Belton House

About the museum

Belton House was built between 1685 and 1688 for Sir John Brownlow and his wife Alice, probably to designs by William Winde. The Brownlow family, later the Custs, made it their home for about three centuries and became Barons and then Earls Brownlow. Over the years they commissioned fine craftsmen and designers, and the house holds important collections of art, silver and porcelain as well as a library of about 6,000 books.

Outside, the grounds include a deer park enclosed in the 17th century, pleasure grounds with a lake, and formal gardens of Dutch and Italian design. The Italian Garden, with its orangery and cast-iron conservatory, was designed by Jeffry Wyatville.

The estate also played a part in the 20th century. During the First World War a small town with a hospital and cinema was built in the park for about 20,000 men of Kitchener’s Army, and in the Second World War it was the site of an RAF Regiment depot. In 1984 the 7th Baron Brownlow gave the house, garden and part of the contents to the National Trust, which acquired the surrounding parkland with the help of the National Heritage Memorial Fund. Today Belton is a popular family destination with one of the National Trust’s largest outdoor adventure playgrounds.

Highlights

• Restoration-period mansion with a world-renowned library
• Collections of art, silver and porcelain
• Formal Dutch and Italian gardens with a cast-iron conservatory
• Ancient deer park of about 1,300 acres
• Large outdoor adventure playground and an indoor play café

Permanent exhibitions

• The mansion and its collections – Restoration-period state rooms with collections of art, silver and porcelain and a world-renowned library.
• Gardens and deer park – Formal gardens of Dutch and Italian design with a conservatory and fountain, pleasure grounds with lakeside walks, and an ancient deer park.

Founded

1700

Operated by

National Trust

Visitors per year

approx. 419,982 (2024)

Admission & discounts

Prices are standard admission without Gift Aid and apply when the house is fully open; with Gift Aid the adult ticket costs £23.10, the child ticket £11.60 and the family ticket £57.80. Entry is free for National Trust members and children under 5, and Blue Peter badges and ID cards are accepted for free admission. Car parking is included in the admission price, and there is no need to book for individual visits.

Accessibility

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

Staff in the Information and Accessibility Hub help visitors plan their day. The mansion has stairs to the upper ground floor and first floor, and a stairclimber is available to the upper ground floor for visitors who can transfer into it and then into a National Trust wheelchair. The ground is uneven in places, with cobbles and loose gravel on garden paths, but level paths lead to the main visitor areas, including the shop, Stables Café and indoor play café. A shuttle service, manual wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be used if pre-booked on 01476 566116 (option 1). Accessible toilets are in the parkland toilets, the Stables Café and the indoor play area, and a Changing Places toilet is in the Information and Accessibility Hub. There is an induction loop in visitor reception, a braille guide for the mansion on request and a photograph album of the mansion. Only assistance dogs are allowed in the mansion, conservatory and playgrounds.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Playground / play area

The outdoor adventure playground is described as the largest in the National Trust, and the Ride indoor play café has slides and climbing obstacles for wet days. Seasonal family trails run during school holidays. Picnic areas are in the gardens and playground.

Getting there & parking

The estate is just off the A607 Grantham to Lincoln road and is signposted from the A1; use “Belton Village” for sat nav. Twelve 11 kW electric vehicle charging points are in the car park. Cyclists can follow National Cycle Network route 15; it takes about 15 minutes to cycle from the centre of Grantham to the Lion Gates.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Stables Café with indoor and outdoor seating, the Ride indoor play café, a playground kiosk and a seasonal ice cream parlour. Shop, plant shop and a second-hand bookshop (open daily 10:30–15:30 in winter). Picnic benches in the gardens and outdoor playground, cycle parking and 12 electric vehicle charging points (bring your own cable). Dogs on leads are welcome in the gardens, parkland, shops and Stables Café.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit