Mottisfont

Discover stories of creativity, conflict, love and loss in a house full of surprises. Originally founded as an Augustinian priory in 1201, the house has seen a number of transformations over the last 800 years, shaped by its many and varied owners. Now it reflects the designs of Mottisfont’s fascinating last owner, society hostess and arts patron Maud Russell. This year, we're telling the story of her youngest son, Raymond.

Mottisfont became a creative hub for artistic figures in the early twentieth century. We continue those traditions today with a vibrant series of changing exhibitions in our gallery. Discover up to five shows a year covering a wide range of themes.

The herbaceous borders in our famous walled gardens provide a wonderful floral colour palette right through until October, showcasing a huge variety of flowering plants. Enjoy a peaceful walk beside the River Test, and take in the first autumn hues as they begin to appear in the leaves of our stately trees.

Mottisfont is the perfect place for a family visit all year round, with plenty of space to run, jump and play. Read our hints and tips and take a look at our Wild Play map to discover the best places for family fun around the grounds.

We love dogs and they're more than welcome to explore the gardens and estate with you. While dogs are welcome in most places we ask that you keep dogs on a short lead at all times while you visit, so that everyone can enjoy their time with us.

We look after 1600 acres of woodland and tenanted farmland in the glorious Hampshire countryside, including Stockbridge Down and Marsh, and Curbridge Nature Reserve.

Saturday 15 September - Sunday 11 November: an exciting mix of almost 100 works, submitted by artists from all backgrounds and selected by a panel of arts specialists. The exhibition showcases a fascinating variety of media and styles, from drawings and paintings to sculpture, other 3D works, and several textile pieces.

Autumn is a time for harvest: from gathering fallen leaves to plucking ripe apples from the tree. At Mottisfont, we're celebrating this seasonal bounty throughout October with events, hands-on activities and opportunities to learn more about our wider estate.

Experience the best of our grounds in autumn with a free guided walk, or simply stroll along winding paths throughout the gardens. If you fancy a longer walk, head out into our neighbouring countryside with one of our estate trails.

Treat yourself to something tasty from one of our cafés when you visit. Whether you’re seeking a full meal or a light bite, we have a variety of different outlets to suit all cravings, open from 10am daily.

Our shop and plant centre can be found in the Welcome Centre. Discover exclusive, seasonal National Trust ranges, as well as products related to our events and exhibitions - and plants inspired by our gardens. You can hunt for second-hand books in the Stables, too.

Thanks to money raised through the Walled Garden Appeal, we are creating a new Kitchen Garden in the area formerly known as the 'Frameyard'. We're working on the garden at the moment, to be unveiled in autumn: you can see the work in progress when you visit. The new design reflects both Mottisfont’s medieval history and the garden's productive past.

We make compost in vast quantities at Mottisfont, all for the good of our gardens. It keeps our soil healthy, which in turn ensures our plants - including the famous rose collection - are looking their very best. It also means we can recycle our garden waste. Find out more about how we make this vital garden ingredient, and why.

The River Test, which flows through Mottisfont, has shaped the estate through the centuries, binding the history of the house and its people to the landscape.

The curtains in our celebrated Whistler Room are part of Maud Russell's original design scheme, created by Rex Whistler. But these original furnishings are deteriorating rapidly. They will need to be taken down for an intensive programme of repair and restoration, which will take up to five years to complete. Your donations will help us complete this vital task.

From emergency salvage plans to careful conservation, Mottisfont's house team work hard behind the scenes. Read our monthly blog to find out what it takes to look after a historic house and collection.

We’ve temporarily fenced some areas along the river bank on SSSI Stockbridge Marsh, to allow the bank and its vegetation to recover from high footfall. You're still welcome to walk and picnic here, and there are areas where people and dogs can directly access the water.

Mottisfont has more than 400 volunteers who are vital to our work in looking after the house, gardens and wider estate. Find out how you could join us, whether you're looking to make new friends, develop skills or simply want to be part of something you're passionate about.

Help your local National Trust places in Hampshire like Mottisfont, The Vyne or Winchester City Mill by joining your local supporter group. Some are more volunteering focused, and others enjoy social outings together like trips and tours, or lectures.