Attingham Park

About the museum

Attingham was commissioned in 1782 by Noel Hill, later the first Baron Berwick, who replaced the earlier Tern Hall on the site with a Neo-classical mansion, finished around 1785. The land came to the Hill family through Tudor and later purchases near the River Tern, and the name Atcham is a contraction of Attingham, an old name meaning the dwelling of the people of St Eata. The family's wealth rose in the eighteenth century through public office and shares in trading companies, and the National Trust's account of the estate's history addresses the connection of this wealth to colonial trade.

The architect John Nash remodelled the interiors and added one of the earliest picture galleries in an English country house, lit by an iconic Regency glass roof. The landscape designer Humphry Repton improved the park to frame views of the Wrekin and the Shropshire Hills. The same family owned Attingham for more than 160 years, and its fortunes rose and fell, leaving marks that can still be seen in the rooms.

Thomas, the 8th Lord Berwick, left Attingham to the National Trust in 1947. He and his wife Teresa had already begun restoring the house and storing historic items for later conservation, and the Trust describes the gift as one of its most generous. Today visitors see rooms such as the Dining Room, the Sultana Room and the Picture Gallery, along with conservation work, a walled kitchen garden and a deer park whose fallow deer descend from the original herd.

Highlights

• Regency mansion with John Nash's picture gallery
• Park landscaped by Humphry Repton
• Walled kitchen garden and orchard
• Deer park with fallow deer
• Field of Play natural play area
• Behind-the-scenes conservation and first-floor tours

Permanent exhibition

• The Mansion – Rooms of the Georgian mansion including the Dining Room, Sultana Room and John Nash's Picture Gallery, with the story of the Berwick family and the Trust's conservation work.

Founded

1785

Operated by

National Trust

Admission & discounts

Prices are standard admission without Gift Aid; paying with Gift Aid adds about 10 percent (house and grounds adult £19.90, child £9.90, family £49.50). National Trust members and under 5s enter free. Non-members can buy a grounds-only ticket or a combined house and grounds ticket.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

There is ramped access to the mansion, though the main route is via steps, and the stables courtyard has cobbles; garden routes are step-free. Trampers and wheelchairs can be hired, subject to availability, by phoning visitor reception (01743 708118) before 16:00 the day before. There are 20 accessible parking spaces in the front rows of the free car park and a drop-off point at visitor reception. A Changing Places toilet is available with a Radar key from reception, and there are toilets at the stables, brew house, walled garden and Field of Play. A buggy service runs to the walled garden and mansion, and there are hearing loops at the tills. A BSL-interpreted mansion tour of about 45 minutes can be booked. Assistance dogs are welcome in the café, shop, mansion and bookshop.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

The Field of Play is a natural play landscape, and families can follow seasonal trails (a half-term trail costs £3.50), try family orienteering and walk in the woodland and parkland. Pushchairs are welcome in the parkland and gardens but must be left outside the mansion, where hip carriers are free to borrow. Baby changing is in the stables courtyard and the Field of Play, with a quiet breastfeeding space in the stables courtyard. Children under 5 on scooters or balance bikes are allowed under close supervision.

Getting there & parking

Attingham Park is on the B4380, 4 miles south-east of Shrewsbury; follow the brown signs to the main gates and along the one-way drive through the parkland, where cattle may graze. The site closes at 18:30. Visitor reception is ½ mile along the park road from the front gates. Satnav postcode SY4 4TP.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The Stables Kitchen serves breakfast, hot meals and sweet treats, and there are other places for drinks and snacks, including a mansion café, a grab-and-go outlet and soft-serve ice cream. The Stables Shop sells gifts, homeware, local products and plants, and there is a large second-hand bookshop and a garden shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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