A masterpiece of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture and design. With its towering walls of glass, glow of ham stone and surrounding garden, it is a place of beauty and wonder.
There is plenty to see and do in south somerset this half-term, from exploring wildlife at Barrington Court to playing games on the freshly cut grass at Montacute House.
Montacute is a masterpiece of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture and design. With its towering walls of glass, glow of ham stone and surrounding gardens, it is a place of beauty and wonder.
Sir Edward Phelips was the visionary force and money behind the creation of this masterpiece, which was completed in 1601. Built by skilled craftsman using local ham stone under the instruction of William Arnold, master mason, the house was a statement of wealth, ambition and showmanship.
Come face to face with the past in the Long Gallery, which is the longest of its kind in England. The gallery houses over 60 Tudor and Elizabethan portraits on loan from the National Portrait Gallery.
A beautiful garden surrounds Montacute House, constantly changing, filling the house with scent in summer and providing an atmospheric backdrop for a winter walk.
Whether you just want to let the children run and explore, or be inspired by the collections housed within the walls of Montacute, you will leave with lasting memories and a desire to soon return.
Within 20 minutes drive of Montacute, you will find four fascinating smaller properties each with its own unique character, history, and story to tell.
Their combined age of 2,300 years spans from the medieval period to the early 19th century. Explore Stoke Priory, a fine collection of medieval farm buildings; Treasurer's House, with its great hall and unusual wall painting; Stembridge Tower Mill, the last remaining thatched windmill in England; and the Priest’s House, a medieval home of great character not to be missed.
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £13.20 | £12.00 |
| Child | £6.60 | £6.00 |
| Family | £33.00 | £30.00 |
| 1 Adult Family | £19.80 | £18.00 |
| Group Adult | N/A | £11.20 |
| Group Child | N/A | £5.60 |
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points. Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you the Gift Aid Admission prices. But it's entirely up to you which ticket you choose. If you want the Standard Admission instead, just let us know when you come to pay.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid* — an extra 25 per cent — potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below: Payment of the additional percentage donation is entirely voluntary, so if you prefer to pay the standard admission please advise our reception staff at the till point.
| 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 |
*Gift Aid donations must be supported by a valid Gift Aid declaration and a Gift Aid declaration can only cover donations made by an individual for him/herself or for him/herself and members of his/her family.
