1620s House & Garden
1620s House & Garden
1620s House & Garden
4.5
About
A fully furnished period house with early 17thcentury style gardens and a tea room. The 1620s Café and Gardens are open Thursday to Sunday 10.30am - 4.30pm last entry 3.30pm from April to the end of September. Tearoom opens 11am - 4pm. Please visit our website for more details.
*PLEASE NOTE: The House & Gardens will go into the winter season from the 2nd October until March 28th 2024. Tearoom will be open every Thursday from the 12th October 10:30am - 3pm
Duration: 2-3 hours
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4.5
253 reviews
Excellent
198
Very good
45
Average
4
Poor
2
Terrible
4
Rosy
Leicester, UK45 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Just back from the candle lit witch mark tour for Halloween. We loved it! Waited for the tour to start in the cafe and enjoyed a latte served by friendly, chatty staff. The tour itself was absolutely fascinating. It was a real treat to wander round the atmospheric house and learn all about the measures residents of past times took to ensure witches didn't get in through the chimney or curdle their milk! Our tour guide was Gail, she was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and entertaining. It's a lovely place to enjoy on sunny days, beautiful grounds, but I'll be looking out for more evening events here in future too.
Written 31 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Rosy, what a amazing review, thank you, we couldn't ask for more! We'll pass on your enthusiasm to all the staff & volunteers, we are so glad you enjoyed The Candle lit whitch mark tours. Hope to see you again very soon. All the best from the 1620s House & Garden Team 💚
Written 2 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sarah R
Colchester, UK4 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
A brilliant find! A very warm welcome from the team at the ticket office. Learnt so much from the excellent tour of the house provided by Steve where his incredible knowledge about the house and local history brought it all to life and his passion shone through. The gardens were also lovely with very informative signs. Then tasty cobs and cakes in the tea rooms to end the visit too - thank you to all involved!
Written 28 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Sarah, thank you so much for taking the time to write us such a great review. We're really pleased you had such a good time with us - we agree that our wonderful volunteers always go that extra mile to make visits very special, I will let our Volunteer steve know your kind comments. Hopefully you may visit us again, very best wishes from the 1620s House & Garden team 💚
Written 29 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Richard
2 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
How refreshing to visit a place of historical interest and be well informed, stimulated and meet guides who responded honestly to all questions. How unlike the National Trust, which always concentrates on the Woke angle. Also the lemon cake was absolutely delicious.
Written 17 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your lovely review, sounds like you had a good day with us. we will pass on your review to the staff and volunteers. Hope you come back and try more of our homemade cakes 🍰 Many Thanks 💚
Written 19 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Viktoria1955
Northampton22 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
A brilliant day out and superbly educational. The volunteers are extremely knowledgeable and we had a thoroughly interesting guided tour of the house. We even had a guide round the gardens both herbs and flowers. You really get a flavour of what 17th century rural life must have been like. This is a must do for anyone with an interest in history for this period. Don't forget to enjoy tasty refreshments in the barn tea room!
Written 27 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello there! Thank you for such a positive review. It's great to hear that you enjoyed your visit so much. Hope to see you again soon, best wishes from the 1620s House & Garden team 💚
Written 3 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Elaine163
61 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
A truly wonderful find, and by chance too! The staff were warm, friendly, very welcoming and helpful. We used Leicestershire's Carer Passport for the first time which allowed my disabled partner and l free entry; and free tea and cake on our first visit! The house was very interesting and Helen our tour guide was very informative and her excellent knowledge brought everything alive. The gardens were interesting too and I'm sure they'd be absolutely delightful when in full bloom! We also liked how the various flowers, trees and vegetables were named along with interesting facts. There is also a little miniature maze for small children too and free parking. Overall excellent experience!
Written 26 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Elaine, what a lovely review, thank you so much for taking the time to post it for us. It's great that you both had a nice day out - the carer's passport scheme run by Voluntary Action South Leicestershire, is super isn't it? We very much hope you'll visit again on your 12 month ticket. Best wishes from the 1620s House & Garden Team 💚
Written 27 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Martyn D
Leicester, UK10 contributions
Aug 2023
What a wonderful day out! We are a group of 4 from Leicester who regularly visit places of interest; stately homes, castles and gardens etc. The 1620’s House and Gardens are a real gem. We enjoyed every aspect if our visit as our 5 hours spent will testify as the place is quite small. We were impressed with the pleasantness and helpfulness of all the staff there, especially Louise in the ticket hut and Pam G in the house. The ladies running the cafe were wonderful and found the time to chat and even share cake recipe ideas with me, ( all the cakes are made on the premises apparently). The gardener on the day could not have been more friendly and eager to engage us in sharing her knowledge of culinary and medicinal herbs used in old times. The house was fascinating and beautifully restored and presented. We were particularly interested to see the actual bed that is claimed to be the one used by King Richard III at the Blue Boar Inn in Leicester on the night before his death at the Battle of Bosworth.
All in all this was one of our very best days out. Thank you everybody at The 1620’s House.
All in all this was one of our very best days out. Thank you everybody at The 1620’s House.
Written 14 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow thank you very much, your review is very much appreciated. We are glad you you had the best day. I will pass on your kind word to the team. Hope to see you again soon. 💚🌻
Written 17 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Anna K
United Kingdom54 contributions
Aug 2023
What a little gem of a place. It is tucked away in a residential area with an unassuming entrance. Don't be fooled this is so worth the £5.95 / £5 ticket which gives you an annual pass! The house is simply furnished with a wide collection of items. If you time it right you can see crafters in costume and a lute player. The gardens are simply stunning with researched planting and lots of information. I can't recommend this place enough! I am definitely returning. It closes at the end of October with special events up to Christmas. I can't wait to see what they do at Christmas!
Written 12 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Anna for your lovely review. We are glad you think its worth the money. Sounds like you had a great day. if you check our website it will be updated for the next dates of the Lutenist and Jacobean Craft ladies. Hope to see you again soon. 💚🌻
Written 17 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ian S
16 contributions
Jul 2023
What a real gem, hidden away in a corner of Leicestershire, if you take the opportunity to visit you will not be disappointed. We decided to visit maybe for a very short period, but in the end spent all day here.
What it lacks in size in makes up for in all other areas, walks in the National Forest? tick, wonderful gardens with excellent plant details including their uses in the 1620s, tick, interesting house, oh yes, great guides, most certainly, lovely team room, serving home made cakes that were very tasty, again yes.
We were given a tour by a volunteer guide Alan, and he is so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the place and its history you get the feeling if if does not know the answer nobody will. We asked him some questions while he was eating his lunch and still he wanted to answer our questions and take us to areas we may have missed. On more than one occasion we apologised for disturbing his lunch, but he is so keen he would not listen to our apologies.
Having singled Alan out, I must say each volunteer and member of staff we encountered was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and keen that we should re-visit. So it is a whole team effort that makes the place so memorable.
What it lacks in size in makes up for in all other areas, walks in the National Forest? tick, wonderful gardens with excellent plant details including their uses in the 1620s, tick, interesting house, oh yes, great guides, most certainly, lovely team room, serving home made cakes that were very tasty, again yes.
We were given a tour by a volunteer guide Alan, and he is so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the place and its history you get the feeling if if does not know the answer nobody will. We asked him some questions while he was eating his lunch and still he wanted to answer our questions and take us to areas we may have missed. On more than one occasion we apologised for disturbing his lunch, but he is so keen he would not listen to our apologies.
Having singled Alan out, I must say each volunteer and member of staff we encountered was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and keen that we should re-visit. So it is a whole team effort that makes the place so memorable.
Written 30 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Ian, what a great review, thank you so much💚 We are indeed, a hidden gem - thanks for spreading the word! We're so pleased you enjoyed your visit, and will pass on your kind words to all the team. Look forward to welcoming you back very soon. 🌼🍰 best wishes from the 1620s House & Garden Team.
Written 5 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Emma W
1 contribution
Jul 2023 • Friends
I rarely feel compelled to write reviews but after today I feel I want to.
I’ll start with the good.
We visited with friends from Warwick, the kids had a lovely time doing the beagle trail, the grounds and house are beautiful and lovingly maintained. And the staff we encountered in the entrance hut and grounds/house were all absolutely lovely and welcoming and helpful giving us all the information we needed. And the children enjoyed it which is always the main part.
It all went sour when we went for lunch, and encountered the cafe monster. First of all the lady serving was incredibly short with me when we were looking at the cakes and while making jovial conversation with my son I said wow look at all those cakes there’s hundreds (there were cakes stacked up on a back table) and she shot me down saying they’re not for you. (They were the same cakes available to buy so it didn’t make any difference to what we would be buying and an unnecessary grumpy comment) which instantly made me feel unwelcome.
We sat down, they had tables in the cafe with displays on, one of which a spinning wheel which the children were interacting with, when the cook came out and spoke to me like I was a piece of c*** on her shoe, and told the children not to touch it, absolutely fine had she not of spoke to me so appallingly and although no signs asking children not to look and touch and as the staff in the house had been encouraging to the children to look at the exhibits and learn things we had no idea the items on tables in the cafe weren’t to be touched. I said this to her, suggesting they put signs on if they don’t want the items to be touched and was met with a scowl and rude reply and she stomped away. I’ve worked in a customer facing role for 18 years and certainly wouldn’t speak to a customer that way and I’ve never been spoken to like that as a customer before either so I’m not sure why these ladies work somewhere that advertises children’s events when they clearly hate people and children alike. Maybe we caught them on a bad day.
Overall we didn’t let it ruin our day but I certainly won’t be returning to the cafe in fear of being battered with a wooden spoon.
I’ll start with the good.
We visited with friends from Warwick, the kids had a lovely time doing the beagle trail, the grounds and house are beautiful and lovingly maintained. And the staff we encountered in the entrance hut and grounds/house were all absolutely lovely and welcoming and helpful giving us all the information we needed. And the children enjoyed it which is always the main part.
It all went sour when we went for lunch, and encountered the cafe monster. First of all the lady serving was incredibly short with me when we were looking at the cakes and while making jovial conversation with my son I said wow look at all those cakes there’s hundreds (there were cakes stacked up on a back table) and she shot me down saying they’re not for you. (They were the same cakes available to buy so it didn’t make any difference to what we would be buying and an unnecessary grumpy comment) which instantly made me feel unwelcome.
We sat down, they had tables in the cafe with displays on, one of which a spinning wheel which the children were interacting with, when the cook came out and spoke to me like I was a piece of c*** on her shoe, and told the children not to touch it, absolutely fine had she not of spoke to me so appallingly and although no signs asking children not to look and touch and as the staff in the house had been encouraging to the children to look at the exhibits and learn things we had no idea the items on tables in the cafe weren’t to be touched. I said this to her, suggesting they put signs on if they don’t want the items to be touched and was met with a scowl and rude reply and she stomped away. I’ve worked in a customer facing role for 18 years and certainly wouldn’t speak to a customer that way and I’ve never been spoken to like that as a customer before either so I’m not sure why these ladies work somewhere that advertises children’s events when they clearly hate people and children alike. Maybe we caught them on a bad day.
Overall we didn’t let it ruin our day but I certainly won’t be returning to the cafe in fear of being battered with a wooden spoon.
Written 28 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Emma, we've now had the chance to look at this issue in further detail. Having spoken to the cafe team, we'd like to emphasise that, whilst, we do very much encourage hands on interaction at the site, this has to be done safely, and be responsibly managed by the parent. The cafe manager stepped in because the spinning wheel was being too roughly handled, which threatened the safety of the children playing with it.
We strive to make everyone's visit enjoyable, and please rest assured that all the staff on site want adult and child visitors to have a fun and accessible day, with as much hands on activity as possible.
Best wishes from the 1620s House & Garden Team
Written 1 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Companion668865
1 contribution
Jul 2023 • Friends
I must say this was an amazing day despite the rain in between,we both enjoyed going around the 1620s house and gardens.
We were asked if we would like a guided tour of the house by a lovely lady.
Her name is Sandi and I must say with her guided tour and explaining different things kept both me and my friend engaged and above all she was very friendly and you knew how much this property meant to her to.
Any questions you had she was willing to talk about.we had many laughs along the tour and hats off to you Sandi your wonderful..
Afterwards we went over to the tea rooms and the food is lovely and we really enjoyed the homemade cakes on offer so I large variety.
Toilets are easy accessible and very clean.
Afterwards we went around the gardens and vegetable patch.
The gardener was more than happy to talk us through some plants.
Will definitely be going again.
We were asked if we would like a guided tour of the house by a lovely lady.
Her name is Sandi and I must say with her guided tour and explaining different things kept both me and my friend engaged and above all she was very friendly and you knew how much this property meant to her to.
Any questions you had she was willing to talk about.we had many laughs along the tour and hats off to you Sandi your wonderful..
Afterwards we went over to the tea rooms and the food is lovely and we really enjoyed the homemade cakes on offer so I large variety.
Toilets are easy accessible and very clean.
Afterwards we went around the gardens and vegetable patch.
The gardener was more than happy to talk us through some plants.
Will definitely be going again.
Written 21 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello there, it’s wonderful to receive such lovely reviews… thank you so much 💚 We will pass on your praises to Sandi & all the lovely volunteers we have here. We are so happy that our love for the site really comes across. Hope to see you again soon, maybe in some sunshine! Best wishes to you both from the 1620s House & Garden Team 🌸
Written 23 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rita12013
Burton upon Trent, UK5 contributions
Can I take my dog around the gardens
PippinB2015
Swadlincote, UK9 contributions
Personally Im not sure
Debbie S
Tamworth, UK47 contributions
Are dogs allowed in the grounds?
GeorginaS152
Windsor, UK493 contributions
We didn’t take dogs when we went and can’t recall noticing any. Suggest you ring them and ask?
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Frequently Asked Questions about 1620s House & Garden
- 1620s House & Garden is open:
- Thu - Thu 10:30 - 15:00
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- (0.27 mi) The Corner Pin
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