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Lytes Cary Manor
Intimate manor house with Arts and Crafts-style garden.
near Somerton, Somerset, TA11 7HU
Important notice
The cafe and house will be closed on Friday 18 July, due to a planned power outage. The garden and estate is open as normal. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Opening times for 14 July 2025
Asset Opening time Manor house 11:00 - 15:30 Estate walks 10:00 - 17:00 Garden 10:00 - 17:00 Tea-room 10:00 - 16:45 Second-hand bookshop 10:00 - 17:00 House will close for lunch at 1pm until 1.30pm. Last entry to house 15 minutes before each morning and afternoon session.
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Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £15.40 £14.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £7.70 £7.00 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £38.80 £35.00 Family (1 adult and up to 2 children) £23.10 £21.00 Group (Adult 18+) £13.30 Group (Child 5-17) £6.65 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Adventure playground/play area
The wooded White Walk features a natural play trail. The trail includes a large hammock swing, rope traverse, giant bug, and stepping logs and boards.
- Assistance dogs only
Assistance dogs only in the formal garden, house and tea-room.
- Bookshop
- Car park
- Cycle parking
- Dogs allowed
Dogs welcome on the wider estate and the tea-room courtyard.
- Family friendly
- Picnic area
- Tea-room
- Toilet
Blue Badge parking. Accessible toilet. Garden has uneven and narrow paths. Ground floor of house mostly accessible with assistance.
- Accessible toilet
- Designated parking
- Narrow corridors
- Steps/uneven terrain
- Wheelchairs available
- By road
Off A372. Signposted, 1 mile from A303 (London to Exeter)
Parking: 40 yards
Sat Nav: We recommend using What3Words: ///villas.evaporate.polished which takes you to the car park
- By train
Yeovil Pen Mill 8 miles; Castle Cary 9 miles; Yeovil Junction 10 miles
- By bus
Bus services run between Wells and Yeovil or Taunton and Yeovil (passing close Taunton train station). Both pass within ¾ mile Yeovil Pen Mill train station. Alight at Kingsdon, 1 mile
Slinky is a special transport service, funded by Somerset Council, which picks people up from their homes. This service is designed for those who cannot use regular buses or trains. Find out more at https://www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-travel-and-parking/slinky-services/
- Cycling
Cycle parking: There are cycle racks available, outside the cafe courtyard.
Cyclestreets journey planner: Plan your route to Lytes Cary 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).
Planning your visit
Summer of Play
Ride a hobby horse or a wheely mouse, challenge your friends with a tilting maze, make up a silly story - there's so much to do at Lytes Cary Manor over the summer that one day won't be enough. Our Summer of Play is chock-full of games and activities, so round up friends, grandparents and anyone ready to enjoy themselves for a playdate to remember. From 19 July to 31 August.
Upcoming events at Lytes Cary Manor
Family fun and activities for 2025
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Visiting Lytes Cary Manor with your dog
With plenty of space for country walks your dog will enjoy adventures here. Discover the best places to take your dog and facilities available. Lytes Cary Manor is a two pawprint rated place.
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Group visits to Lytes Cary Manor
Whether you’re spending a whole day here or simply need somewhere to stretch the legs during a group tour around the South West, Lytes Cary Manor is a real hidden gem.
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Exploring the estate at Lytes Cary Manor
Get outdoors and explore the waymarked paths through the historic country estate. Look out for wildlife including chiffchaffs, roe deer and water voles that call this place home.
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Highlights
House
A medieval manor house originally the home of Henry Lyte. Restored by Sir Walter Jenner in the early 20th century.
Chapel
Completed in 1348, the chapel predates the manor house.
Farm buildings
Clustered around the manor house are stables, a milking parlour and cattle houses where barn owls roost.
Garden
An Arts and Crafts-inspired garden with a collection of topiary, herbaceous borders, croquet lawn and orchard.
Estate
A 350-acre estate with farmland, woodland copses, meadows and a stretch of the River Cary. Three waymarked walks.
Tea-room
A small tea-room with indoor and outdoor seating that serves a range of hot and cold drinks, and light snacks.
Book Barn
Small second-hand book shop located in the old cow sheds.
Natural play area
Wooded play area along the White Walk on the estate.
Spotlight events
There's always plenty to see and do at Lytes Cary Manor.
Summer of Play
Ride a hobby horse or a wheely mouse, challenge your friends with a tilting maze, make up a silly story - there's so much to do at Lytes Cary Manor over the summer that one day won't be enough. Our Summer of Play is chock-full of games and activities, so round up friends, grandparents and anyone ready to enjoy themselves for a playdate to remember. From 19 July to 31 August.
Marvellous markets
Lytes Cary Manor plays host to regular markets, showcasing unique and creative products from local artists. Check the dates and pop along for a fun day out; entry to the market is free, and there's the cafe, house and garden waiting when you've visited (normal admission applies, free to National Trust members).
Join us for a Wednesday walk
Discover the landscape around Lytes Cary Manor on a guided walk, every Wednesday till 15 October, from 11am. You'll find hidden corners of the estate, see the natural world through the seasons and enjoy a gentle walk among friends.
Things to see and do
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Things to see and do in Lytes Cary Manor house
Find out about exploring the manor and the objects on display inside. See a 16th-century herbal book translated into English, leather mannequins and an embroidered mirror.
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Things to see in the garden at Lytes Cary Manor
Explore the garden and see the unusual shaped topiary trees and hedges or catch the light on the sundial in the orchard.
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Exploring the estate at Lytes Cary Manor
Get outdoors and explore the waymarked paths through the historic country estate. Look out for wildlife including chiffchaffs, roe deer and water voles that call this place home.
Article
Family-friendly things to do at Lytes Cary Manor
Learn about the wildlife around the estate, the carved characters and creatures to spot in the house and seasonal activities on offer.
Eating and shopping
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Eating and shopping at Lytes Cary Manor
The tea-room serves light bites, drinks and sweet treats. Browse the selection in the second-hand book barn and find a pre-loved read to take home.
Places to stay
Lytes Cary
Stay in the west wing of Lytes Cary Manor within the Arts and Crafts inspired garden.
3 Lytes Cottage
Stay in the grounds of the Lytes Cary estate in this pretty Victorian cottage.
Tintinhull House
Stay in part of this idyllic Somerset house among the formal garden of Tintinhull.
Odcombe Lodge
A grade II-listed gatehouse with a pretty, private garden, at the entrance to Elizabethan masterpiece Montacute House.
Montacute South Lodge
A decorative gate lodge with a spacious interior that retains many original features.
Upcoming events
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Guided Group Walk
Join walk leaders to explore the Lytes Cary Estate countryside and enjoy the natural landscape.
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Summer of Play at Lytes Cary Manor
Are you ready to discover a day of jam-packed with fun at Lytes Cary Manor, with games, puzzles and activities for all ages?
Event
Craft Market at Lytes Cary Manor
Markets, held at various times throughout the year, showcase the creative talent of local artists and craftspeople. Find something unique and special, whether as a gift to someone else or a present for yourself.
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West Wing Open Days
Take the opportunity to explore the West Wing of Lytes Cary Manor - normally used as a holiday cottage and not open to visitors. It will be open Wed 3 & Thu 4 September 2025.
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Heritage Open Days Free Entry to Lytes Cary Manor
We invite you to enjoy free entry to see Lytes Cary Manor and the wider grounds.
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Lytes Scary Halloween Trail
Put your wellies on and come on a spooky adventure. Can you crack the riddle? Are you brave enough to take part?
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Christmas Market at Lytes Cary Manor
Join us for some festive cheer. Wander the craft market for those unique gifts.
About Lytes Cary Manor
Lytes Cary Manor is an intimate medieval manor house with a beautiful Arts and Crafts-style garden where you can imagine living.
Originally the family home of Henry Lyte, where he translated the unique Niewe Herball book on herbal remedies, Lytes Cary was then lovingly restored in the 20th century by Sir Walter Jenner.
The garden rooms contain a magical collection of topiary and herbaceous borders, while tranquil walks on the estate take you along the River Cary.
To complete your visit, take a stroll among our community allotments and discover their creative and colourful designs.
Art and collections
Lytes Cary Manor's objects and collections
Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Lytes Cary Manor on the National Trust Collections website.
History
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History of Lytes Cary Manor
Find out about the people who lived here including those rewarded by royalty and a couple who rescued the manor from decay. See how the manor and garden changed over time.
Our work
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Our work at Lytes Cary Manor estate
Volunteers, staff and farm tenants have worked to improve flower-rich grasslands at Lytes Cary Manor to help protect the endangered Shrill carder bee.
Atkins Ferrie Wealth Management kindly supports South Somerset
Atkins Ferrie Wealth Management has a long-standing relationship with the National Trust in the south west. Aiming to offer the highest ethical principles and best service standards of any financial adviser in the UK, with locally based offices across southern England. These include Sherborne, and a newly opened location in Richmond-upon-Thames. We’re very pleased that they’re kindly continuing to support the South Somerset portfolio.
Support us
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Volunteering at Lytes Cary Manor
As a small property, Lytes Cary is grateful for the help and commitment of volunteers and we’re happy to hear from people interested in joining us. Find out more about how to apply.