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Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum
Intriguing Regency house and impressive collection of horse-drawn vehicles, set in a picturesque garden
Arlington, near Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4LP
Important notice
Please note, when approaching from the A39 there is a road closure sign at the turning for Arlington Court, access to the car park is not affected.
Opening times for 8 December 2023
Asset Opening time House Closed Car Park Dawn - Dusk Garden Closed Wider estate Dawn - Dusk Tea-room Closed Carriage Museum Closed Please note last entry to the House and Carriage Museum is 30 minutes before closing time. If we are short of volunteers, some rooms may not be open.
MTWTFSS2728293012345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031OpenPartially openClosedWhole property from 1 Mar 2023
Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £15.40 £14.00 Child £7.70 £7.00 Family £38.50 £35.00 1 adult, 2 children £23.10 £21.00 Group Adult £13.30 Group Child £6.65 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Book shop
Our Second-hand Bookshop is in our visitor reception building.
Dogs
Dogs are allowed everywhere except the main house and the Old Kitchen Tea-room. Dogs are welcome in the indoor additional seating area next to the Tea-room.
Cafe
The Old Kitchen Tea-room and Vine Cafe (open during school holidays) offer a range of hot and cold drinks, snacks, light meals, cakes and more.
Electric vehicle charging point
One electric vehicle charging point available in the visitor car park. Users will need to download the Project EV Pro App. Please note we have limited signal at Arlington Court so we recommend you download this prior to your visit.
Car park
Car park with accessible parking available. The car park is a short walk to our entrance and visitor reception.
Tea room
The Old Kitchen Tea-room and Vine Cafe (open during school holidays) offer a range of hot and cold drinks, snacks, light meals, cakes and more.
Coffee shop
Toilet
Accessible toilet with baby changing facilities provided near the main house and in the Carriage Museum. Main visitor toilets are near the main house, next to the Tea-room.
Two Trampers available to hire. Shuttle buggy available most days. Adapted toilets next to tea-room. Dogs on leads welcome in the Carriage Museum, garden, The servants hall and the wider estate. Loose gravel paths, slopes, partly accessible grounds.
Accessible route and/or map
Level access/terrain
Level access available around the garden.
Accessible toilet
Lift
Available in the Carriage Museum.
Designated parking
Powered mobility vehicle available
Please give us a call to book one of our Trampers on 01271 850296.
Drop-off point
Visitors are welcome to drop off passengers behind our visitor reception building before returning to park in the main car park. Please follow signs for deliveries to reach this area.
Ramped access/slopes
Ramped access available to the ground floor of the house and sloped access to the bat cam and reading room.
Induction loop
Seating available
Large print (guide or menu)
Wheelchairs available
Wheelchairs available from Visitor Reception, House and Carriage Museum.
Level access to food outlet
By road
From Barnstaple, take the A39. From South Molton, take the A399.
Parking: Members: please scan your cards; payers: pay and display.
Sat Nav: From South Molton/east stay on A399 until turning for A39 (Arlington is signposted). Don't turn left into an unmarked lane: this leads to deliveries' and residents' entrance only.
By train
Nearest train station is Barnstaple (8 miles away).
By bus
Infrequent service Barnstaple to Lynton
By bicycle
Planning your visit
Article
Visiting Arlington Court with your dog
Find out how to have a dog-friendly visit to Arlington, when to keep them on a lead and what facilities are available. Arlington Court is a three pawprint rated place.
Article
Group visits to Arlington Court
Find out about booking your group for a visit to Arlington and the information you need to help you plan your trip.
PDF
PDF
Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum map
Take a look at the map of Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum to help plan your visit.
Article
Accessibility in North Devon
Find out about access at our places in North Devon, where you can hire Trampers and where there are accessible paths and activities.
What's on at Arlington Court
Find out what events and activities we have coming up at Arlington Court
Highlights
House
An unexpected jewel on the edge of Exmoor, a complete family estate held by the Chichester family for over 500 years.
Garden
Formal Victorian garden with herbaceous borders, a fountain, walled kitchen garden and conservatory growing exotic plants from around the world.
Pleasure Grounds and Wider Estate
Planting within the Pleasure Grounds was used to frame a series of designed views. The Wilderness Pond provides shimmering light, whilst Deerpark Wood presents contrasting shade.
Carriage Museum
The Carriage Museum in the stables has a vehicle for every occasion ranging from elegant coaches used for state occasions to humble carts that would have carried servants.
The Old Kitchen Tea-room
Enjoy a tasty treat, warm drink or light bite from our tea-room. Situated in what were once Arlington Court Kitchens.
Second-hand Bookshop
Browse through our selection of second-hand books and grab yourself a bargain.
Spotlight events
Article
Christmas at Arlington Court 2023
Discover what you can see and do at Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum, near Barnstaple, this Christmas.
Things to see and do
What's on at Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum
Find out what events and activities we have coming up at Arlington Court here
Article
Christmas at Arlington Court 2023
Discover what you can see and do at Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum, near Barnstaple, this Christmas.
Article
Family-friendly things to do at Arlington Court
There's lots of family fun to be had at Arlington Court. Discover a house full of treasures, an impressive collection of horse-drawn vehicles and over 20 miles of walkways, bridleways and cycle routes to explore.
Article
Things to see in the garden at Arlington Court
From the ever-changing flowers of the formal Victorian Garden to picture-perfect pleasure grounds, the garden at Arlington Court is beautiful whatever the weather. Step into the hidden walled kitchen garden for variety through the seasons.
Article
Things to see at the National Trust Carriage Museum
Explore highlights from a collection of over 40 carriages, including those used for grand state occasions, fashionable funerals and travelling around Europe in style.
Outdoor activities
Activity
Walking at Arlington Court
Over 20 miles of footpaths criss-cross the estate at Arlington Court, ranging from easy strolls around the lake to more demanding walks with rewarding views.
Top trails
Trail
Lake walk at Arlington Court
Enjoy the most popular and established walk around the designed landscape of Arlington Court, where you can get closer to nature at the bird hide and heronry.
Trail
Arlington Court deer park circular walk
Keep your eyes peeled for red deer on this picturesque walk through ancient woodland, parts of the estate's wildlife reserve and alongside the lake.
Trail
Woodland and Cott Brake circular walk at Arlington Court
Walk through ancient woodland and climb the steep grassland of Cott Brake for views of the estate, its historic buildings and wildlife including red deer.
Trail
Winford Valley walk at Arlington Court
Explore the woodland and fields of Arlington estate on this short walk. Along the way, look out for historic buildings and, in spring, a carpet of bluebells.
Trail
Centenary walk at Arlington Court
Take a steep climb through woodlands and alongside the lake to enjoy stunning views of the house and parkland on our walk created to mark our centenary year.
Trail
Arlington Court Coombeshead valley walk
Walk through woodland and fields to the top of the Coombeshead valley for rewarding views across the wider Arlington estate and a chance to spot red deer.
Eating and shopping
Article
Eating and shopping at Arlington Court
Explore your options for eating and drinking at Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum, including what’s on the menu throughout the day.
Places to stay
Woolley Lodge
A Victorian lodge set within a secluded woodland on the Arlington estate.
Mortuary Cottage
A traditional Devonian cottage alongside the meandering River Yeo with an intriguing name…
Heddon Orchard Bothy
For a truly rustic getaway, try this indoor camping style bothy set deep in the wilds of Heddon Valley.
Berry Lawn Linhay
This camping barn offers is an ideal overnight stop for walkers on the South West Coast Path.
Combe Park Lodge
A great base for ramblers, this elegant Edwardian cottage is close to river gorges and ancient woodlands.
West Challacombe Cottage
A countryside cottage with sweeping vistas and a country rustic interior.
West Challacombe Manor
A historic manor house with lots of original features for you to discover.
Upcoming events
Event
Christmas Carol walk at Arlington Court
Head out onto the wider estate to discover our free Christmas carol walk.
Event
Christmas at Arlington Court
Get into the festive spirit this winter at Arlington Court. head out on a wintery adventure, explore the beautifully decorated house, or warm up in the cosy tea-room, there is something for the whole family this festive season.
Event
200 trees for 200 years of Arlington Court – a community Christmas project
Discover a selection of decorated wooden Christmas trees around the grounds and gardens. Handmade by local schools, groups and volunteers.
Event
200 Christmas trees family trail at Arlington Court
Explore the pleasure grounds, gardens and house to discover an array of Christmas trees with this festive trail.
Event
Outdoor history tour
Explore the pleasure grounds and formal gardens while learning about the history of the estate.
Event
A Victorian Christmas evening at Arlington Court
Explore the house, decorated in Victorian Christmas splendour, after hours. Tuck into tasty treats in the tea-room or have a go at some family crafting
Event
Father Christmas at Arlington Court - SOLD OUT
Our traditional green father Christmas will be returning to his grotto in the stables at Arlington Court this year on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 December.
About Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum
Arlington Court is an unexpected jewel on the edge of Exmoor, a complete family estate held by the Chichester family for over five hundred years. The collection consists of treasures for all tastes, from model ships to shells, collected over several generations. The house itself, built in 1823 and extended in 1860, has an austere facade. However, inside the cosy rooms purvey a homely, family atmosphere.
The Carriage Museum in the stables has a vehicle for every occasion from cradle to grave.
Keeping Arlington alive:
- Over 20 miles of footpaths to explore, including our popular lake walk, just under two miles, which tours the man-made lake and bridge piers of an unfulfilled Victorian dream
- Formal Victorian garden with conservatory rebuilt in 2012, planted with exotic species and walled garden providing produce for the tea-room and flowers for the house
- An abundance of wildlife to discover including two species of bat roosting in the cellars, an ancient heronry and a birdhide, to view nature at its best
- Access to the collection or research requests outside of our normal opening hours can be arranged by appointment only. Please call 01271 850296 or email arlingtoncourt@nationaltrust.org.uk to book.
History
Article
A brief history of Arlington Court
The house at Arlington Court is the work of generations of the Chichester family. Discover how each heir left their mark on the building you see today.
Article
History of the Carriage Museum at Arlington Court
Find out more about why Arlington Court is home to the National Trust’s Carriage Museum and how the collection has grown to what it is today.
Article
History of the garden at Arlington Court
Find out more about the picturesque pleasure grounds which surround Arlington and how they went from picture perfect to reclaimed by nature, and back again.
Art and collections
Article
The collection at Arlington Court
Take a closer look at some of the items assembled at Arlington Court by the Chichester family through 11 generations of ownership.
Article
A timeline of carriages at the National Trust Carriage Museum
Explore the evolution of carriages and their changing fashions, from the one with the disreputable image to the one with a royal seal of approval.
Our work
Article
Our work in the house at Arlington Court
Discover more about the work being done to care for the collection of over 5,000 items at Arlington Court, including the coaches of the National Trust Carriage Museum.
Article
Our work on the estate at Arlington Court
From tree planting to helping a bat colony thrive, discover more about the work being done to care for nature and wildlife on the estate at Arlington Court.
Project
Project
North Devon grasslands project
Newly sown wildflower grassland will connect nature habitats in the North Devon countryside. The project will see grassland cover 1,275 hectares over pockets of land across 70 miles by 2030, from Torridge to west Exmoor.
Commercial buildings to let at Home Farm, Arlington
We currently have a range of barns available for commercial let at Home Farm, on the Arlington Estate. For more information please email arlingtoncourt@nationaltrust.org.uk
Support us
Article
Volunteer opportunities at Arlington Court
Find out more about volunteering at Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum and how you can help look after this intriguing Regency family home and its collection.