Operation Park, Play and Explore

May - December 2026

Car Park

Improvements to increase year-round car parking capacity to 400 spaces, an increase of 160 spaces, including 24 disabled parking bays, 3 coach bays, EV chargers, increased motorcycle bays and secure cycle storage. Improved layout and marked bays will ensure that our space is fully utilised.

Improvements to the car park will be delivered in 4 phases. During phase 1 (June – September 2026) work started with tree protection and preparation of a site compound. Groundworks to create hardstanding parking bays in the paddock and foundations for the new Visitor Welcome building will be installed. Between September – November (phase 2) new visitor routes will be created to provide access from paddock parking to the new, centrally located Visitor Welcome  building.

The existing play area will be removed, and building starts on Visitor Welcome building. Parking will be accessible in the paddock throughout this phase. In phase 3 (November – December) we will open the new Visitor Welcome building and routes to the parkland. At this stage the majority of Croome’s parking spaces will be available and landscaping to improve visitor routes will be completed. In the final phase (January – late spring 2027) we will install our new orchard play area, undertake soft landscaping and set up a new bookshop in our existing Visitor Welcome spaces. 
 

September – November 2026

Visitor Welcome Building

Our vision is to create a safe, seamless and warm welcome to Croome to give visitors the best possible first (and last) impression and ensure they leave wanting to return.  All our visitors, members and non-members alike will find the space they need when they arrive to park, meet, orientate themselves and get inspired ready for a great day out.

The new visitor reception building will be situated in a central location designed to provide visitors with a choice for how they experience Croome. This new build, single storey visitor reception building will include an undercover fast track entrance, modest enclosed space for visitor reception and storage space for mobility scooters. 

We will relocate and reorganise back of house areas for safe deliveries that are screened from visitors and create relandscaped and efficient pathways to the parkland, including improved sight lines providing glimpses of the 18th century parkland with an option to branch off into RAF experience, Food and Beverage outlets, shop and a new orchard play area. 

January – late Spring 2027

Play Area

Project Park, Play Explore provides the opportunity for a complete refresh and redesign of Croome’s existing built play environments. We currently have a wild play area and an RAF themed play area, both within the registered parkland. Locating the new play area within an area of orchard will improve visitor experience by situating near our food and beverage outlets, toilet facilities and ensuring that seating is integrated into its new design.

Engaging visitors with National Trusts core conservation purpose is one of the priorities of this play area, therefore a focus on nature is central to the look, feel and design of the space, as well as being reflected in the use of materials. The project also allows us to align our play experience with Croome’s history, ensuring that the stories of our landscape translate into the play experience. Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s landscapes are recognisable and readable, with characteristic features including the creation of far-reaching views, undulating typography, architectural ‘eyecatchers’ and the creation of shrubberies to evoke a sense of surprise and discovery around every corner.  
 

August – November 2026

Croome Tower Roofs

The National Trust acquired the Court in 2007 the roof was in a very poor condition, and a large project was initiated to repair it, which was completed in 2016. This project focused on replacing all the felt covered flat roofs with lead. At the time the Westmorland slate roof covering to the four tower roofs was in a serviceable condition and was therefore deemed less urgent than other roof areas.  Nearly 10 years on it is clear the tower roofs are now in much need of repair.

The essential conservation work includes repairing areas where slates have slipped or become damaged causing leaks and damage to timbers and interiors.  Leadwork on chimney flashings, hips of the roofs and over stone cornices is in poor condition with defects and splits due to age.

Work will include removing the slate roof covering, repair to timber boards below and stripping all the defective leadwork.  Timber repairs will be undertaken to the main roof structure with new sarking boards laid.  New Westmorland slate will be installed onto new timber battens in the traditional method of diminishing sized courses finished with new lead detailing. 

The weathervanes no longer move freely in the wind due to corrosion causing them to seize up and the lead covered timber finial balls the weathervane sits into has rotted causing it to be unstable. This repair will fully restore and redecorate the weathervanes so that they are functional and can move freely as intended. 

This work has been very generously funded in part by the Wolfson Foundation

The Wolfson Foundation

August – October 2026

White Bridges

The White Bridges are a pair of Grade II listed iron bridges from the early 19th Century. These steeply ramped structures have circular spandrels and diagonally intersecting railings that are painted white, earning them their name. Wooden boards form a walkway across the iron structures, which were later fitted with small wooden battens to aid grip.  

These bridges form part of the visitor route around the park, taking visitors across the lake.

We are undertaking essential conservation repair work to both bridges.  Over time, the timber deck boards have deteriorated due to persistent wetness, causing them to rot.  Similarly, the iron paintwork has corroded and failed requiring repair to several railing posts and spans. All loose and flaking paint will be carefully removed, whilst ensuring it does not enter and contaminate the water below. A zinc phosphate undercoat will be applied followed by topcoats of high-quality metal paint to prevent moisture getting into the metal joints.