Witley Court & Gardens — Attraction in Malvern Hills

If ever you want to waste away a few hours looking at beautiful gardens and a derelict mansion this has got to be one of the best in the country?

If you are a member of English heritage then it is free to go and see and enjoy. We have been a few times now and I never cease to get over how wealthy the person who built this place must have been, it must have been stupendous in its heyday?

The Venue... Plenty of parking when you get there and the main entrance to the venue is just off the carpark. Pass through the shop and its a seven minute walk through a bit of a wood, passing by a beautiful ornamental lake. The end of the walk takes you to the house.

Access... It gets a bit steep in places but, with a bit of muscle, I think a wheel chair could be man handled to the top? Once up at the ruin though, their are steps down to the garden which would be difficult to get a wheelchair down and back up! So, I recommend you ring if you need confirmation of this. There may be something I don't know about as I saw plenty of elderly people and kids in pushchairs, possibly, there may be a shuttle you can book in advance? If not their ought to be!

The gardens... The gardens are incredibly good considering the house was destroyed in a fire and then left to fall into ruin for many years, eventually being taken over by English heritage.

The main focal point of the garden is the beautiful pond with a fountain, it is activated on the hour all day for about fifteen minutes when you can admire its beauty!

Whilst we were there, there was a small band playing jazz music. Not my choice of music but it added to the occasion and for that reason alone I embraced the moment and had a good listen! I believe they have little events like this periodically and its worth bearing that in mind?!!?

Sadly, I couldn't see anywhere where you could go up into the heights of the ruin (like you can in say a castle) where from you could have seen the extent of the land that belonged to the house. However, there are pictures on show of how some of the rooms looked. (I have added these to this revue.)

Is it worth going? Well, as I said above, we have been a few times so the answer is a...

SUMMARY: Magnificent ruin of an English mansion. Lovely grounds. Wonderful for photography.

DETAILS: This family friendly estate is perfect for visitors - both local and international. We came from Australia and all had a superb time, especially my 11 year old daughter who took great delight in exploring and photographing almost every inch of the place.

There are four major areas to explore. Firstly between the generous car park and the ruins there is a great wooded garden walk. Take your time to enjoy this, especially the children's playground there.

Next are the ruins, where you have to pay the entry fee (unless you are a member of English Heritage - I'll mention that later). Visitors are permitted to explore the ruins at will. They are extensive, visually splendid and child safe (at least we found them so on our visit). They are also very photogenic.

Out the back is a large ornamental lawn and gardens with a magnificent fountain that explodes into life every hour or so. Take your time to enjoy these.

Lastly is the Parish Church. Technically this is not part of the manor and probably has its own listing. Nevertheless the interior is magnificent in the way that many European churches are, with painted ceilings and much ornamentation.

You must visit!

NOTES: Whenever we visit the UK we get memberships of English Heritage and the National Trust. This is because we love visiting historic buildings and monuments. The cost of paying the annual family membership of just one of these allows us to recoup our outlay after visiting just 5 destinations. Given that on some days we visited two in a row, this was a bargain. Witley Court is under the auspices of English Heritage. Make sure to arrange your membership at least 2 months ahead of time because their administration...

On a delightful Saturday afternoon, we had the pleasure of visiting one of English Heritage's true gems: Witley Court and Gardens in Worcestershire. From the moment we arrived, we were thoroughly impressed by the warm welcome extended to us at the visitor centre. The staff were exceedingly helpful and kind, even going so far as to offer our beloved ShiTzu, Cooco, a tasty dog biscuit and a gentle pat—a gesture he found most agreeable. The gardens, oh, the gardens! They were simply magnificent, boasting an array of small, shaded nooks and an abundance of seating areas perfect for basking in the natural splendour. The stunning pond served as a captivating centrepiece, reflecting the beauty of its surroundings. As for the court itself, while now in ruins, it exuded an ethereal charm. Our late afternoon visit coincided with the lengthening shadows of late summer, which painted the ancient stones in the most breathtaking hues, creating an atmosphere of timeless romance. I must confess, we arrived a tad too late to fully explore every nook and cranny of this marvellous estate. However, this only solidified our resolve to return posthaste. For those considering frequent visits, one might do well to contemplate an English Heritage membership—it would be a prudent investment indeed. The fountains and meticulously manicured gardens provided the perfect environment to recharge one's batteries before reluctantly returning to the hustle and bustle of city life. Witley Court and Gardens truly offers a restorative escape from the clamour of modern existence. In conclusion, our visit to Witley Court and Gardens was nothing short of enchanting, and we eagerly anticipate our next sojourn to this splendid slice of...