In 1927, Lord and Lady Bearsted viewed Upton House with ‘the eye of imagination' and set about creating their made-to-measure country home. The house is currently set up as it would have been in the 1930s, once the Bearsted's had finished turning it from a Victorian mansion to a modern country retreat.
Where is Upton House & Gardens located?
Upton House and Gardens is just 7 miles from Banbury train station. Settled on a hill surrounded by beautiful countryside, Upton House is the perfect place to set out from for a brisk walk. Pop into reception and ask about local walk maps.
What style of garden is Upton House & Gardens?
Created from two spring-fed valleys on the Warwickshire/Oxfordshire border, the gardens have been in use since the 12th century, but were largely transformed by Kitty Lloyd-Jones for Lady Bearsted in the 1920s and 30s, with the creation of cascading terraces on the valley sides, extensive herbaceous borders, and a rare Bog Garden on the site of medieval fish ponds. There are large lawns, terraced borders, elegant stone staircases, rose garden, orchards, and a rare kitchen display garden as well as National Collections of Aster amellus, Aster cordifolius, and Aster ericoïdes. The surrounding estate (not open to the public) was redesigned in the 18th century in the manner of Sanderson Miller.
What can guests enjoy at Upton House & Gardens?
Visitors are welcome to explore the gardens in their own time, but time slots need to be booked for the house. Slots are available throughout the day and can be booked at the land agent hut opposite the shop. Once you're done exploring, pop into the restaurant for a refreshing cup of tea and slice of freshly made cake, or visit the shop to find a memento of your visit.
Other Information
There are a number of special exhibitions in 2019 including an exhibition of vintage Heal's posters from March - July, a selection of David Birtwhistle paintings throughout August, and the National Portrait Gallery's Nature's Champions Exhibition from September - December. Visit the website for more information. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/upton-house-and-gardens
