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Tour: ‘Taste, Design, & the Georgian Gentleman’

Wednesdays & Saturdays 3-4pm until 1 November: While a house-wide exhibition explores The Vyne’s Georgian design history, this hour-long biweekly tour takes a deeper dive into the life and legacy of style connoisseur John Chute.

  • Booking not needed
  • Admission applies

𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 £𝟓 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬.

Uncover a public scandal and juicy gossip as you delve further into John’s relationships with his family and friends. As well as shedding light on John’s decadent character and love of grandeur, this volunteer-led tour will expand on his architectural changes to the house.

Navigating past highs and lows, you’ll discover how the often sad stories behind some of the subjects in The Vyne’s paintings sit in direct contrast with the fun John had experimenting with designs for his own and his friends’ houses.

Ground-floor tour highlights include the Neo-classical portico, the Pietra Dura (an 18th-century ebony Italian casket lavishly encrusted with semi-precious stones) and the Georgian-era embellishment of the pre-Reformation Chapel.

First-floor tour highlights include the Tudor Oak Gallery with its rare-surviving 16th-century panelling, 18th-century chinoiserie tapestries that depict a western take on an imagined Far East and a massive carved oak fireplace.

Accessibility: Parts of this tour explore the first floor of this Grade I listed building and there is no lift. Please let your tour guide know if you need to use stairs with a handrail.

Times

Prices

Event ticket prices

Ticket typeTicket category
All Suggested donation per person£5.00
Check admission prices

The basics

Accessibility

Parts of this tour explore the first floor of this Grade I listed building and there is no lift. Please let your tour guide know if you need to use stairs with a handrail.

Meeting point

Enter the gardens via Visitor Reception where you can request tour tickets available on a first come first serve basis. Follow signs to the house entrance on the South Drive.

Suitability for children

This tour will mainly appeal to adults and older families are welcome.

What to bring and wear

You'll need to dress for the weather and wear flat shoes.

Other

𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 £𝟓 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬.

Upcoming events

Summer of Play 

This summer, the whole family can enjoy games and activities together in The Vyne's gardens.

Event summary

on
28 Jul to 13 Sep 2026
at 10:00 to 17:00+ 47 other dates or times

Exhibition: “Taste, Design, and the Georgian Gentleman” 

In this house-wide exhibition, discover the legacy of Georgian owner of The Vyne, John Chute. Uncover John’s influence on and vision for the house and its interiors, positioning The Vyne as a centre of cultivated taste and personal expression.

Event summary

on
28 Jul to 1 Nov 2026
at 11:00 to 15:00+ 96 other dates or times

Boogie Beat Music and Movement 

Young families with children aged two and above will love these free, 30-minute sessions designed to boost creativity and expression in The Vyne's beautiful gardens.

Event summary

on
29 Jul to 26 Aug 2026
at 11:00 to 11:30+ 7 other dates or times

Vyne Line 2026 

Free shuttle service between Basingstoke Train Station and The Vyne. Pre-booking essential.

Event summary

on
1 Aug to 12 Sep 2026
at 11:00 to 16:30+ 6 other dates or times