Shaw's Corner
National Trust house and garden in Hertfordshire where the playwright George Bernard Shaw lived from 1906 until his death in 1950.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Shaw’s Corner is an Edwardian villa in the village of Ayot St Lawrence in Hertfordshire. The Irish playwright and political activist George Bernard Shaw lived here for more than 40 years from 1906, when he was already one of the most famous and most quoted men in the world. He wrote nearly 60 plays, as well as hundreds of thousands of letters and many pamphlets, and he and his wife Charlotte, an Irish suffragist, filled the house with the objects of their lives.
The house is kept much as Shaw left it after his death in November 1950. Visitors walk from room to room through Arts and Crafts inspired interiors, including Shaw’s study and drawing room. The house was furnished with Morris and Company textiles, a few of which survive, because Shaw was a lifelong friend and supporter of William Morris. Many objects were bought by Charlotte. The collection includes a bust of Shaw by Auguste Rodin, now one of the National Trust’s 125 treasures, and the Oscar awarded for the screenplay of the film of Pygmalion, together with the everyday tools of a writer. A drawing by Augustus John of Shaw’s friend T. E. Lawrence hints at their friendship.
The tranquil garden covers 3.5 acres in a conservation area and has been kept as Shaw liked it, including the small writing hut where he worked. The house and garden are cared for by the National Trust and are open seasonally.
Highlights
- Edwardian home of George Bernard Shaw, kept much as he left it
- Bust of Shaw by Auguste Rodin and the Oscar for the screenplay of Pygmalion
- Arts and Crafts inspired interiors with Morris and Company textiles
- Shaw’s study, drawing room and library
- 3.5-acre garden with Shaw’s writing hut and orchard
Permanent exhibition
- Shaw’s Corner – The Edwardian home of George Bernard Shaw, kept much as he left it, with a collection that includes a Rodin bust and the Oscar for Pygmalion, and a 3.5-acre garden.
- Operated by
- National Trust
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £11 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £5.50free up to age 4 · Children aged 5 to 17; under-5s are free. |
| Families | £27.50Two adults and up to three children. |
| One adult and up to three children | £16.50 |
Entry is free for National Trust members. Prices shown are for house and garden, standard admission without Gift Aid.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- 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
Two Blue Badge spaces are in the small car park next to visitor reception, and visitors can be dropped off by reception. The entrance to the house and garden is 50 metres away along flat gravel paths. The reception doorway and the house entrance each have two steps without handrails, and portable ramps are available; doors to the ground-floor rooms are 89 cm wide and corridors are narrow. The first floor is reached by a curved staircase of 18 steps, and an iPad shows a video of the upstairs for those who cannot climb. The garden has gravel and grass paths and some uneven ground and slopes. Two unisex toilets are available, including a temporary accessible toilet beside the car park. An induction loop is at reception and portable loops are available for tours. A large-print guide to the house and folding seats are available, and two single-seat mobility vehicles can be borrowed for the garden (booking at least 24 hours ahead on +44 1438 820307). Assistance dogs are welcome in the house.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £27.50 · Two adults and up to three children. |
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities: not available
The enclosed garden offers children’s trails and garden games to borrow, with space for picnics and a small selection of snacks and ice creams on sale. Paths around the garden are pushchair friendly. There is a toilet but no baby-changing facility, and staff can help to find a space.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
There is no public transport to Ayot St Lawrence. The nearest railway stations are Welwyn North (4½ miles), Harpenden (5 miles) and Welwyn Garden City (6 miles). The closest bus stops are in surrounding towns and villages; routes 45 and 304 give a flat walk from Blackmore End, with routes 44 and 314 as alternatives.
By car
Free parking
A small free car park is 30 yards from the house, not suitable for large vehicles; on busy days visitors may have to wait for a space.
- Accessible parking
All routes run down narrow lanes; the property recommends the route via Wheathampstead and gives an alternative route after heavy rain, when parts of the area flood. The satnav postcode is AL6 9BX. National Cycle Network route 12 is 1 mile away.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
A kiosk sells second-hand books, plants and a small selection of food and drink. Dogs on leads are welcome in the garden.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 45 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided experiences of the house last about 45 minutes, run Thursday to Sunday at 10:30 and 11:30 and must be booked in advance; volunteers tell the stories of the Shaws’ lives through objects. Free-flow entry without booking follows from 12:30. The visitor-information summary lists the tours at 10:15 and 11:15. |
