Nunwell House and Gardens
Nunwell House and Gardens
4.5
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2-3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.

4.5
19 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
6
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
0

3fr5
Scotland175 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
Visiting Nunwell is a bit like stepping back in time 30 years, to an era before country houses went down the theme-park road of 'family attractions' and dining and retail 'experiences'. And what a relief it is. Just a beautiful old house with an amazing history, set in pretty gardens with the whiff off the Channel just down the hill. Very friendly welcome from the owner selling the tickets and a chatty and not over-long guided tour round the main downstairs room plus the bedroom upstairs where Charles I spent his last night of freedom during the Civil War. Oh, and there's a good café with home-made cake.

Nunwell is the only private country house on the Isle of Wight open regularly to the public. DO GO AND SUPPORT THEM. You'll be glad you did.
Written July 1, 2014
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.

Sheila R
Isle of Wight, UK11 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
We visited this beautiful old house where Charles1 spent his last night of freedom before his arrest and found it delightful. It is a family run business and home which is a work in progress with improvements being made to the gardens.
If you like something out of the usual tourist style this is a must. The owners are friendly and informative and there is a guided tour of the house 3 afternoons a week.

The tea and homemade cake are a delightful addition to the visit.
Written June 3, 2014
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.

June D
Epsom, UK252 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
There are 2 house tours a day, and you don't need to pre-book. The tours are 1:30 and 3.00pm. The cost if £8, or you can just visit the pretty garden for £5. We were the only 2 people on the 3pm tour and it was very interesting and informative. The house has connections with Charles 1st, which fitted it with our visit to Carisbrooke Castle. It is still a family home, so it is delightful that you can see and hear about the past history of the house.
Written June 22, 2019
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.

cqsj1014
Charleston, SC102 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
There are not many family homes with such a well documented history which are still lived in by the current owners. The guided tour will give a great insight into the history of the house and gardens. Try to go on a sunny day when the views from the gardens are spectacular. It is only open on Monday and Tuesday afternoons so plan ahead for your visit.
Written July 10, 2017
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.

Alan Stratton
Nottingham, UK10 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
Unspoiled by modern development or exploitation. The guided tour explains the development of the house through the centuries. The surrounding gardens, particularly the rose garden, are equally attractive. A bonus was meeting Tabitha the cat.
Written September 28, 2016
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.

Andrew L
St. Albans, UK30 contributions
May 2016
Imagine standing before a fireplace in a relatively narrow room and hearing that one dark and stormy night Charles I and his manservant had banged on the door behind you and arrived, dripping wet, and that the king had sat before that very fireplace talking long into the night with Sir John Oglander, before setting off for Newport where he was to be taken prisoner. And that's after having heard other gems from the history of this charming and fascinating house, going back to the 1500s and before. It's still a family home, which means it does not feel like a museum, and this makes the visit feel much more personal - emphasised by the quintessentially British charm of the host and guide. Not a tourist-trail visit for kids and ice creams but a delight to be savoured as a piece of genuine and still-living history, set in a garden which makes you wonder how so few people can keep it so neat.
Written May 31, 2016
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.

Pinkertonx
Hereford, UK1,595 contributions
Sep 2017 • Couples
The gardens around the house comprise new and old - new herbaceous and mixed borders set in a garden with fine mature trees. The Hoheria sexstylosa was covered in snow white flowers; quite an amazing sight. Billowing plants and roses complemented the side garden, which lead to a semi-circular lawn, fronting the house, with extensive views over surrounding countryside. To the other side of the drive are the rose gardens and a large walled garden, which is going to be the next area of renovation.
Written September 15, 2017
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.

Wendy K
Ryde, UK130 contributions
Sep 2016 • Solo
Saw in passing that this was open. Not been here in years, a real case of rarely visiting what is on your doorstep. Was so pleased that I did. There's a lovely slow drive up the driveway to tge beautiful house. There's a warm welcome when you arrive and you can go on a tour of the house.
I strongly advise going on the tour. The gentleman doing the tour is the owner and a gave a fascinating tour of the house. It's obvious how much he cares for the house and values all the history behind it. A real wealth of knowledge about the history from when it was first built and the history of the oglander family. The pace was lovely and relaxed and gave us time to look at all the rooms and answered any questions given. Our tour took roughly an hour. A lovely touch was allowing an rather elderly lady to use a chair in each room to sit while he spoke.
The house has been kept beautifully with a lot of renovating still a work on progress, the rooms have been sympathetically restored with items that match the period of the house. It is truly a beautiful place.
The vast gardens are kept immaculate and give rolling scenery to overlook brading and bembridge harbour and views across to the mainland.
The 2 1/2 hrs I spent there just flew by. The best £7 I spent in ages. Will definitely be gong back again if only for the gardens.
Written September 15, 2016
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.

Roy W
Teddington, UK13 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
This family owned house is well worth a visit. Our guide was very informative and brought the interesting history of the house to life. The house appears to be one of the hidden treasures of the island, we were the only ones there. Do make sure you visit, but check on days open and tour times.
Written June 21, 2015
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.

Clivel_98
Hereford, UK1,493 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
We had a private visit round the gardens as part of our local garden club trip.

The owners are a lovely couple: the lady makes all the cakes that are served with the teas and coffees, and the cakes are as light as a cloud and with fantastic tastes.

The gardens are well laid out with a good range of different plants, including a good selection of scented roses, along with alliums and many others.

A lovely quiet place with views to die for.
Written May 26, 2019
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.

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