We’ve visited Stourhead multiple times now but for some reason I’ve not actually written a review. With autumn rapidly approaching after our most recent visit it seemed like a good time to finally write one up.
Stourhead is a National Trust property and stunning gardens in Wiltshire and we often use it as a pit-stop on our way to the South West. The house itself is really interesting but it has been aaaaaages since I last went inside the house at Stourhead so I’m not going to go into much detail in this review, because I cannot remember it!! Good excuse to go back.
The gardens at Stourhead
The main gardens at Stourhead have circular route, with a few variations, that you can do. Unlike most other historic houses, you don’t have that many options for just going off and exploring or going to various different areas. Once you’re in the main garden it’s kind of do a lap around the lake and that’s it. But, oh what a walk around the lake it is!!!
Whilst the route is pushchair friendly, there are some long slopes, particularly on the way back up to the car park. They’re not particularly hard, but it’s something to bear in mind with little legs.
The lakeside walk is beautiful and literally every 5 minutes you can see a new little building or something cool hidden away. The lake is HUGE so it’ll easily take you an hour to walk around it. Along the way make sure you explore this little tunnel off the main path. It’s beautiful in itself but also leads up to the Temple of Apollo too.
The Pantheon and Gothic Cottage
If it’s open when you visit Stourhead then definitely check out The Pantheon. There’s some beautiful statues in there and if you ask one of the guides they’ll tell you all about it. It’s also worth checking out the Gothic Cottage whilst you’re over there.
There’s also the walled garden and ice house which are lovely in spring and summer. You have to go over a little bridge close to the entrance so look out for it!
There’s a pub!
I can’t think of any other NT property that has its own pub, but Stourhead has one. In fact, food is a little bit different here from most places. The “main” cafe is up in the car park. There’s a smaller kiosk, with plenty of seating, closer to the entrance to the garden. This is where the pub is as well, but that’s run separately.
You can of course have a picnic, and in a beautiful location, but there’s not a huge amount of seating so you’re probably better off taking a picnic blanket if you’re planning on bringing your own.
When is the best time to visit Stourhead?
Autumn absolutely has to be the best time to visit Stourhead. Unlike lots of other NT gardens, this is mostly about the trees and there’s only really any flowers in the walled garden. This means that in Autumn it is absolutely ablaze in colour. If you follow their Instagram page they do an autumn colour watch each year so you know when things are kicking off. When we visited Stourhead to do this review there were just the very first signs of things starting to turn, but even that was magical….
Is Stourhead any good for kids?
There certainly are more child-friendly sites than Stourhead, but they’ve added features to keep their youngest guests entertained. They always take part in the school holiday activities, although they’re often up in the walled garden. They also have now got a small playground near the pub. In terms of practicalities, it’s a circular route with no cut-throughs so if your little one decides half way round they need the loo it will take you a good 30 minutes to get to one! Ditto if they’ve had enough you either have to turn back or just push through.
This review of Stourhead is based on our experiences at the time of our visit. Things can change over time, including the facilities available. If you have any specific requirements such as access it’s always best to check with the site directly before visiting. If anything I’ve said in this review is no longer accurate then please do let me know. Thank you.
Our Stourhead review
Because we don’t spend a whole day here, we tend to just visit for a few hours we haven’t explored the wider estate. We stick to the bits that everyone else also sticks to. There’s nothing wrong with this of course, but it also means I can’t tell you in this review if there are any hidden secrets that Stourhead has that you might miss. I do think we need to avoid the lake next time and see what else is here.
It’s so beautiful here and the house is really interesting too. It’s a lovely, gentle walk that’s easy on the legs too, which is always appreciated. If you haven’t been then Stourhead has to be somewhere to add to your list!
Admission cost
£55 for a family ticket. Free for members. Access to the wider estate (not the house or the landscaped part of the garden) is free
Parking / How to get there
Parking – large car park. £4.50 but free for members.
Address – near Mere, Wiltshire, BA12 6QD
Toilets
Toilets near the car park, at the house and near the pub (including baby change)
Food
Cafe and take-away kiosk on site. Picnics allowed.
What else is there to do nearby?
Stourhead is close to Fleet Air Arm Museum, Longleat and Stonehenge. It’s also in a bit of a National Trust hot spot with multiple properties nearby.
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Hi, I’m Vicky. My husband and I live in Aylesbury with our three children; a 14 year old son, an 12 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. I (mostly) love spending time together as a family. We visit all kinds of places and we’re quite happy to drive a fair distance for a decent day out. A few years ago I decided to set up Free Time with the Kids as a way to share our experiences of these family days out.
You’ll find the essential information you need to know before your visit that can be surprisingly hard to find out. Where do I park? How much will it cost me to get in? Are there any discounts available? Are there loos? Can I take a picnic or get food? My aim is to be your go-to guide for all your free and cheap family days out across Bucks, Beds, Oxon, Herts & slightly beyond. I really hope you find the reviews helpful. If there’s anywhere that you’d recommend please get in touch contact@freetimewiththekids.com or get in touch via Facebook
