I had visited Stourhead nearly ten years ago back in May 2016. I honestly did not realise that it had been so long. I had a National Trust membership in 2023, but never got back to Stourhead that year. Last year I had planned to do a Behind Closed Doors tour, but a work thing meant I had to cancel. The tour is one of the reasons why I wanted to renew my membership for 2026.
Having arrived at the property, I was pleased to see EV chargers, so I put the Funky Cat on charge. I was less pleased to see that there had been a cable theft from the rapid chargers.
I went to reception and then headed to the house.
Stourhead
One of the first grand Palladian-style villas to be built in England, with a carriage entrance leading to the piano nobile, or main floor. World-famous landscape garden with a lake set among lawns and classical temples, surrounded by trees and with sweeping views.
Current saving -£56
One adult £23.00
Parking £4.50
Total saving £27.50
Cumulative saving £67.50
Membership cost £96
Net cumulative saving -£28.50
The tour was a one hour tour and took in the parts of the house that aren’t normally open to visitors. This included the second floor rooms, which included the nursery, as well as the servants’ bedrooms. We also were taken into the basement kitchens as well.
I found the tour fascinating and really enjoyed going behind the scenes. I had enjoyed a similar tour at Dunster Castle last March. I think I will look into similar tours at other properties.
I had booked in for the tour, however the house’s state rooms weren’t open, so I will be probably heading back there sometime again this year.
After the tour I went to the cafe for a drink and a bite to eat. I had a quiche, but wasn’t that enamoured with it, too many cranberries.
I did however go and explore the gardens.
The repair of the dam, meant that I couldn’t do the full circuit of the lake, however then the rain started to come down, so I headed back to the car park and to head back home.
