Group and school visits to Coleridge Cottage
- Published:
- 02 April 2025
Bring your group or school for a unique visit to Coleridge Cottage. Explore the showrooms, try your hand at writing with a quill, enjoy a poet's lunch, relax under the lime tree bower in the garden and uncover the story of poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge and his family.
Group Bookings
We ask that you book your group or educational visit at least two weeks in advance. Groups are welcome to explore the property in their own time, but booking ahead allows the team to prepare for your arrival and provide you with important information ahead of your visit, ensuring the best possible experience.
Guided tours can be arranged for your group if preferred. Depending on the group size, we may divide the group, with two members of the team leading separate tours. These tours offer a more detailed and in-depth exploration of Coleridge's time at the cottage, as well as additional historical context and would add to your day out.
Garden Room Hire
New for 2025, we're offering private hire of the garden room at the rear of the cottage. The space can be set up with tables and chairs and is fully equipped with AV equipment including a projector, speaker and multiple power outlets.
The garden room is a great space to host meetings, seminars or simply to bring people together. Please advise on your requirements upon booking.
School Visits
We have two options available for your visit:
Option 1 - Volunteer-led Cottage Tour*
Our House Experience volunteers will lead your pupils on a guided tour of the inside of the cottage which focuses on the ‘Three Extraordinary Years’ that Coleridge spent in Nether Stowey. The volunteers will provide information about what the cottage looked like in Coleridge’s time, the poems that Coleridge wrote whilst residing there and what daily life might have looked like for the Coleridge family. There is no additional charge for the guided tours.
Option 2 - Teacher-led visit
A member of our team will meet and greet your group and give a brief overview of the history and significance of Coleridge Cottage. Adult leaders will be given an A4 board, which provides a floor plan of the cottage and our suggested route. After exploring the interior of the cottage, you are then welcome to head outside and explore the cottage garden and lime-tree bower with your group.
Additional Walk to Castle Mount *
Subject to availability, we offer a volunteer-led guided walk from Coleridge Cottage to Castle Mount. This walk will take your group from Coleridge Cottage, down Lime Street towards the centre of Nether Stowey, and along Castle Street up a gentle incline to Castle Mount. Along the way, a knowledgeable volunteer will provide an overview of Nether Stowey’s history. Upon reaching Castle Mount, students will enjoy a view of the Quantocks and learn how this wild landscape inspired Coleridge. It usually takes about 15 minutes to walk from the Coleridge Cottage to Castle Mount, and slightly less to walk back. Please indicate when booking if this is something you would be interested in.
*Please note that this is subject to availability and will be confirmed once your booking form has been received.
Risk Assessments
We have completed full risk assessments for self-led visits. However, it is the school's responsibility to complete their own, in advance of their visit. If your group has EGA, you are entitled to a free pre-visit.
On the day
Please dress for the weather and wear sensible clothing. The cottage can get quite cold so please keep this in mind depending on the time of year that you're visiting. We recommend comfortable walking shoes (no flip-flops or heels).
Pricing
Normal admission applies to group visits, but bookings of 15 or more people receive a 15% discount on Gift Aid admission or a 5% discount on standard admission. The group can include National Trust members. We cannot take payments over the phone or in advance, so all visitors will be expected to pay the admission price, which is £9 for an adult and £4.50 for a child, or show a valid National Trust membership card.
All education groups must have an Education Group Access Pass or pay normal admission prices. Schools can benefit from an Educational Group Access Pass, which is an annual membership giving free access to the whole school group at National Trust properties.
Parking
Please be aware that there is not a National Trust Carpark at Coleridge Cottage. A drop-off area for coaches is available in Lime Street (approx. 5 minutes walk from the cottage) and must be arranged with us in advance. Parking for mini-buses and other vehicles is available directly opposite Coleridge Cottage at the Ancient Mariner pub. Please keepin mind that this is a private car park which is not owned by or affiliated with the National Trust - parking charges apply.
Tearoom
Located at the back of the cottage, the tearoom offers hot drinks, cream teas, cake and more. Please let us know when booking if your group will be wanting refreshments.
Contact us
For further information or to receive a booking form, please get in contact using the email below or give us a call on 01278732622.
Things to do in Coleridge Cottage
Step inside and explore the Georgian cottage where Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote some of his finest works and where the literary movement of Romanticism was born.
History of Coleridge Cottage
Once home to famous poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge and his family, discover how three years in this humble cottage were the most productive and destructive of their lives.
Visiting the garden at Coleridge Cottage
Wander through the tranquil cottage garden used as a retreat and muse by celebrated poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge in the 18th century.
Group visits frequently asked questions
Visiting a National Trust place with a group? Then our answers to your frequently asked questions might help with any question you may have.
Explorer Pass
If you're planning a trip in England, Wales or Northern Ireland this year, buy a National Trust Explorer Pass for entry to most of the places in our care. With 4-, 8- and 14-day options available, the pass can be tailored to fit your trip. Discover where you can visit with the Explorer Pass and how to buy yours.
Education Group Access Pass
If you’re planning educational group visits to National Trust places, then you could benefit from an Education Group Access Pass, which gives you free admission for a year.