National Trust - Charlecote Park — Attraction in Stratford-on-Avon

This is a superb and beautifully picturesque National Trust property on the banks of the River Avon situated in the village of Charlecote near Wellesbourne, Warwickshire. The property is fairly vast with an extensive Parkland where you van enjoy many easy going walks and enjoy spectacular views of the River Avon as it sweeps through the heart of the property. In the Parkland you can also enjoy the opportunity of spotting some Fallow Deer, which are very elusive roaming around and within the Parkland there are Deer Sanctuaries to prevent you wandering too far into their habitat but they are a spectacular sight nonetheless. There are many stunning features at the property such as The house itself with its amazing Tudor Architecture and also the Gatehouse, which is one of the best and most iconic of any Gatehouses at any National Trust Property around and provides a great welcome as you wander up to the house. There is also some outbuildings you can wander into such as The Kitchen and Scullery along with the Laundry and Brewhouse that has some interesting informative information to accompany it giving you a full clear idea of their uses and how they functioned. There is also a spectacular Carriage Collection to see with The conditions of the Carriages on show simply stunning considering their age. Inside the house it is just as good with a number of interesting rooms to see such as The Billiards Room and The Drawing Room, which are the stand out rooms with their wonderful wallpaper and furniture items on show and inside the house and there are some interactive exhibitions such as The memories of Charlecote and about one of the family members to offer a more different dynamic to the house and you can also some breathtaking Portraits in the Entrance Hall. The gardens are beautiful with a lovely Paterre Garden to the west of the property overlooking the river and the Parkland and also some spectacular borders with the wonderful aroma of Roses on show and also you can see a beautiful Summerhouse that is being wonderfully preserved and also in the lead up to the entrance to house there is wonderful topiary bushes to see. Inside the Gatehouse there is a brief but interesting exhibition about the Lucy family who lived at Charlecote. There is a cafe on site selling a variety of food and drink at reasonable prices and also a gift shop with a wonderful array of souvenirs at reasonable prices. Overall this is a spectacular and beautiful place to visit, which makes for a wonderful and enjoyable day out. Definitely Well worth a visit whilst in the...

What a super spring morning to visit this NT property! Headed straight for the café (top NT tip if visiting pre-lunchtime) for great brunch of tea and a sandwich. As I finished my repast there was barely a table free in the orangery so the very long queue of diners that amassed by that time would be dining alfresco on a not altogether warming sort of sunny patio. Hey ho, I was fuelled for the house!

There's not as much open to public as might be imagined. I would say far less than a fifth. The first room entered is the great hall, by far the largest on the route. There were no tours on the day of my visit, good for me as I prefer to amble/scramble at my own pace anyway. So a self-guided tour takes you from the great hall into a dining room overlooking the breathtakingly beautiful parterre, river Avon and distant views beyond. Regrettably this stunning room and contents (including a colossal locally carved buffet) together with it's views were marred by the inane and incessant chatter of the two NT volunteers partially obstructing the bay window. If you are interested in classic vehicles crashed on central reservations, the boxy styling lines of luxury 1970's sports motors or technical driving characteristics of the Lotus as compared with the Triumph then sure, this was definitely the place to be. Unless one of you was Mr Lucy (in which case, please accept my unreserved apology), how about restricting your volumed blokey banter to below stairs?

Through the billiards room, the music room was a delight. Warm and vibrant wall silks embracing visitors as they enter, quite my favourite room. An unusual stone spiral staircase from here directly into a bedroom above and from there the few accessible rooms on the first floor led to the main staircase and via a small vestible with framed family photographs back into the great hall. The Lucy family continue to occupy their stunning home. From a wander in the grounds it is evident that the house requires much structural restoration and glimpses through windows reveal a need of fabrics desperate for love or replacement also.

Aside from the house itself there is access to adjacent buildings housing a laundry, kitchen, carriages a bookshop and other...

I visited charlecott park today with my husband and son. I have mobility issues and have to use a mobility scooter . This is not a good place to visit if you have mobility issues .The lowest point was being stopped from entering the house as I was going up the ramp to be told they wouldn't let me enter on my scooter as it was a busy bank holiday . This should of been pointed before on the website or before we brought tickets to go in there . I then had to leave my scooter and use a wheelchair they provided ,but you can only access the lower floor then too. I was told that I could sit in one of the chairs provided and see the upstairs on a provided ipad as my son and husband went upstairs ,hubby and son wouldn't leave me down there as they went up so we couldn't do that either ,our choice I know but just making you aware how much of an after thought you are if you have mobility issues . There is no information on any of the portraits etc either ,only signs on every single one saying do not touch ,a name or info would of been great as well .Signage isn't great outside either so finding the disabled toilet wasn't easy and for such a big park there is only one so expect to que . All in all I cannot recommend a trip here as not only the issues mentioned above the cafes were not great ,covered in cobwebs and dead bugs all on the windows sills ,a good clean wouldn't go amiss . Disabled parking is over the road with all the usual parking so no nearer either . we were informed as hubby and son were unpacking my mobility scooter that " that spot could of been made for you" by a passing member of staff,well yes being disabled it actually was made for people like...