Mapperton House
Historic family home of the Earl of Sandwich in West Dorset with guided house tours, an award-winning terraced garden and a wildlife estate.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Mapperton in West Dorset is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Malperetone. Afterwards the manor passed through only four families linked by descent in the female line, the Bretts, Morgans, Brodrepps and Comptons, until Mrs Ethel Labouchere bought it in 1919. Since her death in 1955 it has been the home of the family of the Earl of Sandwich, who still live there and open the house, gardens and estate to visitors.
The house combines 16th, 17th and 18th century building and decoration. The Sandwich collection includes paintings by Lely, Van de Velde the Younger, Scott, Reynolds and Hogarth, portraits of Edward Montagu, the 1st Earl of Sandwich, who was Charles II's first general-at-sea, and ship models and naval paintings from his period. The 4th Earl, said to have inspired the sandwich, was First Lord of the Admiralty and a sponsor of Captain Cook's voyages.
The Grade II* registered gardens lie in a steep combe, descending from formal topiary gardens and an orangery to an arboretum, and were named Historic Houses Garden of the Year in 2020. The wider estate also has a Wildlands safari area, a cafe in the Coach House and holiday accommodation. The house is shown on guided tours.
Highlights
- Guided tours of a lived-in manor house recorded in the Domesday Book
- Sandwich collection of paintings, textiles, ceramics and furniture
- Ship models and naval paintings linked to the 1st Earl of Sandwich
- Grade II* terraced garden with topiary, orangery and arboretum
- Wildlands self-guided safari on the wider estate
Permanent exhibition
- Mapperton House and the Sandwich collection – Guided tours of the lived-in manor house and the Sandwich collection of art, textiles, ceramics and furniture, including naval paintings and ship models.
- Operated by
- Mapperton Estate (Earl and Countess of Sandwich)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £15 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £5free up to age 4 · Children aged 5 to 15; under 5s free. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · A carer is admitted free of charge on production of documentary proof of disability, such as a blue or orange badge. |
| Groups (10+ people) | £18 per personHouse (including guided tour and the American Heiress exhibition) and gardens, per person, groups of 10 or more. |
| Families | £352 adults and up to 3 children (House and Gardens, March and October rate). |
| Gardens only, March and October | £10Children £5, family £25. |
| House and Gardens, April to September | £20Includes the guided house tour; children £7, family £45. |
| Gardens only, April to September | £15Children £5, family £35. |
| Gardens and Wildlands, March and October | £15Children £5, family £35. April to September £20, children £7, family £45. |
| Wildlands only (self-guided safari), March and October | £10Children £5, family £25. April to September £15, children £5, family £35. |
| Annual membership, single adult | £40Two adults £70, family £95, child £15. |
Prices shown are House and Gardens for March and October 2026, which include the guided house tour and the American Heiress exhibition. Historic Houses members receive free garden and house tour entry; RHS members get free garden entry on Tuesdays; members of partner gardens receive garden discounts redeemed in person.
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
About half of the garden is accessible by wheelchair along a recommended route marked on the visitor map; paths are gravel and some are very steep. The Coach House cafe and the ground floor of the house are accessible, but the house is not accessible to electric wheelchairs. Designated accessible parking is in the first row of the main car park, 50 metres from the entrance. An accessible toilet is to the right of the Coach House. Assistance dogs are welcome everywhere; other dogs on a short lead are allowed in the gardens and cafe but not in the house or Wildlands.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £35 · 2 adults and up to 3 children (House and Gardens, March and October rate). |
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Playground / play area
Children are welcome and play areas are available at the visitors' own risk. Free children's garden trails run during events such as the Easter and Halloween trails. Children must be supervised near the ponds.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
The nearest railway stations are Crewkerne and Dorchester. No bus services are mentioned on the estate website.
By car
Parking available · 50 m to the entrance
Main car park about 50 metres from the entrance to the house and gardens, with accessible bays in the first row.
- Accessible parking
Reached by road from Beaminster via the B3163 (5 minutes), from Bridport via the A35 (10 minutes), from Crewkerne via the A303 and A3066 and from Dorchester via the A37 and A356. The lane from Melplash is unsuitable for coaches. Satnav postcode DT8 3NR; what3words ///bumping.shadows.smarting.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
The Coach House cafe serves hot and cold drinks, cakes, cream teas, sandwiches and salads, and is open to visitors without a ticket. There is a picnic area next to the car park; picnics are not allowed in the gardens.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Weddings / ceremonies
The estate offers weddings, private hire and film location use.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 50 min |
|---|---|
| Photography | Photos for personal use are allowed in the gardens; no photography or video inside the house. |
| Good to know | The house can only be seen on guided tours, which are not intended for very young children. Large bags and rucksacks cannot be taken on the tour, and sharp-heeled shoes are not allowed in the house. Special group rates and tours of the gardens are available for groups of 10 or more. |
