Welcome to Woodchester Mansion
A unique unfinished Victorian Gothic house hidden in a beautiful Cotswold valley
The Mansion is open to the public 11am – 5pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 1st Nov.
Click for more info on our Open Days.
Next Open Days
Fri 3rd, Sat 4th, Sun 5th September
For all enquiries, please email: info@woodchestermansion.org.uk
The house like no other… a cool oasis in a sizzling summer!
Woodchester Mansion is a unique and amazing Grade I listed Victorian Gothic house hidden in a beautiful Cotswold valley.
It is an unfinished masterpiece. Building started about 1857, but stopped in the mid-1860s so floors and ceilings are missing, walls not plastered and windows unglazed. All the secrets of the construction of the Mansion are visible – something visitors will never see in another country house.
The Mansion was designed by a young local architect, Benjamin Bucknall from Rodborough. He produced a unique Gothic Revival house which blends the local traditional work in limestone with the ideas of the French architectural thinker Viollet-le-Duc.
If you have a serious interest in the Mansion and its history we have a book.
The quality of the craftsmanship is outstanding: some stone carvings are inspired by the plants in the surrounding valley and others are life-like images of animals. There are also real mammals to be seen as the Mansion houses breeding colonies of Greater and Lesser Horseshoe bats. Both the animal carvings and the bats are fun for kids!
Owned by Stroud District Council, the Mansion is managed by the Woodchester Mansion Trust (it is NOT a National Trust property). On Open Days visitors can see how the house was built, admire the fine carvings and look at the bats on CCTV. Refreshments are available, we have a gift shop and the surrounding Woodchester Park (National Trust) can be explored. It is also possible to arrange private tours and hire of the Mansion.
Latest News & Events
Heritage Open Day
We will be open on Saturday 19th September for the annual Heritage Open Day Festival. We are partnering with the National Trust to offer guided tours around the Mansion and a guided walk to the boathouse, with the opportunity to see inside.
Stone Carving Workshops
We have two dates left for our popular STONE CARVING WORKSHOPS with master mason and experienced tutor Paul Maggs – Saturdays 19 Sept & 17 Oct. Read more to find out about costs and booking.
Volunteers Needed
We’re looking for new volunteers – all ages, all skills welcome! For our open days this year we need minibus drivers, reception & ticket desk volunteers, and new tour guides . We also need volunteers for routine maintenance around the Mansion. Come and join our friendly and enthusiastic group of local helpers.
New Grant!
We’re delighted to have been awarded a grant of £1,000 in the Movement for Good Awards Draw. Thank you to The Benefact Group for funding us and other charities with the scheme, and to all our supporters who nominated us.
Café Opening
We’re thrilled that HENRY’S BAKEHOUSE CAFÉ from Minchinhampton will be with us again in 2026 with their delicious range of quality coffees, teas, cakes and lunches. HENRY’S @ WOODCHESTER will be open 11-5pm Fri, Sat, Sun on Mansion Open Days, including bank holidays. Everyone welcome – come along, bring your dog, sit and eat!
Grant Award
We’re delighted to have been awarded a grant of £154,729 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for securing the future of Woodchester Mansion and its environment. PRESS RELEASE
Things to see and do at Woodchester Mansion
Bat Trail
We have a BAT TRAIL around the Mansion this month. Bring your children and grandchildren, go round the house spotting the bats – specially handmade for us by Bee Creative from Nailsworth. Learning and fun for kids of all ages! Cost: £1.50 per child.
Autumn at the Mansion
We are open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Sunday 1st November, 11am – 5pm.
Our famous HALLOWEEN SPOOKY CELLARS return this year. We will be open every day over half term Fri 23rd Oct to Sun 1st Nov with fun for all the family in the scary depths. The accompanying GOLDEN PUMPKIN TRAIL around the Mansion is great fun for children.
We’re taking part in the annual Heritage Open Day Festival on Sat 19th Oct. The Brewery Weekend is on Sat 3rd & Sun 4th October.
Finding Us
As you can see from the picture above, the Mansion (centre) is hidden deep in a beautiful Cotswold valley.
Please use the NT Buckholt car park at Woodchester Park, just off the B4066 Selsley – Uley road close to Coaley Peak (though the Mansion is NOT an NT property). There’s an hourly minibus service to the Mansion from this car park only on the hour 11am – 4pm.
If you’re not a local, please see the How to Find Us page so you have an easy journey. It’s best not to use our postcode in your satnav, as it can take you to the wrong end of the valley where there’s no access.
HENRY’S BAKEHOUSE CAFE
We’re delighted that the famous HENRY’S from Minchinhampton will be with us again this season, serving their superb coffee, delicious brunches (including the sausage rolls), light lunches and a range of mouthwatering cakes. Open when the Mansion’s open, all visitors to Woodchester Park welcome.
Conservation of the Drawing Room Bay Window
This project is now finished, and the scaffolding has gone. Leaks were causing damage to the vault inside. The original corrugated asbestos roofing has been replaced and the leaky gutters repaired and re-connected to the two eagle gargoyles – which, due to the lovely weather, haven’t seen much action this summer.
NEW TICKET! £16
We have an offer for regular visitors to the Mansion. Purchase our ADULT SEASON PASS and visit the Mansion as many times as you like on normal open days before 18th October 2026. Please note that the ticket is non-transferable and not usable at special events. COST £16.
We’re supported by
Grants
Thanks to a grant from SVTEC (the Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club) we are now able to offer visitors who have problems managing stairs the option of a video tour of the upper floors of the Mansion.
Mansion Café
HENRY’S @ WOODCHESTER
Henry’s Bakehouse from Minchinhampton manage our cafe.
They offer coffees, snacks, brunches, teas and DELICIOUS cakes
OPEN 11am – 5pm on Mansion Open Days (Fri, Sat, Sun & Bank Holidays)
