Visiting Mottisfont: what you need to know

Members can book for free, while non-members will need to pay when booking. Where space is available on weekdays, pre-booking may not always be necessary, however if you do not book we cannot guarantee admission.    

Parking and arrival

If you've pre-booked, please have your tickets and membership card close to hand as you enter, as we'll be checking your booking at visitor reception. In line with government guidance, you're required to wear a face covering here, unless exempt. Please bring one with you.

Please arrive within your half-hour timeslot, to help maintain social distancing. If you’re more than 10 minutes late for your arrival slot then entry will be at the discretion of the property team. We're asking visitors to limit their visit to three hours, to help maintain safe numbers in the grounds.

There's no extra charge for parking.

Campervans that are used for transport are welcome for pre-booked visitors, but are not permitted to stay overnight. At this time we’re unable to welcome caravans and coaches.

Staying safe

To help keep everyone safe, please follow social distancing and government guidance when you visit. And look out for signs while you’re here which will explain any changes to how you can access different parts of the site.

There are one-way routes for the winter garden, the river walk and the meadow. You'll find bottles of hand sanitizer you can use at key locations, as well as sinks for hand washing in the available toilets.

If you’re showing any of the symptoms of coronavirus, or if you've been in contact with anyone that has the virus in the last 14 days, please don’t visit.

What's open?

The Coach House Café

The Coach House Café is open from 10am-3.45pm daily, serving takeaway drinks and light snacks. 

We’ve introduced safety measures including screens at our till and collection points, and waymarked routes. We’ll also only be accepting card payment. The café till point is located indoors; in line with government guidance you are now required to wear a face covering here, unless exempt. Please bring one along with you.

Facilities

Toilets - including access and baby change facilities - are available at the Welcome Centre and the Stables, on a one in/one out basis. These are sanitized at least three times a day by a professional cleaning company.

Gardens

Most of our gardens are open for local visitors to explore. In our specially planted winter garden, you can stroll through paths that wind through seasonal shrubs and perennials, chosen for colour and scent to brighten up the colder months. One way systems are in place to help with social distancing.

Unfortunately, in current circumstances we have had to temporarily close the walled gardens and font stream pathway, but will reopen as soon as possible.

Our gardens won’t be quite as you’re used to seeing them. We’ve had almost no gardeners in the property for several months, while everyone stayed home and stayed safe. There are some weeds and rough edges; please bear with us as we do what we can as soon as we can, and instead enjoy all the many other pleasures that our gardens have to offer.

Please don't use bikes, scooters and trikes anywhere in the grounds, and please don't bring parasols, wind breakers, tents, gazebos or inflatables on your visit.

What's closed?

The house, art gallery, Old Kitchen Café and shops are currently closed in line with government guidance. Outdoors, the walled gardens (including the Kitchen Garden and toilet facilities there), the font stream pathway and play areas are also closed.

Access

We're not currently able to offer a buggy service as it's not possible to operate this while observing social distancing. Visitors are welcome to loan one of our five wheelchairs on a first come, first serve basis. Benches are located around the site for visitors to rest as they walk.

Dogs are welcome everywhere outside apart from the rose gardens and formal lawns (assistance dogs only in these areas), but please keep them on a short lead at all times.

Planning your visit

You can now visit during quieter times without booking. If you visit without booking, your entry will depend on visitor numbers on that day and staff will advise you on arrival.

To avoid disappointment, we strongly recommend booking at busier times such as weekends, school holidays and bank holidays.

Entry and parking is free for members, but please bring your membership card with you. Non-members will need to pay in advance when booking.

How to book:

• Please book one ticket per person, except for children aged 5 or under as they don’t need a ticket.
• You’ll need to choose a 30-minute arrival time for the day you want to visit.
• The timeslot is for your arrival time only 
• Tickets are for your use only and are not available for resale
• We'll send your booking confirmation by email. Please make sure you fill in your correct email address when you book to ensure you receive your confirmation email.

Every Friday we'll release new bookings for visits the following week. You can book up to 3pm the day before you visit.