Ashdown House
17th-century Dutch-style house on the Berkshire Downs run by the National Trust; the house is visited on guided tours and the woodland is open.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Ashdown House is a tall, Dutch-style country house built in the 1660s by William Craven, Earl of Craven. It is traditionally linked with Elizabeth of Bohemia, the "Winter Queen", whom he admired, although she died in 1662, before building began. The architect is uncertain, and the house probably served as a hunting lodge and a refuge from the plague. Its compact, doll's-house shape stands at the meeting point of former rides in the Earl's hunting park, surrounded by woodland.
The building changed little until the Second World War, when the army requisitioned it and left it in poor condition. The National Trust has owned it since 1956, when it was donated by Cornelia, Countess of Craven. The house is let to a tenant and is not furnished as a museum, so public access is limited to the hall, the main staircase of 100 steps and the roof, where visitors can see across three counties.
The surrounding Ashdown Woods, once a medieval deer park of Glastonbury Abbey, are open to walkers, and three species of deer can be seen there.
Highlights
- Dutch-style house of the 1660s with the look of a doll's house
- Guided tour up the 100-step staircase to the roof
- Views over three counties from the roof
- Ashdown Woods with three species of deer
Permanent exhibition
- Guided house tour – A pre-booked tour of the hall, the 100-step staircase and the roof of the Dutch-style house, with views across three counties.
- Founded
- 1662
- Operated by
- National Trust
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £7.50 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £4free up to age 4 · Child aged 5 to 17; under 5s are free. |
| Families | £18Two adults and up to three children. |
| Family (1 adult, up to 3 children) | £11 |
Prices are for the house tour, without Gift Aid. Booking online before the visit is required, and only cash is accepted on site. National Trust members enter free of charge.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
There is no level access into the house, and the tour includes a staircase of 100 steps, narrow corridors and uneven ground. An induction loop is available. Closer accessible parking can be arranged on request, and pre-booking is essential. The toilets, including an accessible toilet, are by visitor reception. AccessAble guides cover parking and arrival, the house, the garden and the woodland.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Ashdown entrance bus stop
The bus on the Swindon to Lambourn route stops at the entrance.
By car
Parking available · 150 m to the entrance
The main estate car park is in Ashdown Woods, about 150 metres from the house along a tarmac drive (another page of the National Trust gives 200 metres). Closer accessible parking is available on request.
- Accessible parking
By road: 2½ miles south of Ashbury and 3½ miles north of Lambourn, on the west side of the B4000; follow the local brown signs from the B4000 to the car park.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Toilets are by visitor reception. Dogs are welcome on leads in the woodland only and must be kept under control.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Entry to the hall, the main staircase and the roof terrace is by guided tour only, in groups of up to 16 people. Booking online before visiting is required. |
