News from Athelhampton House & Gardens.

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 Dorchester’s former M&S site, where plans for a new hotel have recently been withdrawn, highlighting the evolving landscape of the town as a gateway to Dorset.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

As you explore over 20 rooms at Athelhampton, there’s the chance to step into the world of one of England’s most enduring melodies, with the Greensleeves Project Exhibition. Associated with all manner of things, from Henry VIII to ice cream vans, there’s the chance at Athelhampton to discover the truth behind this evocative piece of Tudor music. The words and gifts of the rejected lover are brought to life here, with the exquisitely reconstructed Tudor clothing created by ski

We wish a Merry Christmas to all our friends and visitors. The Christmas Tree in the Tudor Great Hall at Athelhampton House Dorset is cold, calm, and full of winter light, the kind that feels quietly enchanted. Not a white Christmas at Athelhampton, but a soft golden one, sunlight glimmering into the Great Hall beside the Christmas tree. Dorset's finest Tudor manor house will be open to welcome you again from the 27th

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

As other country houses begin to hibernate for the winter, Athelhampton remains wide awake and full of life. Athelhampton is open all year round. This time of year is perfect for slowing down and taking in the little things… the texture of the old oak, the soft glow through stained glass, the gentle strike of a clock, a plate waiting on the dresser, the brushstrokes of paint on canvas. Come and explore, linger a little longer, and see Athelhampton in its quiet season beauty.

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