Visiting Belton: what you need to know

In this article:

• How to book
• When you arrive
• Staying safe
• What's open
• Eating and shopping
• Accessibility
• Things to see and do
• Dogs at Belton
• Download a map of Belton before your visit

How to book

The safety of our staff, volunteers and visitors from the local community remains our priority and we urge you to book your visits in advance. Every Friday we release new bookings for visits the following week.

• Entry and parking is free for members, but please bring your membership card with you. Non-members will need to pay in advance.
• Please book one ticket per person, except for children aged 5 or under as they don't need a ticket.
• You'll need to choose a 30-minute arrival time for the day you want to visit.
• The timeslot is for your arrival time only
• Bookings are for your use only and are not available for resale
• We'll send your booking confirmation by email. Please make sure you fill in your correct email address when you book to ensure you receive your confirmation email.

Changing your booking

If your plans change and you can’t make your timeslot, you can easily change or cancel your booking. We really appreciate you doing this as soon as possible so the tickets can be made available for other visitors. 

If you’re a member, the option to cancel or change your booking can be found in your confirmation email by selecting ‘view and manage your order online' underneath your order summary. 

For non-members, please ring us on 0344 249 1895 to discuss changing your booking.

When you arrive

• In line with government guidelines, you're required to wear a face covering in indoor places unless you're exempt, so please bring one with you.
• When you arrive, you’ll be greeted by a member of the team, who will show you where to park.
• Before you arrive at visitor reception, please have your ticket ready either on your phone or a printed copy. If you’re a member, you’ll also need to show your membership card.
• If you have booked a ticket, please arrive within your timeslot. If you're more than 10 minutes late, we won’t be able to guarantee you entry. Your entry will be at the discretion of the team and will be based on visitor numbers and the ability to maintain social distancing.
• To keep visitor numbers at a safe level, the layout and flow of the car park may have changed. Please look out for a team member (in high vis) and any signs around the car park.
• If you arrive without a ticket, please head to the visitor reception and our staff will be happy to advise you.
• Campervans that are used for transport are welcome but are not permitted to stay overnight. At this time, we’re unable to welcome caravans and coaches.
• You’re welcome to explore Belton until the car park gates are locked at 5.15pm.

Staying safe

To help keep everyone safe, please follow social distancing and government guidance when you visit. And look out for signs while you’re here, which will explain any changes to how you can access different parts of the site.

Where necessary, we will limit the flow of people coming into the playground with a one-out-one-in system to ensure it doesn’t get too busy. 

You’ll find sinks for hand washing at the toilets in the gardens and parkland and find hand sanitiser in our takeaway food and beverage outlets and entrance and exit to Visitor reception. Please follow the safety signage and system.

If you’re showing any symptoms of coronavirus, or if you've been in contact with anyone that has the virus in the last 10 days, please don’t visit.

What’s open

Car park: 10am – 5pm, daily (car park gates lock at 5.20pm).

Parkland: 10am – 5pm, daily. Dogs on short leads welcome.

Gardens: 10am – 5pm, daily. Dogs on short leads welcome.

Outdoor playground: 10am – 5pm, daily. Only registered assistance dogs are allowed. Closure of some areas and play equipment and regular closure for cleaning applies.

House: we’re sorry but the house is currently closed.

Toilets: 10am – 5pm, daily. Located in the stables café, parkland and playground. Accessible toilets and baby changing available.

Eating and shopping

Stables café: 10am – 4pm on weekdays and 4.30 pm at weekends. Takeaway only. A limited range of drinks and light snacks.

The Pup & Saucer dog café: 11am – 2.30pm during school holidays. Takeaway only. Hot and cold drinks. Dogs welcome.

The Joinery ice cream parlour: 11.30am – 4pm weekends and school holidays. Takeaway only. Hot and cold drinks, snacks and over 20 flavours of Bluebell’s ice cream.

The Ride play café: we're sorry but Belton’s indoor play area is currently closed in line with the latest government guidelines.

Muddy Hands kiosk: we're sorry but the playground kiosk is currently closed in line with the latest government guidelines.

Gift shop: Belton’s gift shop is reopening on Monday 12 April and will be open 10am – 5pm, daily.

Second-hand bookshop: Belton’s second-hand bookshop is reopening on Monday 12 April and will be open 10am – 4.30pm, daily. To help keep everyone safe, if you would like to donate any books, we kindly ask that you carry the books directly to Belton’s bookshop between 11am – 3pm. You’re welcome to park up by the stable yard gates on the main driveway to unload. Please bring your donations in either bags or boxes that you’re happy to leave behind. We will then quarantine the books for 72 hours. Thank you for your support.

Accessibility

Parking: Blue badge parking available by visitor reception.

Toilets: an accessible toilet is located in the parkland.

Mobility scooter and wheelchair hire: due to limited availability, please pre-book your PMV or wheelchair in advance by calling us on 01476 566116 and dial extension 130 when the message starts.

Shuttle buggy: we're sorry this service is not currently operating.

Due to Belton's historic setting, areas with uneven cobbles and gravel paths are included in some of the one-way systems in place.

Things to see and do

Other things to note:

• Please help protect nature and wildlife by taking your litter home and encouraging others to do the same.
• Dogs on leads are welcome in the parkland and courtyard areas. Only registered assistance dogs are allowed in the gardens and outdoor adventure playground.
• There will be no first aid cover from the Belton team during your visit. If you require assistance, please let a member of the team know so they can coordinate an emergency response.
• Just a single spark from a barbecue can damage landscapes and harm wildlife. Help us keep Belton safe by not bringing a barbecue or lighting a campfire when you visit, thank you.

We’re working hard to keep Belton looking its best. But with fewer staff and volunteers to help out, things may look a little different on your visit. Please bear with us as we adjust to these challenging times.