Stansted House
Edwardian country house at Stansted Park with furnished state rooms, servants’ quarters and a historic chapel, open on summer afternoons.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Stansted House stands in Stansted Park, a large estate on the Hampshire and West Sussex border. An earlier house on the estate was visited by Elizabeth I in 1591, and a new house was begun on the present site in 1686. A fire in 1900 destroyed the main block, which was rebuilt in 1903 on the same footprint to a design by Arthur Blomfield. The stables and service wing survived the fire.
The 9th Earl of Bessborough bought the estate in 1924. In 1983 the 10th Earl placed the house, its contents and the arboretum in the hands of the Stansted Park Foundation, a charitable trust set up to preserve the estate for the public.
Visitors can tour the state rooms, which are furnished as though the 10th Earl still lived there, and the servants’ quarters below stairs. Volunteer stewards share the history of the house and the family. The Grade I listed Chapel of St Paul, built between 1812 and 1816, opens alongside the house.
Highlights
- State rooms furnished as in the days of the 10th Earl of Bessborough
- Servants’ quarters below stairs
- Chapel of St Paul, built 1812–16
- Edwardian house rebuilt in 1903 after a fire
Permanent exhibitions
- State rooms and servants’ quarters – Furnished state rooms and the servants’ area below stairs, shown as in the time of the 10th Earl of Bessborough.
- Chapel of St Paul – A Grade I listed chapel built between 1812 and 1816, open together with the house.
- Operated by
- Stansted Park Foundation
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £8Over 60s and students |
| Children & teens | £5free up to age 4 · Ages 5 to 16; free during holiday periods. |
| Seniors | £8 |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · One free carer ticket is included with a suitable admission ticket; proof such as a Blue Badge or a DLA or PIP award is accepted. |
| Students & apprentices | £8 |
| Groups (15+ people) | £8 per personSelf-guided group visit for groups of 15 to 50 people. |
| Families | £252 adults and 3 children. |
| Guided tour for groups (Upstairs, Downstairs or Servants Quarters) | £15About 1.5 hours and includes the chapel; groups of 15 to 50 people. |
National Art Pass holders pay half price, and CPRE members receive 10 percent off adult entry. Friends of Stansted Park and Historic Houses members enter free. Tickets can be bought in advance or on arrival in the Main Hall.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- 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
The house has a wheelchair platform lift and an inside passenger lift, but they cannot take mobility scooters or large powered wheelchairs, so visitors should call ahead. A mobility buggy runs between the main car park, the chapel and the house while the house is open. Disabled parking bays are outside the Garden Centre and next to the Pavilion Tearoom. Some paths in the grounds are gravelled. Only assistance dogs are allowed in the house and the Dutch Garden.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £25 · 2 adults and 3 children. |
Children aged 5 to 16 pay a reduced price, and a family ticket is available.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Rowlands Castle station · 45-min walk
The nearest station is Rowlands Castle, about a 45-minute walk along the avenue (roughly 2 miles). Taxis are available from Havant and Emsworth stations. The Book-a-Bus on-demand service operates in rural areas with limited bus routes.
By car
Free parking
Free parking in the main visitor car park at the South Entrance (postcode PO9 6DU).
- Accessible parking
Amenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
The Pavilion Tearoom is in the Walled Garden. The estate also has a farm shop, garden centre and bookshop.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
The estate offers venues for weddings, corporate events and private functions.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Group guided tours cover the state rooms and servants’ quarters and include the chapel. Group bookings are made on the group booking form or by email to visitors@stanstedpark.co.uk. An education section is listed on the estate’s website. |
