News from Athelhampton House & Gardens.

It's now 50 years since Athelhampton starred in Doctor Who. With Tom Baker as the Doctor and Elisabeth Sladen as his companion, this particular episode featured scientists in Antarctica, a crazed millionaire, and mysterious plants. Athelhampton played the home of reclusive, eccentric, plant-obsessed millionaire Harrison Chase, who has used violent henchmen to acquire the seed pod of a mysterious, malignant alien plant. The Doctor and Sarah Jane infiltrate his estate in an eff

With the Easter Holidays in full swing, and Easter less than a week away, many historic houses and other visitor attractions in Dorset and around the country have an Easter Trail, often featuring rabbits, eggs, dinosaurs and other chocolatey goodness. It's a crowded market and, truth be told, there would be plenty of space for Athelhampton's Easter Trail in over 1000 feet of our herbaceous borders. However, our Easter Trail is non-existent. While we could try to keep up with

Come and experience the sights, sounds and smells of 16th century life this October half-term with us at Athelhampton House. Tickets for Tudor Week 2025 at Athelhampton are still available for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday! Photo by Dorset Morri'arty History is brought to life, inside and outside our walls, as you step back in time to 1580. Meet the Martyn family of Athelhampton, as specialist living historians recreate life as it was in Elizabeth I’s reign. Photo by Jane Te

It’s one week to go until Tudor Week 2025 at Athelhampton! Photo by Dorset Morri'arty Step back in time this autumn half term and experience life as it was more than four centuries ago. Over forty Tudor re-enactors will be living and working throughout the house, bringing to life the sights, sounds, and scents of 1580. Photo by Dorset Morri'arty See the cooks at work in the kitchens, the maids tending to their chores, musicians in the Great Hall, and Sir Nicholas Martyn, mast

Just 2 weeks to go until Athelhampton’s Autumn Market! More than 60 stalls have registered to attend so there will be plenty to see (and buy). Our Spring, Summer, and Autumn markets are all free to attend, so why not come along and have a look? Stalls will be selling all manner of things, from food and drink all the way through to handcrafted items, from wood-turning, candles, and soap, through to pottery, glass, and art, all from fabulous Wessex based businesses. The restaur

Local folk singers, musicians and actors Tim Laycock and Alastair Braidwood are returning to the majestic Great Hall at Athelhampton. To Yollow Autumn Turn'd promises to be an evening of words and music from Dorset and beyond about the countryside, Autumn, apples, and - most importantly - cider! Photo by Dorset Morri'arty On Friday 3rd of October, expect stories, songs, poems and traditional folk tunes all tied into the season. Thomas Hardy and William Barnes will be in atten

In two weeks' time, join us for an unforgettable summer evening when The Plandits will be performing The Big Bad Wolf. A rock and roll musical for the whole family, The Big Bad Wolf follows the scheming life of Fairytale Land's most notorious baddy. Tickets are still available for Saturday 16th August at 6pm. Bring a picnic or takeaway, and enjoy this lovely weather while it lasts.

In just three weeks time, on Saturday 21st June, we are delighted to welcome the talented Immersion Theatre team to Athelhampton House. Pack your picnics and join Ratty, Mole, Badger, and the fantastically irrepressible Toad as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime culminating in a colourful battle to save Toad Hall from the mischievous weasels! Multi-award nominated Immersion Theatre proudly bring their trademark style and energy to the riverbank with heaps of interacti