Kingston Lacy Estate

This place is not usually open now.

Kingston Lacy is a lavish 17th Century family home built to resemble an Italian Palace. There is extensive parkland an attractive formal gardens. Inside the house, it’s an art lover’s dream with paintings by Van Dyck, Titian and Brudghel, as well as delicate carvings, family souvenirs and the largest private collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the UK.

The south lawn is a great place to enjoy a picnic and children can run wild in the nearby play areas. There is a Japanese Garden with authentic tea house and the estate in total covers 8,500 acres that includes the ancient iron-age hillfort and Beech Tree-lined Roman Road at Badbury Rings, Pamphill Bluebell Wood and White Mill is just down the road so there is plenty to see and do in this corner of Dorset. Charges apply to visit the house and gardens, parking is free and dogs on leads are welcome in the park and woodlands.