The Vyne is a National Trust-managed property with a house and gardens to explore plus a tearoom to enjoy but the children will want to visit the play area which is one of a kind!
Inspired by fantasy and The National Trust’s The Vyne is a 16th-century house, gardens and woodland with family trails. Circular waymarked routes run through Morgaston Woods and there are picnic benches in the gardens. A stone’s throw from the house, a tearoom offers a family-friendly menu and ice-creams.
If it rains, you can head to the:
- Gift shop
- Brewhouse tea-room (for a hot chocolate, scone or ice-cream)
- The House and spot a very young, slim Henry VIII depicted in the chapel stained-glass windows.
- The second hand bookshop with a cushioned bay window where you can sit and read books.
Formed in the early 20th Century from the remains of a water meadow, a conservation project in the 1990s fully established The Vyne’s wetlands as a much-needed habitat for water voles.
Popular with the local birdlife, anything from waders, birds of prey, owls, grebes, swans, game birds and herons, the wetlands are overlooked by a purpose-built bird hide. The hide is the perfect place for families to head to for the best birdwatching experience.
A visit to The Vyne isn’t complete without a stroll around Morgaston Woods, where the combination of towering trees and woodland glades support a great variety of wildlife.
From visitor reception, follow the lakeside path, enjoying views of The Vyne's portico across the water before going through the gate into Morgaston Woods. To find the bird hide from here, follow the woodland path straight ahead until you can see the birdhide at the bottom of a short board walk on your left.
The woods are suitable for most people with some sloped paths and no stiles. Tree roots cover short sections of the paths in some areas. After heavy rain some of the paths can be very muddy, so pack your waterproofs and wellies to make sure you don’t miss out.
Please see website for details
The Vyne - National Trust
Vyne Road, Sherborne St John, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG24 9HL, England
Tel: 01256 883858
This attraction has been claimed and verified. All information has been recently checked.
Last updated: 09:33 30/09/2026
