
Discover more at Calke Abbey
Find out when Calke Abbey is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Calke Abbey is the house where time stood still, vividly portraying a period in the twentieth century when many country houses did not survive. Discover why Calke Abbey is affectionately known as the ‘un-stately’ home and uncover fascinating collection items.
From 5 November 2023 – 29 February 2024, most of the house is closed to the public while the collections team carry out important conservation work. During this time, we’re inviting you to to delve into the rich and varied collections of Calke and the fascinating stories of the people who once lived and worked here on a guided tour or a visit to the Family Apartments.
The buggy service will be available daily from November – February from 10.30am – 2.30pm (subject to volunteer availability), providing visitors with mobility needs or wheelchair users access to the house and gardens from the ticket office.
Take your pick from one of two tours and join our passionate volunteers, as together you uncover more about Calke and its historic collections.
Please note: all visitors, including National Trust members, need to pre-book their guided tour.
Available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 6 November 2023 – 29 February 2024, excluding Christmas Day.
Featuring for the first time this winter, delve into Calke's varied collection and discover items you've never seen before on this exclusive tour. Every object has a different tale to tell and provides valuable insight into the history of Calke and its people. Unearth these stories with your knowledgable guide.
Available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 November 2023 – 29 February 2024.
Follow in the footsteps of the people who kept this great house running like clockwork and discover their stories and the contributions they made to this great estate. Explore rooms and spaces specifically connected to the servants, venturing into areas not seen on the normal visitor route.
The ground floor of the house is open every Saturday and Sunday from 11 November 2023 – 25 February 2024, excluding Christmas at Calke weekends in December.
The ground floor will also be open daily during February half term from 19 February 2024 – 25 February 2024.
Come and visit Nature's Home – an experience with fun for all the family. Ever wondered how children explored the natural world before the internet, television or David Attenborough? Come in to find out more and discover Calke's very own indoor parkland which needs your help to bring it to life.
With rooms not usually open to the public and collection items you may not have seen before, we’ll be exploring nature through a child’s eyes and looking at how children in Calke’s past developed an understanding and interest in the natural world. Curl up with a book or craft a flower or animal to live in our great cardboard parkland.
Park and Garden admission applies to all visitors (free for National Trust members), but there’s no additional admission for visiting Nature's Home.
If you’re planning a visit to the un-stately home, please bear this information in mind before visiting.
To visit the house, you'll need to purchase a separate admission ticket from the Ticket Office. National Trust members can explore inside free of charge but will need to show their membership cards at the entrance.
Please bear in mind that there may be a potential wait at the front of the house on busy days.
You can help us care for the house and its historic collection by:
Built on the site of a former priory, Calke Abbey was sold to the Harpur family in the early 17th century, who extended and developed the house over several generations. Sir Henry Harpur, 7th Baronet, also expanded the lime works, a decision that brought him great wealth. The house stayed with the Harpur-Crewes until the National Trust began caring for it in 1985.
By 1985, many of its rooms had been abandoned for decades and were in a state of decay. We've decided to preserve these rooms as they were found, vividly demonstrating how country houses like Calke Abbey fell into decline.
Visiting the house is journey from grandeur to abandonment. Experience state rooms, peeling wallpaper and vast collections of strange and unique objects – presented and preserved exactly as we found them.
You'll begin your journey the Entrance Hall and explore the 'stately' rooms at the front of the house, including the Dining Room, the Library and the Saloon, where you'll find plenty of taxidermy, an impressive book collection and grand paintings.
As you make your way towards the servants' quarters, experience a sense of abandonment in the School Room and Sir Vauncey's childhood bedroom, where a great number of belongings were stored, and simply left.
Wandering through the house, you'll discover deep and complex stories of the family who amassed a huge collection of treasures, and who shaped the Calke you see today. Why not speak to a Room Guide to learn more of Calke's secrets?
From the grand and lavish to the abandoned and broken, there's a vast and unique collection housed at Calke Abbey, and you're bound to notice hidden details on every visit. Here are some highlights from the collection to look out for as you explore the 'un-stately' home.
Calke Abbey is home to one of the largest natural history collections in the National Trust, and you’ll find stuffed animals in most rooms of the house – from birds and mammals to fish and reptiles. What you see is actually half of the original natural history collection, much of which was sold off to meet death duties.
Find out when Calke Abbey is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Calke Abbey is the place where time stood still. Discover the history of the 'unstately home' as a religious priory and family home for 12 generations.
Discover a collection of contrasts at Calke Abbey, from lavish treasures such as the State Bed to a vast collection of decaying household objects, natural history and more.
Explore a vibrant and productive walled garden, look inside the faded glasshouses and explore Calke's fascinating collection of garden buildings.
From everyday cleaning to specialist conservation, discover the work we do behind closed doors to preserve Calke Abbey and its collections for generations to come.
Find inspiration for family days out at Calke Abbey, with natural play trails, cycle hire at Calke Explore, and family activities to keep the kids entertained all year round.
Historic buildings are a treasure trove of stories, art and collections. Learn more about what makes these places so special and plan your visit.
Discover the array of houses and buildings to visit around the Peak District and Derbyshire, from historic mills to ornate Elizabethan wonders.