Paxton House
Palladian country house on the River Tweed with Chippendale furniture, a large picture gallery and 80 acres of grounds, visited by guided tour.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Paxton House was begun in 1758 for Patrick Home of Billie and was built, decorated and furnished over the following decades. Designed by John and James Adam and furnished with pieces by Thomas Chippendale, it is one of the most complete 18th-century country houses in Scotland and stands high above the River Tweed. Patrick Home sold it to his cousin Ninian Home, a sugar planter from Grenada, and after Ninian's death in 1795 it passed to his brother George.
George Home added a library and a large picture gallery in the east pavilion between about 1812 and 1814, designed by the Edinburgh architect Robert Reid and furnished by the Scottish cabinetmaker William Trotter. The picture gallery is described as the largest purpose-built picture gallery in Scotland, and it displays more than seventy Scottish paintings lent by the National Galleries of Scotland.
In 1988 John Home Robertson set up The Paxton Trust, a registered charity, so that the public could enjoy the house and grounds. The collection of Chippendale and Trotter furniture and its archives has been recognised as nationally significant. A display in the Old Billiard Room and a trail look at the house's links to sugar and slavery.
Highlights
- Scotland's largest collection of Thomas Chippendale furniture
- Regency picture gallery with Scottish paintings lent by the National Galleries of Scotland
- Sugar and Slavery exhibition and trail
- 80 acres of grounds with riverside walks, an adventure play park and views of the Union Chain Bridge
- Stables Tearoom and gift shop
Permanent exhibitions
- The house and picture gallery – Guided tour of the principal rooms with Chippendale and Trotter furniture and the Picture Gallery with Scottish paintings lent by the National Galleries of Scotland.
- Sugar and Slavery – Display in the Old Billiard Room about the house's connections to sugar planting and slavery, with a related trail.
- Operated by
- The Paxton Trust
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £16.96 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £15.90Students, senior citizens and people with disabilities |
| Children & teens | £7.95Online price for the house tour including grounds. |
| Groups (15+ people) | –Pre-booked groups of 15 or more are welcome. |
| Families | £44.522 adults and 2 children. |
| Paxton Pass (yearly access to house and grounds) | £26.50Includes 10% off in the gift shop and Stables Tearoom. |
| Friends Pass, individual | £37.10 |
| Friends Pass, couple | £63.60For two people living at the same address; includes 2 free guest passes. |
Prices are the online booking prices including fees. The ticket covers a guided house tour and all-day access to the grounds and gardens, and parking is included. Historic Houses members enter free. Only card payments are accepted on site, with a minimum spend of 2 pounds.
Accessibility
- Partially 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
A lift serves the main reception floor of the house; the first floor is reached only by stairs, and a video tour with audio description and subtitles is shown on the reception floor. The courtyard, toilets, Stables Tearoom and gift shop are step-free, although some flagstones are uneven. Access may be limited for mobility devices wider than 75 cm. Two disabled parking spaces are near visitor reception. Accessible toilets are on the ground floor and in the courtyard, where baby changing is also available. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | £44.52 · 2 adults and 2 children. |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
Children can follow a Paxton Ted Trail through the house and seasonal trails in the grounds. There is an adventure play park with a zip wire and a den-building area, and workshops and activities such as pond dipping are listed on the What's On page.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bus 32 stops on the estate (see bordersbuses.co.uk for timetables). Berwick-upon-Tweed railway station on the East Coast Main Line is about 5 miles away.
By car
Free parking
Hard-standing car park a short walk from the courtyard, with two disabled bays and a bike shed. Parking is included in the house ticket or grounds pass.
- Accessible parking
About 3 miles from the A1 Berwick-upon-Tweed bypass on the B6461. The grounds connect by a walk to the Union Chain Bridge.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Wi-Fi
Stables Tearoom serving light lunches and afternoon tea, and a gift shop with products from local makers. Wi-Fi is free in the main public areas (tearoom, shop and exhibition spaces). Picnics are welcome in designated areas.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Weddings / ceremonies
The house and grounds, including the restored Boat House, can be hired for weddings and private events.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | House admission is by guided tour only and lasts one to one and a half hours; booking ahead is advised. Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds and in the tearoom courtyard, but not in the house except assistance dogs. An education and learning programme is offered. |
