Stourhead
Wiltshire, England
Key facts
- Operator
- National Trust
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Entry pass
- National Trust Explorer Pass
- Stays
- Overnight accommodation available
Pinpoint
Stourton, Warminster BA12 6QD
Telephone 01747 841152
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Sunday | 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM |
Visitor essentials
- Parking
- Pay & display, £4.50 for non-members (members free); main car park BA12 6QD; 16 EV charging points (8 AC and 8 ultra-rapid 150-300kW DC)
- Access
- Accessible toilets; 4 mountain-trike wheelchairs to hire (pre-book); stairclimber; designated parking near the Access Hub; shuttle bus from Visitor Reception
- Facilities
- Restaurant, shop and second-hand bookshop; electric vehicle charging in the main car park
- Dogs
- Dogs on short leads welcome in the garden all year round
- Safety
- Wheelchair-accessible uneven gravel paths, steep in places; some paths have dark areas and steps
Stourhead is a Palladian mansion built for the Hoare banking family, but it's best known for the landscape garden that surrounds it, laid out around a lake with a circular walking route. Reviewers rate both halves highly - the house for its paintings and furniture, including the well-known Pope's Cabinet, and the garden for the roughly 45-minute lake walk that changes character through the seasons, from bluebells and rhododendrons to snowdrops. Staff and volunteers are repeatedly praised as warm and knowledgeable.
Worth the trip
The lake walk through the landscape garden - a roughly 45-minute circuit that reviewers return for across different seasons, from spring bluebells to winter snowdrops.
Before you go
Time your visit for the right season if you can - reviewers describe very different but equally rewarding gardens depending on whether bluebells, rhododendrons or snowdrops are out, and there's ample car parking plus multiple cafes and toilets on site.
Reviewers consistently praise Stourhead's gardens as the main attraction, describing sweeping views across the lakes with temples, grottos and seasonal colour from bluebells, rhododendrons or snowdrops depending on the time of year. The circular walk around the lake, roughly forty-five minutes, is mentioned repeatedly as a highlight, and knowledgeable, friendly staff and volunteers feature in nearly every review. The house itself, when visited, is well regarded for its paintings and furniture, including the Pope's cabinet, though some reviewers admit they never made it inside, focusing entirely on the grounds. One practical note is that toilets can involve a fairly long walk from parts of the estate.
Palladian mansion built for the Hoare banking family, overlooking a celebrated landscape garden
“A wonderful walk celebrating the bucolic English countryside. What an utterly delightful place to visit. The gardens are magnificent and the staff excellent. We also visited the house and again this was a wonderful…”- Brian Kearney, 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
- “Car parks could be full but it never feels overcrowded around the lake.” - GC
- Facilities
- “We always bring a picnic and enjoy the views whilst relaxing and being at one with nature.” - J P
Common questions about Stourhead
Where is Stourhead?
Stourhead is in Wiltshire, England, at Stourton, Warminster BA12 6QD.
Do you need a ticket to visit Stourhead?
Yes - Stourhead is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by National Trust. Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
Can you stay overnight at Stourhead?
Yes - Stourhead 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 Stourhead?
The lake walk through the landscape garden - a roughly 45-minute circuit that reviewers return for across different seasons, from spring bluebells to winter snowdrops.
Is Stourhead a ruin or still intact?
Stourhead is largely intact - Palladian mansion built for the Hoare banking family, overlooking a celebrated landscape garden.
