Historic Houses & Gardens in Somerset
Barrington Court
Beautiful Tudor manor house built in 16th-c in mellow Ham Hill
stone, with magnificent gabled frontage, rising to
a host of fine spiral chimney stacks. Formal gardens
by Gertrude Jekyll, set on three sides and divided
into garden rooms by walls and hedges, with pools and
terraces. Run by National Trust*
Opening times: Mar~Sep daily (ex Wed), 11am to 5pm; Oct~Nov, Thu-Tue 11am to 4.30pm Admission Charge*
Location: TA19 0NO - Tel: 01460 241938 - Website
Facilities: licensed restaurant, parking, shop
Image Credit: Ken Grainger (CCL)
Clevedon Court
The
Elton family regularly entertained the rich and famous
at their great house of Clevedon Court over the centuries.
The core of the house was built around 1320 and is
one of the few surviving great manor houses of the
period. Updated over the centuries, the property is
a pleasing variety of styles. The fine great hall has
exceptional 14th-c windows and contains a collection
of Eltonware pottery and Nailsea glass. The house is
set in delightful terraced gardens. Run by National
Trust*
Opening times: Apr-Sep, Wed-Thu,
Sun & BH Mon 2pm to 5pm. Admission Charge*
Location: Tickenham Rd, Clevedon, Somerset,
BS21 6QU - Tel: 01275 872257 -
Website
Facilities: free parking (40 metres), refreshments
Image Credit: Donnylad (CCL)
Cricket St Thomas Lakes and Gardens
Enjoy peaceful woodland walks and magnificent gardens in the grounds of this beautiful manor house (hotel).
Opening times: May~Sept, daily, 10am to 5pm Admission Charge
Location: Cricket St Thomas Hotel, Chard, Somerset,
TA20 4DD - 01460 30111 - Website
Facilities: parking, hotel accommodation
East Lambrook Manor Gardens
Cottage style gardens laid out by Margery Fish. Unique collection of snowdrops and hardy geraniums.
Opening times: Feb, May & Jun
daily, Mar~Apr & Jul~Oct, Tue-Sat & BH, 10am
to 5pm. Admission
Charge
Location: TA13 5HH - Tel: 01460 240328
Website: eastlambrook.com
Facilities: parking, plant nursery, art gallery
Hestercombe
Discover three centuries of acclaimed gardens, lovingly
restored to their former glory. Explore over fifty
acres of landscaped parkland, lakes, waterfalls,
follies, temples, woodland, formal gardens and terraces.
A veritable paradise in vivid colour with spectacular
views.
Regular events and activities held throughout the season, from summer fetes to butterfly walks.
Opening times: all year, daily
from 10am (closed Xmas).
Admission Charge
Location: Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton, Somerset,
TA2 8LG - Tel: 01823 413923 - Website
Facilities: Tea room, restaurant, picnic areas,
children's play area, parking. Dogs on leads welcome.
Image Credit: Roger Cornfoot (CC2)
Kilver Court
Kilver Court Gardens in Somerset is the perfect day out for those looking to explore a little known treasure. As seen on BBC Gardeners’ World, the 3.5 acre garden is set against a 15 metre high, 19th Century viaduct, providing an impressive architectural backdrop to the already stunning gardens. Highlights of our garden include: a reproduction of George Whitelegg's Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winning rockery, parterre, organic vegetable garden, a mill pond and new in 2017 is our 100m colourist herbaceous border.
Opening times: April
to October - Monday to Saturday - 10am to 5pm | November
to March - Monday to Sunday - 10am to 4.30pm | Sundays & Bank
Holiday - 10am to 4.30pm - Admission Charge
Location: Kilver Street, Shepton Mallet,
Somerset BA4 5NF - Tel: 01749 340410
Website: kilvercourt.com
Facilities: parking, restaurant, shopping, café
Lytes Cary Manor
Charming medieval manor house, great hall and chapel
set amidst enchanting gardens. One time home of herbalist
Henry Lyte, the gardens are of an Arts & Crafts style,
with a combination of garden rooms, topiary and herbaceous
borders.
Run by National Trust*
Opening times: vary, see website
for details Admission Charge*
Location: Kingsdon, Somerset, TA11 7HU - Tel:
01458 224471
Website: nationaltrust.org.uk
Facilities: parking, shop
Image Credit: © National Trust Images/Nick Meers
Tyntesfield
Victorian country house and estate overlooking the beautiful Yeo valley. A Gothic revival extravaganza, bristling with towers and turrets. Surrounded by 500 acres of landscaped grounds, including a formal garden, walled garden and extensive Woodlands. Run by National Trust*
Opening times: vary, see website for details Admission Charge*
Location: Wraxall, Bristol, North Somerset,
BS48 1NX - Tel: 0844 800 4966
Website: nationaltrust.org.uk
Facilities: parking, restaurant, shop, exhibition
space, home farm visitor centre, children's play
area
King John's Hunting Lodge
Despite its name, this early 16th-c Tudor timber-framed dwelling is not a hunting lodge and was not owned by King John! Today this well preserved merchant's dwelling houses a museum of local history (Axbridge & District Trust), including many fine paintings and old photographs. Run by National Trust*
Opening times: Mar-Sep, daily 1pm to 4pm Admission Charge*
Location: The Square, Axbridge, Somerset, BS26
2AP - Tel: 01934 732012 - Website
Facilities: parking, gift shop
Forde Abbey
This graceful and historic mansion has one of the loveliest gardens in south west England, covering some 30 acres. Including a lake, colourful bog garden, walled kitchen garden, rock garden, rich herbaceous borders and England's highest powered water fountain. The 12th-c house contains rich period furnishings, tapestries, beautifully decorated plaster ceilings and fine artwork.
Opening times: Gardens: daily 10am to 4.30pm, House: Apr-Oct, Tue-Fri Admission Charge
Location: Chard, Somerset, TA20 4LU - Tel: 01460
221290 - Website
Facilities: licensed restaurant, parking, shop
Tintinhull Garden
Handsome 17th-c manor house, with magnificent Queen
Anne facade, set in two acres of beautiful gardens.
With tranquil pools and colourful borders, orchards
and woodland walks.
Run by National Trust*
Opening times: Mar~Oct, Wed-Sun & BH
Mons, 11 am to 5 pm Admission Charge
Location: Farm St, Tintinhull, Yeovil, Somerset,
BA22 8PZ - Tel: 01935 823289
Website: nationaltrust.org.uk
Facilities: parking, plant sales, tea room
Image Credit: © National Trust Images/Andrew Butler
Montacute House
Grand three storey Elizabethan mansion, built in 1597 by Sir Edward Phelips, a successful lawyer and House of Commons Speaker. Surrounded by formal gardens and used as the setting for many films, including Sense and Sensibility (1995). Its impressive interior is filled grand architectural features. Most impressive of all is the 172 ft Long Gallery, on the top floor, lined with portraits from the Tudor and Jacobean era. Run by National Trust*
Opening times: Mar~Oct, Wed-Mon, 11am to 5pm Admission Charge*
Location: Montacute, Somerset, TA15 6XP - Tel:
01935 823289 - Website
Facilities: licensed restaurant, parking, gift shop
Other Places to Visit in Somerset
Animal Farm | Brean Leisure Park | Cheddar Gorge and Caves | East Somerset Railway | Puxton Park | Rich's Cider Farm | West Somerset Steam Railway | Wookey Hole Caves | Vivary Adventure Centre
Castles, Monuments & Heritage Sites:
Bakelite Museum | Cadbury Castle | Cleeve Abbey | Coleridge Cottage | Dunster Castle | Hungerford Castle | Fleet Air Arm Museum | Glastonbury Abbey | Haynes Motor Museum | Helicopter Museum | Muchelney Abbey | Nunney Castle | Stoke-Sub-Hamdon Priory | Shoe Museum | Taunton Castle | Wells Cathedral | Woodspring Priory
Nature, Wildlife & Scenic Sites:
Noah's Ark Zoo | Strawberry Line | Willow & Wetlands | Tropiquaria
Gardens & Historic Houses:
Barrington Court | Clevedon Court | Cricket St Thomas | East Lambrook | Hestercombe | Lytes Cary | Tyntesfield | King John's Hunting Lodge | Forde Abbey | Tintinhull Garden | Montacute House
Select Another Region To Visit
Towns and Cities in Somerset
Please note that the above information was accurate at the time this page was last updated. This information is subject to change at any time (opening times in particular), therefore if you plan on visiting any of the above attractions, please check the owner's website first or phone them for the latest details.