House Group Visit Information

Boughton House is the Northamptonshire home of The Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry. Their Graces are pleased to provide the opportunity for pre-booked parties to visit Boughton House and its fine arts collection. Group visit information leaflet (PDF, 711kb) Group Rates How to make a booking “I never desired anything so earnestly as to go to Boughton to see my Lord, the Good Company and learning in its full lustre.” In 1700 Lord Saint Evremond, the French man of letters, wit and raconteur, wrote this about the home of his good friend, Ralph Montagu. Over three hundred years later, we hope that a visit to Boughton is as well anticipated and received.   We hope you will feel the same after your visit....... VISITS PROGRAMME Full guided tours are available throughout the year for pre booked educational groups by prior appointment. Each visit is individually arranged. A full guided tour incorporating all the collection will take approximately two hours, encompassing about 20 rooms. We also offer a tour of the ground floor only, which takes about an hour, covers 13 rooms, and still includes highlights of the collection such as the Van Dycks, El Greco, Sèvres Porcelain and Boulle furniture. From 1st August – 1st September the house is open for general visitors with guided tours on Mondays and Fridays. Staterooms The most comprehensive tour (Tour A) includes the State Apartments, a part of the House on the first floor and a considerable number of stairs are involved. They can be viewed virtually on site - please let us know if you require this facility. Ground Floor The main rooms on the Ground Floor contain many fine pieces and may be less tiring for disadvantaged visitors or ones on a tight schedule. A Ground Floor Only Tour is available. August (Open daily, 2pm - 5pm, last entry 4pm) During the month of August guided tours are undertaken on Mondays (except bank holiday Monday) and Fridays, however visiting groups are able to enjoy a self-guided tour of the main House, helped by room stewards. Coach Tour of the Estate The Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust aims to show the close association between a historic family home and its traditional but modern run country estate. We offer a unique opportunity to view this symbiotic relationship by including a coach tour of the Boughton Estate with the House Visit, to give a contextual understanding during a full day visit. Our premise is that the facilities are run for the enjoyment and pleasure of our customers, not the convenience of the staff and owners. GUIDE BOOK Full colour edition guide books are available from our Gift Shop at £5.00 each, or £10.00 including post and packing. "Boughton House - The English Versailles" edited by Dr Tessa Murdoch, with contributions by many world renowned experts, is the definitive book on an historic family home and its fine arts collection. More information It is available at £100.00, or £105 including p+p. To order contact The Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust: Telephone - 01536 515731 Fax - 01536 417255 email - blht@boughtonhouse.org.uk CATERING The Boughton House Tearoom is situated in the attractively refurbished Stable Block, adjacent to the main House. We serve morning coffee, lunches and afternoon tea and pride ourselves on our homemade food, trying where possible, to use produce from the Estate. All food is prepared to order and as each group visit is treated individually, all catering must be pre-ordered. GARDENS For over two centuries the emmense formal gardens have been virtually lost to view. Benign neglect became the norm as nature reclaimed the terraces. The waterways silted up and woodlands were adapted to sporting rather than landscape priorities. Recent generations have undertaken a major resoration programme in the parkland. Hundreds of avenue trees have been replanted; the canalised River Ise and its water features have been restored; the Mount uncovered so it once again rises to provide commanding views of the revitalised landscape and the new 21st centurey feature, Orpheus. The Walled Garden continues to delight with its herbaceous border, flower beds and newly created Sensory Garden. As do the Rose Garden and the ancient Lily Pond. The peace and beauty of these special places can be enjoyed by groups, as seasonal work and weather permits. 2012 GROUP RATES Tour A (approx 2 hours) Guided Tour of the house £10.00 per person Tour B (approx 1 hour) Guided tour of the Ground Floor £8.00 per person Tour E Guided Coach Tour of Boughton House with Estate villages and local Church with family monuments. (This tour is undertaken in your own coach) £15.00 per person Tour G (approx 2 hours) Guided tour of the Gardens and the Restored Landscape £6.00 per person Tour L Guided Tour of Boughton House and a Guided Tour of the Gardens and The Restored Landscape. £15.00 per person Please note wheelchair bound visitors are admitted free of charge. To cover administration costs associated with prebooked visits and the opening of the House, a minimum charge of £250.00 is normally levied outside August. Further Information If you are visiting Boughton and using a route finder or a satellite navigation system, our postcode is: NN14 1BJ. All Groups must be booked in advance Visits programme normally runs from April 20th to October 20th. Outside these dates, the House is "put to bed" for conservation reasons. Boughton House, although a family home, is generally not heated. Visitors may find it chilly at all times of the year and should come appropriately attired. There is adequate coach parking in the Stable Yard Reception adjacent to the House. Toilets, including facilities for wheelchairs, are available in the Stableyard only. Pre-visit recces are welcomed and encouraged, by prior appointment Booking Form How to make a booking

Top of Page

 

Home Page