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Group visits to Kingston Lacy

A group of people walking and laughing together at Lyme Park in Cheshire
There's plenty for your group to explore at Kingston Lacy | © National Trust Images/Megan Taylor

Whether you're organising a visit for a club, society, special interest group, or gathering friends and family to celebrate a special occasion, Kingston Lacy offers a memorable day out in the heart of Dorset. With historic interiors, remarkable collections, beautiful gardens and extensive parkland, there's plenty to discover together.

Why visit Kingston Lacy as a group?

Set within the Dorset countryside, just eight miles from Poole, Kingston Lacy makes an ideal stop for coach groups travelling to or from the Jurassic Coast.

Originally rebuilt to resemble a Venetian palace, this extraordinary country house is home to one of the National Trust's most significant collections. Explore grand state rooms, admire works of art and ancient Egyptian artefacts, and enjoy peaceful walks through formal gardens, woodland and parkland.

Benefits for group visitors

Groups of 15 or more people can enjoy a range of benefits, including:

  • Discounted admission rates
  • Complimentary entry for the group leader
  • A free refreshments voucher for the coach driver
  • Pre-booked entry to the house
  • Free coach parking

Please note that group visits are available on weekdays only and exclude bank holidays, school half-term periods, and the Easter and Christmas holidays.

Free familiarisation visits for group leaders 

If you're planning a group visit you can request our free Travel Trade Pass and you and a friend or colleague will gain free entry to over 300 of our places throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland for 12 months. There’s nothing quite like seeing or experiencing somewhere for yourself to help you plan a successful visit. To receive your pass, call 0344 249 1895 or email us at traveltrade@nationaltrust.org.uk

 

Who is eligible for free entry? 

Registered tourist board guides (on production of a valid badge), coach drivers and tour leaders escorting groups of 15 or more. National Trust members also receive free entry, so it is at your discretion whether to refund the entrance fee to members if you have included it in your package – this is not refunded by the National Trust. 

Members must bring their current membership cards with them to avoid paying the full group rate. If any of your group would like to join the National Trust please direct them to our Membership page or call 0344 800 1895.

School visits

Schools and other educational groups may be eligible for an Education Group Access Pass, which provides free admission and parking at most National Trust places for a year.

Find out more about the Education Group Access Pass and how to apply before planning your visit.

How to book a group visit

To check availability, please call 01202 843736 or drop us an email at groupbookingkingstonlacy@nationaltrust.org.uk

Admiring the paintings in a grand room at Kingston Lacy, Dorset

Discover more at Kingston Lacy

Find out when Kingston Lacy is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.

Plan your visit

You might also be interested in

Things to see inside the house at Kingston Lacy 

Find out more about the Bankes family home. Discover a world class art collection and a grand mansion that was also a family home.

Three women in front of a Renaissance masterpiece depicting the judgement of Solomon

Discover the garden at Kingston Lacy 

Relax and wander the gardens to enjoy seasonal interest at any time of year, with plenty of space for children to run, skip and play, and spaces to stop along the way.

A stone obelisk behind red leaves with sunlight shining through

Eating and shopping at Kingston Lacy 

Sample the delicious menu at the Stables Café or visit the National Trust shop to browse a wide range of gifts, souvenirs and local produce. There's also a second-hand book store stocking a huge selection of titles, old and new.

A close up of a sandwich at Glendurgan Garden with person holding a fork in front of it

The history of Kingston Lacy 

A vision from Venice nestled in a pocket of Dorset. Read about Kingston Lacy’s most influential owner who made it the important place you see today.

The ornate stone mansion at Kingston Lacy, Dorset, surrounded by lawns.

Education Group Access Pass 

If you’re planning educational group visits to National Trust places, then you could benefit from an Education Group Access Pass, which gives you free admission for a year.

A group of male and female people in a large room that has a black and white tiled floor and exhibition panels saying Vita in the background

Explorer Pass 

If you’re planning a trip in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, our Explorer Pass gives you entry to most of the places in our care, plus free parking in our car parks.

Families on the north lawn at Ickworth in spring.

Group visits frequently asked questions 

Visiting a National Trust place with a group? Then our answers to your frequently asked questions might help with any question you may have.

A group of young people walk along a coastal path towards the camera with the sea visible behind them

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