explore the Cotswolds' website
Sherborne Park Estate, Aldsworth, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL54 3DT
Planning your visit
Visiting Lodge Park
A place of entertainment and fun, Lodge Park will open for selected weekends through 2024.
Visiting Lodge Park and Sherborne Park Estate with your dog
This article discusses dogs at Sherborne and Lodge Park, with some information about what you need to be aware of, where you can go with your dog and what facilities are available.
Highlights
Sherborne Estate
Working estate with an abundance of wildlife and 18th-century water meadows.
Grandstand
England's only surviving 17th-century grandstand, restored to its former glory in 1998.
Bridgeman Landscape
Restored, 18th-century landscape by Charles Bridgeman, in the grounds of Lodge Park.
Things to see and do
Things to see and do at the Sherborne Estate
Sherborne estate is a great place for a walk throughout all seasons. It is also a haven for wildlife, so bring along your binoculars and see what you can spot.
Family-friendly things to do at Lodge Park and Sherborne Estate
Discover how to make the most of your visit to Lodge Park and Sherborne Estate - what activities you can join in with and what facilities are available for families.
Top trails
Family walk at Sherborne Park Estate
Perfect for families, this 2.5 mile walking trail takes you through farmland, woodland and the village. Look out for wildlife, including farmland birds, along the way.
Places to stay
Deer Park Lodge
Traditional latticed windows make the most of panoramic views over the surrounding Cotswolds countryside.
9 Arlington Row
Sitting on a stunning Cotswolds street this truly beautiful and historic row of cottage dates back to 1380.
Upcoming events
Woodland Creation Community Walk
Learn more about our work at Sherborne with a number of community walks through the year. In this walk, we'll discuss our plans for woodland creation on the estate.
Wildlife Creation Walk
A walk around some of the fields in the Arable reversion scheme to find out more about our wildlife creation work
About Lodge Park and Sherborne Park Estate
Lodge Park
John 'Crump' Dutton built this 17th-century grandstand, fuelled by his passion for deer coursing, gambling, banqueting and entertaining.
Lodge Park became the National Trust's first restoration project in 1998 and relied on archaeological evidence to return the building to its former glory. It's situated approximately two and a half miles from the village of Sherborne and the wider Sherborne estate, the other side of the A40.
Lodge Park is open on selected days. Please see Opening Times for dates.
Sherborne Park Estate
Sherborne is a working estate and has an abundance of wildlife, from fallow and roe deer to badgers and foxes.
Ewe Pen Barn is the starting point for Lodge Park's three main walking routes: Short Woodland Stroll; Family Fun Walk and Historic Farmland Hike. Don't miss the sculpture trail around the pleasure grounds.
Make sure to leave some time to visit the 18th-century water meadows (home to otters, water voles and dragonflies) - park at Northfield Barn car park.
The estate is open all year round.
History
History of Lodge Park
Although much of the original landscape at Lodge Park has now been lost, there are still plenty of clues as to what may have looked like in the past. The designs, created by the gardener Charles Bridgeman, was considered revolutionary at the time.
Our work
Our work on the Sherborne Estate
We’ve introduced wildlife corridors and water meadows to the Sherborne Estate so that farmers in the Windrush Valley can live in greater harmony with nature while still growing crops and raising livestock.
Restoring Bridgeman's landscape at Lodge Park
The landscape at Lodge Park was designed by Charles Bridgeman in the 18th century, but it was never completed. Now, almost 300 years later, work has begun to restore the design.
Meet the farmers looking after the Sherborne Park Estate
Sherborne Park Estate has been farmed for generations and, thanks to the efforts of the current tenant farmers, it’s one of the best places in the south west to see rare farmland birds like corn bunting and skylarks.
Support us
Volunteer with us
Search for live volunteering opportunities, or register your interest with Lodge Park and Sherborne Park Estate.