Charlecote Park

Charlecote Park is a red-brick Elizabethan mansion in the village of Charlecote near Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, roughly 4 miles east of Stratford-upon-Avon and 5.5 miles south of Warwick. It stands on the River Avon, surrounded by its own deer park, and is cared for by the National Trust. If you are visiting Shakespeare's town, it makes an easy half-day addition.

Who built Charlecote Park, and when?

Thomas Lucy completed the house in 1558. His family had held the Charlecote estate since the Middle Ages, with sources dating their tenure to 1247. The National Trust notes that Elizabeth I's arms were added above the porch after her visit in 1572. The Lucys lived here for generations, until Sir Montgomerie Fairfax-Lucy passed the estate to the National Trust in 1946 to settle death duties.

What will you see?

The house is listed Grade I, England's highest category for historic buildings. Although the outline is Elizabethan, much of what you see today is Victorian. George Hammond Lucy inherited in 1823 and reworked the house in a Tudor-revival manner, so the interiors blend 19th-century furnishings with older elements of the layout.

The park and gardens are registered Grade II* by Historic England. Fallow deer have grazed here for centuries, and the National Trust dates the deer park to 1477. A local legend says the young Shakespeare poached deer in the grounds. Whether the park held deer at the time is unknown, so treat the story as folklore.

How do you get to Charlecote Park?

By car it is a short drive from Stratford-upon-Avon, about 4 miles in the direction of Warwick, and around 5.5 miles from Warwick itself. The estate lies beside the Avon at roughly 52.205 N, 1.617 W. Check the National Trust website for current opening times and prices, as they vary by season. National Trust members enter free.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and summer suit the gardens and a long walk through the park. In autumn the fallow deer are easier to watch. Allow half a day for the house and grounds, and if you are combining the visit with Stratford, go to Charlecote first in the morning.

Frequently asked questions

Is Charlecote Park open to visitors?

Yes. It is run by the National Trust and open to the public, though access to individual rooms and areas varies with the season.

How far is it from Stratford-upon-Avon?

About 4 miles east of the town centre, roughly a 10 to 15 minute drive.

Are there deer in the park?

Yes, a herd of fallow deer lives in the park, which has a history going back to the 15th century.

Is the house genuinely Elizabethan?

It was built in 1558, but much of it was remodelled in the 19th century in a style that echoes the original.