Compton Verney
Art gallery in an 18th-century Warwickshire mansion with six permanent collections, changing exhibitions and 120 acres of Capability Brown parkland.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Compton Verney is a Grade I listed country house in Warwickshire, built in 1714 for Richard Verney, 11th Baron Willoughby de Broke, on the site of earlier Verney family manor houses. In the 1760s the interiors were redesigned by Robert Adam for the 14th baron, and the parkland was landscaped by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown in 1769. The Verney family sold the estate in 1921, and the house later passed through several owners and was requisitioned by the army in the Second World War.
It stood empty and run-down until 1993, when it was bought by the Peter Moores Foundation, a charity supporting music and the visual arts. The house was restored and converted into a gallery able to host major exhibitions. It is now run by the Compton Verney House Charity.
The gallery shows six permanent collections: Neapolitan art from about 1600 to 1800, Northern European medieval art, British portraits and miniatures, Chinese bronzes, British folk art, and the Marx-Lambert collection of folk art from around the world, which inspired the textile designer Enid Marx. Changing exhibitions are included in the admission price. The 120 acres of grounds hold a lake, woodland, a chapel, an ice house, a playground and an outdoor Sculpture in the Park programme.
Highlights
- Six permanent collections including Naples, Chinese bronzes and British folk art
- Robert Adam interiors in a Grade I listed house
- 120 acres of parkland landscaped by Capability Brown
- Sculpture in the Park
- Free gallery tours on Wednesdays and Thursdays
- Free admission for visitors aged 18 and under
Permanent exhibitions
- Naples Collection – Painting and works from Naples between about 1600 and 1800.
- Chinese Collection – Chinese bronzes dating from the Neolithic and Shang periods.
- Folk Art and Marx-Lambert Collections – British folk art and the Marx-Lambert collection of folk art from around the world.
- Founded
- 1998
- Operated by
- Compton Verney House Charity
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £20.45 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £10Visitors aged 19 to 25 |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Free for everyone aged 18 and under; children aged 12 and under must be supervised by an adult. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Essential companions of adults with a Nimbus Access Card visit free. |
| Groups (15+ people) | £18 per personAdult price for groups of 15 or more, booked in advance. |
| Day ticket on the day (without donation) | £22.27Pre-book price is £20.45. |
| Universal Credit or Pension Credit ticket | £2Evidence of eligibility required. |
| Green ticket | £10For visitors who arrive by bus, bicycle or on foot. |
Lowest standard adult price shown (pre-booked, without donation); adding a donation, which allows Gift Aid to be claimed, raises it to £22.50 online and £24.50 on the day. One ticket covers the galleries, exhibitions and grounds. Members are free, Art Fund National Art Pass holders pay half price, and the cost of a day ticket is refunded if you join as a member within 7 days of the visit.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- 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
The Welcome Centre has level floors, automatic doors, accessible toilets, a low counter and hearing loops. A volunteer-run shuttle with a wheelchair ramp, or a wheelchair-friendly path of 426 m, leads to the house. The galleries have a ramped entrance, lifts to each floor, accessible toilets on each floor, a few free wheelchairs, portable stool seats and large-print guides. Audio-described tours can be arranged by phone. A self-drive Tramper mobility vehicle can be hired for the grounds (£5 donation; book ahead). Some paths have slopes, and the incline and one step to the chapel can be assisted. There are 12 Blue Badge parking spaces. Only assistance dogs are allowed in the house.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 18 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
Children and young people aged 18 and under enter free. Activity backpacks, art carts and a discovery room in the galleries, a woodland playground, a forest school and school-holiday activities are on offer, plus Wonder Wednesdays for under-5s and a children's menu in the café. The galleries have lifts to every floor and baby changing on the ground and second floors.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Stagecoach buses serve the area, and a dial-a-ride service (IndieGo PLUS) is open to residents of the Stratford-on-Avon district. The nearest railway stations are Leamington Spa, Warwick Parkway, Stratford-upon-Avon and Banbury, each a 20 to 30 minute taxi ride away.
By car
Free parking · 10-min walk · 426 m to the entrance
Free on-site car park with 12 Blue Badge spaces and two electric vehicle chargers. A free shuttle runs from the Welcome Centre to the house; walking takes about 10 minutes.
- Accessible parking
6 miles from M40 junction 12, about 20 minutes' drive from Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick and Leamington Spa. what3words: riper.plotted.connector. A £10 green ticket is offered to visitors arriving by bus, bicycle or on foot, and there are bike racks by the Welcome Centre.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
Café serving seasonal, locally sourced food, with hot food ordered from 10:00 to 15:00 and counter items until 16:30. Gallery shop and a shopping area in the Welcome Centre. Tables for parties of 8 or more can be booked.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
Rooms for weddings, corporate events and conferences, parties and occasions, plus filming and photography locations.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Free exhibition and collection tours run on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and Walk in the Park landscape tours run on selected days, free with admission. Audio guides for some exhibitions and collections are available through an app (bring your own headphones). Group visits for 15 or more people must be booked in advance. |
