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December 3 2008
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Stourhead (National Trust)
    The Estate Office
Stourton
Warminster
BA12 6QD
Wiltshire
England
Collection details
Agriculture, Architecture, Natural Sciences, Social History
Facilities
Parking: yes Food: yes Shop: yes Guided tours: yes Wheelchair access: yes Visual disability facilities: yes Hearing disability facilities: yes
[ icon key ]
An electric buggy may be borrowed free of charge (subject to avilability) to go round the beautiful lakeside path.

Parking for disabled badge holders in lower car park by garden entrance.
Contact details
General Enquiries (Tel) : 01747 841152
General Enquiries (Fax) : 01747 842005
General/group enquiries : stourhead@nationaltrust.org.uk
General information : www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead
Events information and bookings : www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events
Open
Garden: daily 0900 – 1900 (dusk if earlier)
House: 17 March to 28 October: Fri - Tue 11.30– 16.30, last entry 16.00
King Alfred’s Tower: 17 March to 28 October: daily 11.30 - 16.30, last entry 16.00
Closed
House closed Wed and Thur March - October and every day 1 November 2006 - 16 March
King Alfred's Tower closed 1 Novemeber - 16 March
Admission charges
Garden & House Gift Aid Entry - Adult:£11.60; Child £5.80; Family £27.60.
Garden or House - Adult: £7.00; Child £3.80, Family £16.60.
King Alfred's Tower - Adult: £2.60; Child £1.40; Family £6.00.
Discounts
National Trust
 
Description
With something to see all year round, Stourhead is full of surprises. As well as the outstanding 18th century landscape gardens with their temples and grotto, there is also a Palladian Mansion with large painting collection and Chippendale the Younger furniture. Also on the Estate, Whitesheet Hill contains Iron Age Barrows, a hill fort and remnant of Cold War bunkers, showing the importance of Stourhead over 6000 years of occupation.

There is also a restauruant, National Trust shop, Farm Shop, First View Art Gallery and the Spread Eagle Inn, all open to visitors all year round.
Collections description
Classical temples, including the Pantheon and Temple of Apollo, are set around the central lake at the end of a series of vistas, which change as the visitor moves around the paths and through the magnificent mature woodland with its extensive collection of exotic trees. The house, begun in 1721 by Colen Campbell, contains furniture by the younger Chippendale and fine paintings. King Alfred’s Tower, an intriguing red-brick folly built in 1772 by Henry Flitcroft, is almost 50m high and gives breathtaking views over the estate. Much of the estate woodland and downland is managed for nature conservation and there are two interesting Iron Age hill-forts, Whitesheet Hill and Park Hill Camp. There are also waymarked walks and an exhibition about the estate in the reception building.

Articles
News In Brief - Week Ending October 8 2006
Beauty And The Beast - Contemporary Art At Stourhead Landscape Gardens
How Have Museums And Heritage Sites Responded To Gift Aid?
News In Brief - Week Ending June 18 2006

Trails
The National Trust Top Ten Picnic Spots For Summer

General Information
Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
Pre-booking service for groups
Information point provided
Parking for coaches
Guided tours
Collections
Specialist publications on collections available
Disability Access
Induction loops in exhibition spaces
Large print information and/or interpretation
Parking for disabled available
Toilets for disabled
Wheelchair access to all public areas
Wheelchairs available for loan
Children and Families
Events and resources for children and families
Gardens open to public
General Education
Education facilities available
Member of staff available with responsibility for education
Reception and lunch facilities for educational groups
Schools Education
Primary school education service available
Printed/audio-visual information available for schools
Secondary school education service available
Facilities
Cafeteria
Facilities for private functions and events
Gardens open to public
Licensed for weddings
Refreshments
Restaurant
Shop