Eating and shopping at Ashridge

Visitor carrying a tray of coffee and cake in the cafe at Llanerchaeron, Wales — Stop off at the Monument Café for hot and cold drinks, light bites and tasty snacks. | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

The café, shop and plant shop at Ashridge Estate are open daily for a tasty treat or to buy a souvenir of your visit. Stop by the second-hand bookshop to grab a good read. All income generated helps to look after Ashridge Estate for everyone, forever.

Grab a bite to eat

Maybe you like to fuel up before you head off to explore or enjoy a post-walk treat? Grab yourself something tasty from the Monument Café . Serving a range of hot and cold drinks, breakfast, light snacks and cakes, it's the perfect place to head at any time during your visit.

Please note that most seating is located outside.

Allergen information

Most of the food and drink served is prepared on site in our kitchen, using a wide range of ingredients. As a result, we can’t guarantee that any of our food and drink products are completely allergen free.

If you have an allergy or intolerance and would like ingredient information about the food and drink served, please ask the staff, who will be happy to help.

Always check when you visit

Visited before? We sometimes change our recipes to improve quality and flavour, including the ingredients. When you visit, please speak to one of our team to check the current allergen information for your favourite dish.

Thank you

Every cuppa or tasty treat you buy helps us to continue looking after places for everyone to enjoy.

A selection of homeware from the National Trust Shop laid out on a window seat. Features three blankets in blue, pink and green, a floral embroidered cushion and a candle. — Time for a spring clean? Freshen up your living space with comfort and colour. | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Shopping at the Ashridge Estate

Whether you're looking for the perfect gift, a treat for yourself or to take home a souvenir of a wonderful day out, there's something for all ages in our Ashridge Shop. From homeware and garden essentials to tasty treats and locally made products. Step inside the Ashridge shop and explore.

Beautiful homeware

Create a space you’ll love to spend time in. From stylish throws and cushions to kitchen accessories and home baking essentials, there’s something for every home and kitchen.

Garden accessories

Find all manner of useful and decorative items to help make your gardens beautiful. Items include garden mirrors, wind spinners, metal sculptures and striking plant stakes.

Tasty treats

The fruity jams, tasty curds, and crunchy biscuits on sale in the shop are all UK-made and completely moreish. So, if you’re looking for food and drink gifts or just something delicious for your own table, there'll be something to tempt your taste buds.

Shop local

We're passionate about supporting local artist, designers and crafts people, to bring high quality local produce to the Ashridge Estate shop. We stock a large range of locally products including prints, greetings cards, ales, jewellery, glassware and home fragrances.

Plant shop

If your visit has inspired you to update your own outdoor space, complete your day with a visit to the plant shop outside the visitor centre. The varied peat-free garden plant range is hand-selected by family-run supplier Pren Plants. From potted bulbs and herbaceous perennials to edibles, all plants come in recycled pots.

Thank you

Every purchase you make in our Ashridge shop helps us to care for the nature, beauty and history that surround Ashridge for everyone, for ever.

The second-hand bookshop

The second-hand bookshop boasts a great selection of pre-loved books, kindly donated by visitors, and expertly organised by our volunteers. Browse the well-stocked shelves in the visitor centre and pick up the next book you can’t wait to curl up with.

Donating books to the bookshop

We’re always on the lookout for new donations, so if you have any good quality fiction and non-fiction books that you’d like to donate, please drop them in when the shop is open. We’re able to take up to two bags at a time.

If you have a large quantity of books you'd like to donate, please email us or call us on 01442 851227.

The money raised from the sales of these donated books helps look after Ashridge by funding essential conservation work.