Things to do in the Mansion at Attingham Park

Two visitors looking at artwork in a red room with many golden framed paintings on the walls at Attingham Park, Shropshire — Exploring the picture gallery at Attingham Park, Shropshire | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

Built for the first Lord Berwick in 1785, and replacing Tern Hall, Attingham Hall and its beautiful parkland were owned by one family for more than 160 years. As their fortunes rose and fell, the family proved themselves to be spenders, savers and saviours - providing a fascinating story of love and neglect, the marks of which still stand in Attingham’s rooms today.

Continuing a legacy of looking after Attingham

Thomas, 8th Lord Berwick, bequeathed Attingham to the National Trust in 1947. Before this, Thomas and his wife Teresa had begun restoration work, as well as carefully saving and storing historic items for future conservation and restoration.

‘...Some day, others will finish what we could not...’
- Teresa, Lady Berwick, 1951

Described as one of the most generous gifts to the Trust, the team at Attingham continue to conserve and care for the interiors of the mansion and the collection it contains today.

Discover our work indoors

Children enjoying a period recreation of a kitchen with the help of a costumed interpreter at Attingham Park | © National Trust Images/David Levenson

Visiting the Mansion

Find out about the history of the Hill family, discover more about the Lords Berwick who lived here, and learn about the collection and interiors they have left behind.

Discover the stories of the people who have ‘made’ Attingham, from historical contributors such as John Nash, to artists and sculptors, to the work of modern conservators who care for our collections and interiors today.

Take in rooms such as the Dining Room, Sultana Room, and Picture Gallery with its iconic Regency glass roof, and follow the progress of our wallpaper and furniture conservation projects.

A different approach

The Mansion has an evolving visitor programme and different areas of the house will be open across the year.

Everything we do is rooted in the mansion’s history, highlighting particular stories and aspects of its past, present and future. We work with volunteers and creative partners to do this.

We gather feedback from visitors about their experiences to help inform how we open the mansion in the future.

Plan a visit in 2025

General Free-Flow Visits: 15 February – 2 November

Step into history as you explore the Ground Floor showrooms, designed to impress with their grand architecture, fine furnishings, and exquisite decor. Admire the beauty of these opulent spaces, once used for entertaining guests in lavish style.

Then, journey down to the Basement, where the hardworking servants kept Attingham running smoothly behind the scenes. Discover the bustling kitchen, storage rooms, and workspaces that reveal the daily life of those who lived and worked here.

Festive Pre-Booked Free-Flow Visits: 29 November – 2 January

Return to Attingham for Christmas as the Mansion is transformed with festive decorations. Wander through beautifully adorned rooms, twinkling lights, and displays that bring the spirit of Christmas to life.

Please note: Attingham is closed on Christmas Day.

A group of visitors on a guided tour in the picture gallery at Attingham Park, Shropshire, looking up at the ceiling — Visitors and room guide in the picture gallery at Attingham Park, Shropshire | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

See the Mansion in a new light with a guided experience. Visit the first floor to view a newly conserved panoramic artwork or an apartment that was lived in until 2020. Alternatively, explore some of Attingham’s highlights on the ground floor.

Thursday 4 September - Sunday 2 November

100 Things to Wear

To celebrate the launch of the National Trust’s new book 100 Things to Wear, Attingham Park is showcasing two rare garments from its collection that are featured in the book.

On display in the Boudoir, visitors can see Teresa, Lady Berwick’s flowing Fortuny cloak, designed in Venice around 1923 by Mariano Fortuny. The only piece by Fortuny in the National Trust’s collections, this garment was painted into Lady Berwick’s 1923 portrait by her friend Sir Gerald Kelly. Photographs from the time even show Kelly at work, brush in hand, as Teresa posed in the cloak at Attingham.

Alongside it, in the Octagon Room, is an equally striking striped suit dating from the 1780s. Once worn by Thomas, 8th Baron Berwick, it may have appeared at fancy dress parties at Attingham.

Both the cloak and the suit feature in 100 Things to Wear, the first major book dedicated to historic dress across the National Trust. From Tudor reformations to 20th-century style, the book explores 500 years of fashion, makers, and wearers, showing how clothes were made, reused, and treasured.