1. South East and London
  2. Hampshire
  3. Romsey

Attraction Information

The spacious gardens at Mottisfont Abbey are the perfect spaces to let off steam during the school holidays. You can strike up an outdoor adventure by exploring acres of woodland and seasonal trails. And with charming cafes on site too, this day out ticks every box. 

What's new at Mottisfont?
Families get ready for a new adventure Happy Families: Adventures with the Ahlbergs!

From the 22nd July to 5th November you can enjoy this new and exciting exhibition and trail that invites families into the world of the beloved storybook characters created by Janet and Allan Ahlberg, from The Jolly Postman to Each Peach Pear Plum. Venture inside the house and discover over 70 original artworks in rooms that have been transformed into imaginative and playful spaces, designed to immerse kids in the hilarious stories of Burglar Bill, Mrs Wobble the Waitress and many more!
 
From fun interactive experiences and big bold wall displays for the perfect family photo, to comfy reading zones, this is the place to be with the whole family this summer. You'll find a dedicated room to The Jolly Postman that features the original and hand-crafted draft of the very first book! Make sure to visit throughout the summer when there’ll be a special interactive room for little ones too, dedicated to baby books like Peepo and The Baby's Catalogue!
 
The adventure continues outside, with a brand new colourful trail inspired by the Ahlberg characters and a cosy space where kids and create and tell stories. Only from 22nd July to 3rd September. Help The Jolly Postman deliver his letters and try out some really cool and energetic games and activities.

Things to do
There are lots of different ways to explore the beautiful gardens at Mottisfont, from the grassy paddock that’s perfect for games and picnic lunches, to the crystal-clear stream that runs through the grounds, leading to fields behind the house. Or test your abilities in the Wild Play area where there are large wooden structures to balance and climb on.

Food & Drink
There are several refreshment outlets, with family-friendly options and indoor and outdoor seating. You’ll find picnic benches around the grounds too. The Old Kitchen Café and Coach House Café serve up hot and cold drinks, light lunches, cakes, snacks and sandwiches. Hot food is available from 12 noon -2.30pm. In addition, there are extra kiosks open at weekends, serving hot and cold beverages, a small range of cakes, sandwiches, snacks and ice creams. Look out for Jude's ice cream horsebox too, open on sunny afternoons.
If you have dietary requirements it's worth noting that there is a small range of gluten and dairy-free food available, and soya or oat milk for hot drinks.

Accessibility
There are baby-changing facilities in access-friendly toilets at the welcome centre, stables, lower corridor in the house and kitchen garden. Pushchairs are welcome everywhere except inside the house. Breastfeeding is welcome anywhere around the property.

Transport & Parking for Visitors
By foot
Mottisfont is on the Test Way, a long-distance walking route spanning from Inkpen Beacon to Eling. You can use either Stockbridge to the north or Romsey to the south as starting points for a long walk to Mottisfont - both towns are roughly five miles away. 

By train
Need to find the nearest railway stations? Here are some tips to get to Mottifont Abbey by rail. 

The Mottisfont & Dunbridge station is just over a mile away on foot, across fields and some country roads. There is no taxi rank at the station – the nearest taxi companies are based in Romsey.

If you follow signs on foot from the train station, beware of livestock in fields. The public footpath cuts through a farm. Continue along the footpath and join onto Hat Lane. Head right here until you meet a small junction which joins Hatt Lane up to Oakley Road.

Once you are on this road, head right and follow the fingerpost to Mottisfont. This is a quiet country road, but it’s narrow with quite sharp turns in places and some poor visibility ahead, so please be careful while you walk. Keep following this road until you can turn into the visitor car park on your left.

By bike
The Test Way runs from Romsey to Stockbridge. It is approximately 2 miles off the main route either off Lower Brook (if travelling from Stockbridge) or just past Awbridge and Kimbridge (if travelling from Romsey).

Follow National Trust signs to the main entrance. We are also off the cycle route 24, which runs from Bath to Southampton. We are 0.2 miles off the main route. Bike racks are provided for those cycling to us.

By road
There is car parking onsite. Make sure you use this Sat Nav address to the car park: Nav SO51 0LN. 
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Opening Times

General Opening Times
10:00 - 17:00

House: 11:00 - 16:30

Art Gallery: Open from 22nd July – 5th November from 11:00-16:30 (closing at 16:00 from 30th October).
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Pricing & Tickets

General Admission
Adult £18
Child £9
Under 5s Free
Family (2+2) £45
Family (1+) £27.00
National Trust members: Free

Trail: £3.00 per trail 

Car parking Free

Book in advance for cheapest tickets

Find other attractions similar to National Trust - Mottisfont by visiting our attraction tickets section.

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FAQs

Yes, there is parking onsite.

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Contact Details

Mottisfort
Romsey
Hampshire
SO51 8NA
England

Tel: 01794340757

Visit Website

National Trust - Mottisfont Reviews

Day Out With The Kids - VIP Pass Advert

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