Shuttleworth Collection & Garden

Walking through the six huge hangars at Shuttleworth, you'll see how aviation design developed from Edwardian times up until the 1950s. Don't miss the 1909 Blériot XI, which, along with all of our aircraft, is still airworthy.

From early 20th century aircraft, cars, buses and motorbikes to steam engines and farm machinery, it's all here for you to discover. Our workshop is always open too, so pop in to say hi and watch us restoring these treasures.

Every aircraft in our collection promises to tell a story about the development and journey of aviation and the best part of all? They ALL still fly!

30 DAY RETURN TICKET - your admission ticket lets you return as much as you like for 30 days and, better still, kids (15 and under) go FREE!

Walk through ornate ironwork gates into a delightful Regency and Victorian layered garden and discover a green and pleasant idyll. There’s even a pair of peacocks waiting to strut their stuff just for you!

As well as being home to resident peacocks, ducks and other wildlife, the garden contains many examples of beautifully carved animals and birds. How many can you spot?

Which corner of this picturesque garden will be claimed as your favourite? Will it be the brightly decorated Indian Kiosk or the quirky Swiss Cottage? Or the Grotto and Fernery with its cave-like Pulhamite tunnels?

There’s no single time of year to enjoy the Swiss Garden. You’ll experience something quite different, whether you come on a snowy day, in full summer when the trees are bursting with leaves or in autumn when the garden is drenched in fiery colour.

30 DAY RETURN TICKET - your admission ticket lets you return as much as you like for 30 days and, better still, kids (15 and under) go FREE!

In 1872, Joseph Shuttleworth bought Old Warden Estate. The original red brick manor house, which was built by the Ongley family, was pulled down, the architect Henry Clutton, a prominent Victorian architect, was commissioned to design the House you see today, built by local firm Cubitts, with William Bennison as the Clerk of Works, and Edward Milner reworked the landscape.

In 1944, Dorothy decided to turn the Estate into a Charitable Trust in memory of her son “for the teaching of the science and practice of aviation and of afforestation and agriculture” two of Richard’s passions and in 1946, the doors of Shuttleworth College opened. It is still a successful land based college operating on this site by Bedford College. Dorothy was Chairman until her death in 1968 aged 89.

Today, The House, Swiss Garden and Collection are operated to deliver on the charitable objective of The Richard Ormonde Shuttleworth Remembrance Trust and Dorothy’s vision, to create an environment to promote and educate people in the main interests of her son: estate management, aviation and automotive transport and to link the House and Parkland with the Swiss Garden, Old Warden Aerodrome and Home Farm, to complete the Shuttleworth Story.