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 & Bank Holidays until 1st Nov. Click for more info on our Open Days.
Next Open Days
Fri 10th, Sat 11th, Sun 12th July
Fri 10th – we are sorry but there is no guided tour at 2:30pm. Self-guided only Friday afternoon.
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
The Watchers of Woodchester Mansion
Bring the family to this Magical Summer Adventure uniting mystery, imagination and play. Enjoy this outdoor immersive theatre experience that leads you into the Mansion to explore, create, and be amazed. Discover the watchers! Running every Thursday in August. Booking online now.
Stone Carving Workshops
Our popular STONE CARVING WORKSHOPS with master mason and experienced tutor Paul Maggs will be held in 2026 on Saturdays 11 July, 22 Aug, 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
Children’s Bat Trail
We’ve teamed up with local community group Bee Creative to create a BAT TRAIL around the Mansion for families in the summer holidays. Search around the Mansion for Echo the Bat and her friends, all handmade by Bee Creative and hidden in the nooks and crannies of the unfinished house. Look hard and learn lots about our bats and wildlife conservation on the way, as well as finding out about the wonderful Mansion. We have two trails for younger and older children – and mums and dads can join in too! All junior participants gain a BAT PROTECTOR badge at the end. Cost £1.50 per child.
Upstairs Tour
We now have a film of the UPSTAIRS TOUR for less able visitors. Please ask at reception.
2026 Summer Season
We’re now almost halfway through the 2026 SUMMER SEASON at Woodchester Mansion. We are open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and all Bank Holidays, until Sunday 1st November, 11am – 5pm.
We’re looking forward to the Watchers of Woodchester Mansion, our magical summer holiday adventure for families, uniquely designed for the unique Mansion. This is already booking, spaces are filling, secure your tickets now! Families can also enjoy our Bat Trail in the summer holidays. Once autumn comes we have our special Brewery Open Weekend, where visitors can see the historic brewery (normally closed to the public). Then it’s half term and time for our annual HALLOWEEN celebrations.
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
More scaffolding! Work is progressing steadily on conservation of the leaky drawing room bay window. Leaks were causing damage to the vault inside. The original, possibly temporary, corrugated asbestos roofing will be replaced and the bitumen-lined gutters repaired and re- connected to the two eagle gargoyles – which, as you can see, are well wrapped up during the work.
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)
