Things to see and do at Hill Top

Top things to see inside the house

• Pets to Page: The Tale of The Two Bad Mice

  Explore how Beatrix drew inspiration for her tales from the pets and people in her life in this display. See the manuscript for The Tale of the Two Bad Mice, original sketches, finalised artworks and the doll’s accessories which inspired the story. The centre piece is Beatrix Potter's fully restored doll's house. Animations of the mice are projected on the wall and there's a modern dolls’ house for children to open up.

  A real treat for fans is a recent acquisition of a handwritten letter from Beatrix to a young American. You will get the chance to see its contents which include a description of her pet mouse Hunca Munca and an illustration of him resting on Beatrix's finger.

• Beatrix Potter’s dolls’ house

  At the heart of the Pets to Page display is the recently restored dolls' house. Inside it you'll see the dolls’ food and accessories which feature in 'The Tale of Two Bad Mice'. The house and its contents returned from our conservation studio in Knole in 2025 and are back on display, looking better than ever. The house contains state-of-the-art lighting which can be controlled by you to spotlight each room.

• Mischief in Miniature

  Keep your eyes open for some very cheeky little mice. In the Mischief in Miniature trail, you can look for Hunca Munca and Tom Thumb as they get up to all sorts of fun in the house. It’s just like they’ve jumped right out of Beatrix’s book. You'll spot these little felted mice in nooks and crannies throughout the house, lit by tiny candles and lanterns.

• Discover the real settings for the illustrations

  The interiors of Hill Top feature in many of Beatrix’s little books after 1905. In The Tale of Tom Kitten (1907) it is home to Tabitha Twitchit and her three mischievous kittens, Moppet, Mittens and Tom. In The Tale of Samuel Whiskers (1908), Tom Kitten is captured by rats who scamper up Hill Top’s staircase.

  Around the house you'll find panels that show the illustrations and the corresponding real locations.

• Personal belongings and luxury furnishings

  Inside Hill Top, you’re surrounded by Beatrix Potter’s possessions. Every item and piece of furniture she chose to leave here, helps bring her personality to life, filling each room and cupboard with her presence.

  Over the years Beatrix added touches of luxury to Hill Top – look out for the marble fireplaces and fine china. She also displayed personal items, including gifts from friends and family. The plates on the kitchen wall were painted by Beatrix’s father Rupert Potter.

  In 1913, Beatrix married William Heelis and moved to nearby Castle Cottage. However, she kept Hill Top as a place to work, entertain guests and display her collections.

• Treasure Room - upstairs

  This room is Beatrix’s cabinet of curiosities, where she displayed souvenirs and knick‑knacks, from precious jewellery to misplaced marbles.

  In this room you'll find the desk that stored her coded journal and you'll see Beatrix’s coded recipe for American Gingerbread on display.

• Visitor to Protector - in the Scullery

  Step inside the Scullery to explore Beatrix Potter’s journey from Lake District visitor to passionate protector of the countryside. Displays reveal how her life and values helped shape the landscapes we know and love today.

  Hill Top remained a working farm throughout Beatrix’s lifetime, just as it is today. She was a dedicated champion of the Herdwick sheep, playing a vital role in promoting the breed. In recognition of her work, she became the first woman elected president of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association, although she died before taking up the role. Awards and trophies from local agricultural shows, won for her sheep breeding, are on display in the Scullery.

  When Beatrix died in 1943, she generously left 15 farms and cottages, 4,000 acres of land, and flocks of pedigree Herdwick sheep to the Trust. Discover how our rangers continue this legacy today, caring for and protecting this special landscape for now and for the future.