Audley End House and Gardens
Essex, England
Key facts
- Operator
- English Heritage
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Entry pass
- English Heritage Overseas Visitor Pass
- Stays
- Overnight accommodation available
Pinpoint
Audley End Rd, Audley End, Saffron Walden CB11 4JF
Telephone 0370 333 1181
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Audley End is a Jacobean mansion with grounds landscaped by Capability Brown, and its state rooms and private apartments are shown furnished. Reviewers frequently say there is more to see and do than they expected, and the well-preserved interiors draw consistent praise, the library in particular. The gardens are the other half of the visit for most visitors, with the scent of the rose garden and the wildlife in the grounds mentioned repeatedly.
Worth the trip
The furnished interiors - reviewers single out the library as a room you can sit down in and take in, rather than file past.
Before you go
Reviewers report plenty of parking on site and knowledgeable staff throughout, though several found the cafe uncomfortably warm during hot weather.
Reviewers repeatedly say there is more to see here than they expected, praising the preserved interiors, the library and the service rooms such as the kitchen, laundry, dairy and stables. The gardens are a consistent highlight, with the scented rose garden, kitchen gardens, lakes, bridges and woodland all mentioned, and most suggest allowing at least three or four hours. Staff are described as friendly and knowledgeable. Opinions on the cafe are mixed: the food selection is well regarded, but one visitor queued around 45 minutes and another found it uncomfortably hot in a heatwave, with several recommending a picnic instead. Practical notes include parking a short walk downhill from the house with a free buggy service, and a rule against wearing backpacks inside the house.
Jacobean mansion with grounds landscaped by Capability Brown; state rooms and private apartments are shown furnished.
“Great day out with the family and dogs. Was great to get out of the London heat in the shade of one of the many trees. The gardens and house were beautiful, staff friendly and knowledgeable. We had a lovely day out,…”- J D, visitor review
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Parking
- “Parking is a little walk down to the main house, with a free buggy ride either way if needed (walking back up the hill after a long day exploring ....” - Polly Wainwright
- Facilities
- “The cafe was ok but very hot (yes we went during a heatwave) but there's only so much they can do about that.” - Paul Bailey
Common questions about Audley End House and Gardens
Where is Audley End House and Gardens?
Audley End House and Gardens is in Essex, England, at Audley End Rd, Audley End, Saffron Walden CB11 4JF.
Do you need a ticket to visit Audley End House and Gardens?
Yes - Audley End House and Gardens is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by English Heritage. Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
Can you stay overnight at Audley End House and Gardens?
Yes - Audley End House and Gardens offers bookable accommodation, so you can spend the night in the stately home itself or within its grounds. See the Stately Homes You Can Sleep In guide for the full list and how each stay works.
What is the highlight of visiting Audley End House and Gardens?
The furnished interiors - reviewers single out the library as a room you can sit down in and take in, rather than file past.
Is Audley End House and Gardens a ruin or still intact?
Audley End House and Gardens is largely intact - Jacobean mansion with grounds landscaped by Capability Brown; state rooms and private apartments are shown furnished.
