Port Eliot
Grade I listed house and 60-acre gardens at St Germans in Cornwall, with guided tours of the state rooms, an art collection and Repton-style parkland.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Port Eliot in St Germans, Cornwall, is a Grade I listed house and the ancestral seat of the Earls of St Germans, home to the Eliot family. The site was once occupied by Augustinian monks, and the estate says people have lived here for over a thousand years, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited houses in the country. The house survived confiscation in the time of Charles I.
In the 18th century the house was remodelled by Sir John Soane, who also designed the stable yard that now holds the café and shops. The landscape architect Humphry Repton laid out the gardens and park, and the 60 acres of grounds include a large rhododendron garden, a maze, a bowling green, an orangery and an arboretum, with views over the estuary and the St Germans viaduct. St Germans Priory Church, with its Norman doorway, lies between the gardens and the village.
Today visitors can walk in the gardens and parkland or join a guided tour of the house. The tours take in the Round Room, the Saloon and the Drawing Room, which hold works by Sir Joshua Reynolds and Van Dyck, a large mural by Robert Lenkiewicz and historical collections of the Earl of St Germans. A longer tour adds the servants' basements and service rooms. The estate also runs events, camping, weddings and location hire.
Highlights
- State rooms with paintings by Reynolds and Van Dyck
- Large mural by Robert Lenkiewicz
- Historic basements and servants' rooms on the longer tour
- 60 acres of gardens in the style of Humphry Repton
- Stable yard by Sir John Soane with café and shops
- Views of the estuary and the St Germans viaduct
Permanent exhibitions
- State Rooms and Art Collection tour – A guided tour of the Round Room, Saloon and Drawing Room, with paintings by Reynolds, Van Dyck and Lenkiewicz.
- Historical basement tour – A longer guided tour that adds the servants' basements and connecting service rooms.
- Operated by
- Port Eliot Estate
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £4Students, locals, over-65s and coach tours |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 15 · Under 16s are free in the gardens. |
| Seniors | £4Ages 65 and over. |
| Students & apprentices | £4 |
| Groups | £4 per personCoach tour rate. |
| House tour: state rooms and art collection, adult | £20Includes garden entry. |
| House tour: state rooms and art collection, under 16 | £12 |
| House tour: state rooms and art collection, concession | £15Students, locals, over-65s and coach tours. |
| House tour with historical basement, adult | £35 |
| House tour with historical basement, under 16 | £15 |
| House tour with historical basement, concession | £25Students, locals, over-65s and coach tours. |
Prices are for gardens and parkland (adult) and house tours, which are booked online. Garden tickets are also sold at the Stables Café and shop and at the box office by the main house door.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The estate has uneven surfaces and visitors are advised to wear suitable footwear. House tours involve stairs and varied surfaces. Contact the estate office for details of access.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 15 |
|---|
Garden entry is free for under-16s. House tours are limited to one child place per paying adult, and children under 5 are not recommended.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
St Germans station · 5-min walk
St Germans station is on the Great Western Railway line between Exeter and Penzance, about a five-minute walk through the village. Buses 71 and 72 stop at St Germans station and the Eliot Arms pub.
By car
Parking available
Parking is at the estate entrance, just beyond the Stables Café at the end of the Newport lane.
From the A38 or A374 take the B3249 towards St Germans, then follow the signs to Newport; the lane ends at the Stables Café.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
The Stables Café and Tearooms in the stable yard is licensed and serves breakfast, lunch and cakes, and the adjoining Elephant Bar serves drinks. The shop stocks mainly Cornish products, books and gifts. Dogs on leads are welcome in the gardens.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Weddings / ceremonies
The house, with over 100 rooms, and the stable yard are available for location hire and filming, and the estate hosts weddings.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The house can only be seen on a guided tour. Tours are limited to ten adults and eight under-16s, booking is essential, and refreshments and a garden ticket are included. Children under 5 are allowed but not recommended, and there is one child place per paying adult. Other tour times can be arranged by phone. |
