Cotehele

About the museum

The Edgcumbe family acquired the Cotehele estate on the Cornish bank of the River Tamar through a marriage in 1353. By 1480 it was described as a mansion, incorporating an earlier chapel. Sir Richard Edgcumbe, who rebelled against Richard III and later supported Henry Tudor, was rewarded with land and offices, and his new wealth paid for major building work that gave the house the courtyard plan it has today. A north-west tower was added around 1560 and many rooms were remodelled in the 1650s.

The family later made Mount Edgcumbe their main home, and Cotehele became a second house that they presented as a symbol of their ancient lineage. Between about 1750 and 1860 they furnished it with tapestries, arms and armour, pewter and old oak furniture, deliberately creating a nostalgic atmosphere. The house also holds some of the National Trust's rarest tapestries, a 15th-century turret clock and a pair of whale jawbones in the Great Hall. Below the house the quay on the Tamar served local industries in the 19th century, loading mining and farm goods onto river vessels.

The collections were formally transferred to the National Trust in 1974. The Trust repaired the quay in the 1960s, restored the Tamar sailing barge Shamrock, which it acquired in 2015, and repaired the mill in the 1970s. Since the 1950s the Great Hall has been decorated each winter with an 18-metre garland of dried flowers grown and prepared on the estate.

Highlights

• Tudor and medieval house with tapestries, armour and old oak furniture
• Great Hall with whale jawbones and the Christmas garland
• 15th-century turret clock in the chapel
• Terraced garden, Valley Garden and orchards
• Cotehele Quay with the restored sailing barge Shamrock
• Estate of 1,300 acres with walking trails

Permanent exhibitions

• Cotehele house – A fortified Tudor manor house with the Great Hall, chapel, tapestries, armour, pewter and old oak furniture, including whale jawbones and a 15th-century turret clock.
• Cotehele Quay and the barge Shamrock – A former working quay on the Tamar with the restored sailing barge Shamrock and a Discovery Centre telling the story of the Tamar Valley.

Admission & discounts

The prices shown are for the house and garden until 1 November 2026 and are given without Gift Aid; with Gift Aid the adult ticket is £19.80, the child ticket £9.90 and the two-adult family ticket £49.50. National Trust members enter free. Gardener's World 2 for 1 passes, Art Fund passes and Cornwall Culture Cards are also accepted.

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

The house has narrow corridors and steep steps, and the garden is only partly accessible; a map of the accessible route is available from visitor reception. Ramps lead to the shop, gallery and house, and the shop and café have level access at the rear. Uneven cobbles lie in Retainers' Court. Accessible parking is in the farm yard car park, with a drop-off point by Visitor Reception and another by the Discovery Centre. There are two accessible toilets, in the farm yard and on the quay, but no Changing Places facility. Fixed induction loops are at reception, the café, shop, gallery and mill, and large print is available. Two manual wheelchairs can be hired, and a powered mobility vehicle can be booked through the Countryside Mobility scheme. A shuttle bus may run between the house, quay and mill. Assistance dogs are welcome everywhere.

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

Seasonal family trails run through the year, such as a Bear Hunt sensory trail until 15 November 2026 and a Christmas family trail from 21 November. A Terrific Textiles spotter trail runs inside the house until 1 November. There are play areas by the Cherry Orchard and at the quay, a buggy-friendly route around the garden and quay towards the mill, and baby-changing facilities in most toilets. A resource station at Visitor Welcome lends fidget toys, ear defenders, sunglasses and colouring sheets. Visitors are asked to take care near the quay and the ponds.

Getting there & parking

From Plymouth or Callington take the A388 towards St Mellion, then follow the signs through St Dominick and Bohetherick to Cotehele Bridge. Some sat navs suggest a wrong left turn at the crossroads. Large vehicles are advised to come via the A390 from Tavistock because of narrow lanes and a narrow bridge. Visitors arriving by bus, train or bicycle can claim a free hot drink at Visitor Welcome.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers

The Barn Café by the house serves lunches, light bites, cakes and drinks, and has a children's menu. The Edgcumbe Café at the quay is closed until further notice. A shop and the Bull Pen Gallery sell gifts, with a plant shop and a second-hand bookshop nearby. Free lockers for large bags are in Hall Court. Toilets are by reception, at the quay and in the garden, and picnics are welcome.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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