Rydal Mount
The Grade I listed Lake District home of William Wordsworth from 1813 to 1850, with a hillside garden he designed; currently closed to visitors.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Rydal Mount is a house above the village of Rydal, between Ambleside and Grasmere in the Lake District. William Wordsworth moved here in 1813 with his wife Mary and his sister Dorothy, after living for a short time at Allan Bank in Grasmere. It remained his family home until his death in 1850, and Dorothy lived there until 1855. The poet's friends, among them Samuel Taylor Coleridge, were frequent visitors.
Wordsworth took a keen interest in the grounds, which cover about five acres on a hillside with views over Grasmere and Windermere. He laid out the terraces and paths himself and regarded the garden as his outdoor workplace. Features include a summerhouse and a small building known as Dora Wordsworth's Schoolroom.
In 1969 the house was bought back by a descendant of the poet, and it was opened to the public the following year as a family-run visitor attraction, displaying portraits, furniture and personal objects. The family put the property up for sale in 2025. In March 2026 the Wordsworth Trust, which also runs Dove Cottage in Grasmere, acquired Rydal Mount. The family keeps the collections that were shown in the house, while the Trust holds many Wordsworth manuscripts and objects from the years spent here. The house and garden are closed while surveys, conservation assessments and plans for future use are completed, and the Trust has commissioned a feasibility study on how the site could operate.
Highlights
- Wordsworth family home from 1813 to 1850
- Five-acre hillside garden laid out by the poet
- Summerhouse and Dora Wordsworth's Schoolroom in the grounds
- Views over Rydal Water, Grasmere and Windermere area
Permanent exhibition
- House and garden – The Grade I listed home of William Wordsworth and the five-acre garden he designed. Currently closed to visitors.
- Operated by
- Wordsworth Trust
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
