You don’t need to travel back in time to experience England’s rich history. From the Iron age to the Victorian era, the National Trust has preserved many beautiful estates around the country. Bristol and the countryside surrounding it, including Somerset and Gloucestershire, are an absolute treasure trove of National Trust gems and in this guide, we’re going to look at some of our absolute favourites.
1. Tyntesfield
Standing in all its Victorian Gothic splendour, Tyntesfield witnessed four generations of the Gibbs family as they built their wealth from the guano trade. Its history, however, dates further back to the Tynte baronets in the 1500s, where the former hunting lodge got its name.
Opening Times
- House — 11am to 4pm
- Cafe — 10:30am to 5pm
- Estate and Garden — 10am to 6pm
- Restaurant and Shop — 10am to 5:30pm
Admission Price
Prices vary, depending on which part of the estate you’re visiting. Adults, children, and groups also have a different admission price.
What You Can Do
- Explore the semi-natural ancient woodland landscapes with a variety of tree species and wildlife.
- See flowers in bloom in the estate gardens.
- Walk around with your dog/s.
- Explore the Victorian gothic house.
- Enjoy homemade dishes using estate-grown ingredients.
2. Dyrham Park
A 17th-century baroque country house situated in South Gloucestershire, Dyrham is home to an ancient deer park. The mansion was built for William Blathwayt and passed on to his descendants until the Ministry of Works bought it in 1956 and handed over to the National Trust. Because of the abundance of deer in the park, dogs are not allowed in the main deer park or garden.
Opening Times
- House — 11am to 5pm
- Basement, Garden, Park, and Tea rooms — 10am to 5pm
Admission Price
Admission for adults, children, families, and groups have different admission prices. Entrance for National Trust members is free.
What You Can Do
- Walk around the 270-acre ancient parkland and see a herd of 200 fallow deer.
- Roam the mansion and see 17th-century artwork, ceramics, and furniture, as well as a blue-and-white Dutch Delftware collection.
- Unwind and enjoy home cooked meals with the estate’s produce and meat as ingredients.
3. Lacock Abbey
A 13th-century abbey for the Augustinian order, Lackock was turned into a family house for the Talbots in the 15th century. In the 19th century, William Henry Fox Talbot famously invented the world’s first photographic negative within the property’s walls—a photo of one of the abbey’s windows. The property features a small museum dedicated to Talbot and the history of photography and is well worth a browse.
Opening Times
- Abbey rooms — 10am to 5pm
- Cloisters, Grounds and Museum, Shops, and Stables Cafe — 10am to 5:30pm
- Village — Dawn to dusk
- Courtyard tea-room — 10am to 5pm
Admission Price
Adults, children, families, and groups have different admission prices. Children under 5 years old can come in free.
What You Can Do
- Check out the Fox Talbot Museum dedicated to William Talbot’s contributions to photography.
- Stroll around the grounds, especially when flowers are in bloom.
- Visit Lacock village which was the filming location for several movies and TV shows like Harry Potter, Pride and Prejudice, and Downton Abbey.
4. Newark Park
Located on top of the Cotswold escarpment, the Newark estate is a 700-acre hunting lodge built in the 1500s. Throughout the course of almost 400 years, the property was developed to include its modern-day versions of a house and sprawling garden.
Opening Times
- Newark Park — 11am to 5pm
Admission Price
Adults, children, families, and groups have different admission prices.
What You Can Do
- Explore Newark house and its surrounding gardens, where flora and fauna thrive.
- Walk the trails with your family and/or your dogs.
5. Leigh Woods
Right at the outskirts of Bristol is Leigh Woods — a 2 sq km woodland with mixed broadleaves and open coppice areas. Situated on the plateau above the Avon Gorge, visitors are greeted with a backdrop of the bustling city life in Bristol and a variety of tree and wildlife species.
Opening Times
- Leigh Woods — Dawn to dusk
Admission Price
Free
What You Can Do
- Bike on trails that weave through the woodlands.
- Walk or run along its trails with views of Bristol in the background.
- Explore an Iron Age fort with ancient artefacts.
6. Blaise Hamlet
Blaise Hamlet is composed of nine small rustic cottages in Henbury village. Designed by John Nash in the 19th century, all cottages are unique with people living in them today.
Opening Times
- Blaise Hamlet — Dawn to dusk
Admission Price
Free
What You Can Do
- Explore nine unique cottages, including the circular, dial, dutch, diamond, double, oak, rose, sweetbriar, and vine cottage.
7. Clevedon Court
This 14th-century manor house was renovated throughout the years. The Elton baronets inherited the property in the 18th century; it was then given to the National Trust as partial payment for inheritance tax in 1960. Although the Elton family still lives here, it’s open to the public in the afternoons.
Opening Times
- Clevedon Court — 2pm to 5pm (open only on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays; closed in October to December 2019)
Admission Price
Adults, children, families, and groups have different admission prices. Note: Only cash is accepted.
What You Can Do
- Explore the gardens which date back to the 13th century
- Explore the manor and check out the family’s collection of Eltonware pottery and Nailsea glass
8. Prior Park
One of the pioneers of the English landscape garden style, Prior Park was designed by poet Alexander Pope and Lancelot “Capability” Brown in the 18th century.
Opening Times
- Garden — 10am to 5:30pm
- Tea Shed — 11am to 4pm
Admission Price
Adults, children, families, and groups have different admission prices.
What You Can Do
- Join guided tours
- Enjoy the musical playground with your kids.
- Walk through the gardens with flowers in full bloom, especially during spring.
- Check out one of the only four Palladian bridges in the world.
9. Stourhead
A landscape garden with a lake as its centrepiece, Stourhead was once touted as a “living work of art” when it was first opened in the 1740s. This 1,000-hectare estate houses a Palladian mansion, gardens, farmlands, and Stourton village.
Opening Times
- Garden — 9am to 6pm
- House — 11am to 4:30pm
- King Alfred’s Tower — 12pm to 4pm
- Restaurant — 9am to 5:30pm
- Shop — 9:30am to 5:30pm
Check out their year-long schedule as certain areas are closed throughout the year.
Admission Price
Adults, children, families, and groups have different admission prices, exclusive of parking fees.
What You Can Do
- Explore the family home and the garden landscape
- Walk around with your family and/or dogs
10. Cadbury Camp
A hill fort that’s been around since the Iron Age, the 7-acre Cadbury Camp was occupied and constructed from 6th century BC to mid-first century AD.
Opening Times
- Countryside — Dawn to dusk
Admission Price
Free
What You Can Do
- Explore grassland untouched by modern farming methods, where you can see wildflowers and livestock
- Set up a picnic below the hill fort
- Climb the 2.5 mile trail up to the hill fort
The National Trust also has many other historic properties around Bath and Bristol that you can visit. If you’re looking for a place in Bristol to stay whilst exploring these sites, then check out our Bristol properties for short-term accommodations at very competitive prices.
