William Wordsworth’s childhood home
Our team are waiting with a warm welcome and they have been working hard to make sure you have a safe and enjoyable visit. Here you'll find everything you need to know about when we are open and what to expect from your visit.
Romantic poet William Wordsworth was born in this lovely Georgian townhouse, in the Cumbrian town of Cockermouth, over 250 years ago.
Presented as it would have been when he lived here with his parents, siblings and the family servants, Wordsworth House and Garden offers an unforgettable chance for all ages to experience life in the 1770s.
The house is peopled by friendly, knowledgeable guides, and in holiday times, the maid-of-all-work is cooking in the kitchen – and always keen to stop for a chat. There is real food on the dining table and a fire burning in the kitchen grate.
There is a daily children’s trail, and down in the cellar, the household’s ghosts are waiting to tell their stories.
The exhibition rooms house a changing programme of displays. In 2021 we have a special exhibition The Child is Father of the Man to mark 250 years since William and Dorothy were born.
In the downstairs discovery room, there is a permanent exhibition about William’s Lakeland legacy and his key role in the founding of the National Trust. Souvenirs and second-hand books are available in our visitor welcome area.
The beautiful riverside garden that gave William lifelong inspiration is packed with 18th-century varieties of vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers, and the River Derwent runs behind William’s beloved terrace walk.
The visitor offer is hands-off to keep everyone safe, but there is still plenty to enjoy and experience in this welcoming family home. Face coverings are recommended in enclosed and crowded areas.
Pre-booking is not needed, but timed tickets may operate on busy days.
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | N/A | £8.00 |
| Child | N/A | £4.00 |
| Family | N/A | £20.00 |
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
Wordsworth House and Garden is now open. Pre-booking is not needed, but timed tickets may operate on busy days.
Free entry for National Trust members.
