News from Athelhampton House & Gardens.

Tucked beneath the eaves of the East Wing, a new perspective on Dorset’s historic buildings awaits. This season, John Lowe brings his work to the gallery at Athelhampton House, offering a thoughtful exploration of architecture across the county. A Dorset Story in Buildings John Lowe’s work is shaped by a long career as an architect and conservation specialist. His paintings and drawings go beyond surface detail, revealing how buildings were designed, used, and adapted over ti

Not very long ago, the Billiard Table in the Library at Athelhampton was almost impossible to play on. The fabric covering its surface wasn't just worn and faded with play and exposure to sunlight. It had suffered from major tears, meaning that the balls would no longer roll true. However, with the imminent arrival of the Oxford and Cambridge Club in Pall Mall to play snooker in our historic Dorset library at Athelhampton, something had to be done! There was no way for them t

There's just under a week to go until Athelhampton's Spring Market , and excitement is building as we prepare to welcome 65 incredible stall holders. We have invited a host of Dorset producers, growers and makers to sell their produce on Athelhampton's West lawn. The market is free to attend and is open to all to allow everyone the chance to purchase the finest products Dorset has to offer. The house and gardens will be open as well, though normal admission charges apply. Ath

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

Live theatre at Athelhampton is another way to spend time with us, taking in not just the house and grounds but also seeing a story played out in front of you. It's a chance to disconnect from technology and the tedium of day-to-day life, and live in the moment. 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 Fairyt

Outdoor theatre at Athelhampton is perfect for leaving the real world behind you, and immersing yourself in a different world. 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

As good luck would have it, the rain stayed away from Athelhampton for almost all of this evening’s outdoor performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Just a tiny shower right at the end! With the poor weather forecast, the gardening team were consulted about the potential rain. As they are keen weather-watchers, they correctly predicted that it would be dry this evening until 9pm! For more outdoor theatre at Athelhampton, you can come and see t

Around the historic gardens at Athelhampton the Wisteria are blooming, their cascading purple flowers releasing a lightly perfumed scent. As you explore, at the western side of the gardens is our 1-acre Edwardian Kitchen Garden, featuring brick walls and paths the central axis is filled with Laburnum with bright yellow flowers. Tomorrow, on Sunday the 11th of May, it is our Spring Plant Fair hosted by Plant Heritage. A huge range of nurseries and plant suppliers will be on th

There's just a week to go until Athelhampton’s Spring Market! More than 50 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? Food, drink, confectionery, crafts and more, all from fabulous Wessex businesses. Exceptional local craftmanship will be on display, all from local makers. The restaurant is open, and admission charge to the House and Garden appli

December has arrived, which means our Festive Afternoon Tea is now being served at Athelhampton's Dorset Restaurant! A Festive Afternoon Tea at Athelhampton's Dorset restaurant Enjoy our festive treats: Turkey, Bacon, Stuffing & Mayo Brioche Roll Brie & Cranberry Finger Sandwich Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Bagel Festive Sausage Roll Dorset Cheddar & Chive Scone Passion Fruit Tartlet Apple Beignet Chocolate Praline Brownie Mini Mince Pie Stollen Scone with Brandy Cream Dorset

This weekend will see the Dorset Food & Drink Winter Food Fair at Athelhampton House, with Early Bird tickets available from our website for only £5! Tomorrow and Sunday, from 10am-3pm, Athelhampton's grounds will be filled with festive cheer, as stallholders and local producers gather together to sell food and gifts, while live music will be playing throughout. Buying things from the Food Fairs at Athelhampton enables you to directly interact with and support local producers

Athelhampton is a beautiful stately home - one of the finest country houses in Dorset - but it was hardly the place for royalty in the 16th Century. Royal progresses, where the monarch essentially went "on tour" around the country, were huge affairs, involving hundreds if not thousands of people. Athelhampton, while a big house by modern standards, wasn't ever big enough to host the royal court. Sir William Martyn, who built some of the earliest parts of Athelhampton, escorte