News from Athelhampton House & Gardens.

There is always something unique to discover in the shop at, one of Dorset’s most popular visitor attractions and historic houses. From the Anne of Athelhampton trilogy and colouring books, to mugs featuring Gyb the cat and collections of Thomas Hardy poetry, visitors can take home a special reminder of their day exploring one of England’s finest Tudor manor houses and gardens. Lots of products in the Athelhampton House & Gardens gift shop. The newest addition to the Athelham

Athelhampton House & Gardens is proud to offer one of the largest visitor EV charging facilities at a historic house in Dorset, with 10 electric vehicle charging points available in the visitor car park. Located near Dorchester in the heart of the South West, Athelhampton House & Gardens combines sustainable tourism with one of England’s finest Tudor houses and award-winning gardens. Whether you are exploring Dorset, travelling across the South West, or simply looking for rel

At Athelhampton House & Gardens, visitors can explore more than 20 historic rooms filled with original Tudor features. Among the most striking are the stained glass windows, which bring colour, craftsmanship and centuries of family history vividly to life. Glass is integral to Athelhampton's history, and not just because of the windows that can still be seen today. Stained glass in the oriel window at Athelhampton Stained glass manufacture in England dates back to at least th

Every historic house or stately home you visit is different, especially those that are part of the Historic Houses Association. Some Dorset houses, like Mapperton House and Sherborne Castle, let you go around as part of a guided tour, giving you personalised information and allowing you to ask questions of a guide as you go along. This is an amazing way of spotting small details, and aspects of a house that you might never otherwise have noticed, and is also a wonderful way o

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

Afternoon tea at Athelhampton House & Gardens has been refreshed, with a new and indulgent selection now served in the Coach House restaurant. Guests can enjoy a classic afternoon tea in Dorset, featuring a selection of freshly prepared finger sandwiches, including chicken and bacon, cheese with red onion and mayonnaise, and smoked salmon with cream cheese. This is followed by warm scones, sweet treats such as brownies and apple beignets, and savoury additions including pork

For all that many people think of the Tudors (and, indeed, many of our ancestors in other periods) as being dirty or unhygienic, in reality, they placed a great deal of importance on cleanliness and washing. One piece of evidence for this lives in the silver safe at Athelhampton - one of more than 20 historic rooms open to the public. The pottery aquamanile, depicting a knight on horseback, used for washing hands before dinner This strange looking piece of pottery, showing an

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

News that plans for a new hotel in Dorchester town centre have been cancelled has generated considerable local interest, particularly at a time when the area is seeing strong visitor demand. Dorchester’s former M&S site, where plans for a new hotel have recently been withdrawn, highlighting the evolving landscape of the town as a gateway to Dorset. The proposed development, which would have brought over 100 additional bedrooms and created around 30 jobs, had received planning

Being open all year round can be lonely at times, especially when our friends at other historic properties close through the winter. Still, as we move through spring, other Historic Houses are beginning to open up again, giving HHA members and other visitors lots of options for places to visit in Dorset. National Trust and English Heritage locations are also beginning to open back up again. Our closest neighbour, Mapperton, has been open since the first of March, with both th

After the last visitors drift away and the gardens fall quiet, Athelhampton settles into a different kind of stillness. This evening the sun hangs low, catching the warm stone of the Tudor manor and drawing out every detail of its façade. Nearby, the great Cedar of Lebanon stands gently illuminated, its branches holding the last light of the day. A fleeting moment in the gardens at Athelhampton, calm and unhurried, before evening takes hold. And before long, a new day will da

As part of a huge investment in Athelhampton's potential, we've doubled the number of house stewards at Athelhampton this season. With visitor numbers picking up as we move from Winter into Spring, it's important to ensure that each of our guests receives contact time with our stewards - able to ask questions, and gain a more personal experience tailored to their interests, and what they want to find out. Like all those who work on site, the house stewards at Athelhampton are

Our busy restaurant is frequently packed with visitors - some who have come to explore the house and gardens, and others who have simply come to enjoy the delicious Dorset food specially prepared by our chefs each day. With visitor demand for the restaurant increasing as we move from Winter to Spring, we've developed a new menu . Our lunch menu has been dramatically extended, with starters and burgers now offered alongside our usual offering of cooked lunches, jacket potatoes

While Athelhampton is a historic house, we also have a mission to support modern day local artists and craftspeople, even in small ways. Various local artisans stock Athelhampton's shop, supplying beautiful pieces that you can't find anywhere else. One such artist is Silvia Pineda. The Mexican born daughter of a jeweller and a sculptor, artistry runs in her blood. She exhibited her paintings in our art gallery, and her jewellery and ceramics are now a staple in Athelhampton's

The gardens at Athelhampton are a riot of colour this spring. Over the past year, we have been extending our herbaceous borders, with over 1,000 feet of deep, generous planting, filled with texture, structure and seasonal interest. Along the South Walk, planting follows the spirit of Gertrude Jekyll, with thoughtful combinations designed to evolve beautifully through the months. In the Green Court, the palette shifts to something altogether more vibrant, with fiery reds, glow

Easter in Athelhampton's restaurant arrives with the unmistakable scent of molten chocolate drifting out from the Coach House kitchen. While we don't have an Easter Trail, or an Easter Egg Hunt, our kitchen team still commemorate the season in their own way. Between preparing breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas, the kitchen team at Athelhampton's Restaurant have been turning their attention to a few seasonal treats. A rich chocolate fudge cake, dark, glossy and unapologeti

With visitor numbers picking up as we move from Winter into Spring, we're becoming increasingly busy. With cruises, tours, and independent travellers, the many international visitors at Athelhampton make up a significant proportion of our guests, exploring the house and gardens. While many are able to speak English in addition to their native tongue, there are certain nuances of language that make it worth everyone's while to have our visitor interpretation translated. Our sh

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

Due to popular demand and increased visitor numbers, from the beginning of March, Athelhampton House has been opening an hour earlier than we were in the winter. Our new opening times at Athelhampton result in the house opening at 10 instead of 11, so you can wander around and explore inside as soon as you arrive, rather than meandering through the gardens first. Not only does this mean that you've got even more time to explore over 20 rooms open in the house, it also means w