Middleton Place
Middleton Place
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Middleton Place National Historic Landmark is home to America’s oldest and most important landscaped gardens. Began in 1741, the historic site today encompasses 110 acres including the Gardens, House Museum, Stableyards, and Eliza’s House. Together they tell the inclusive history of all who lived, worked, and died here. The stories of the Middleton family including two Founding Fathers and generations of enslaved people are interwoven throughout the property. Visitors have opportunities to experience those stories with both guided or self-guided tours.
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61 within 3 miles
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23 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Kaia R3 contributionsThe best of Charleston! My favorite of the trip!I did not expect to love this place as much as I did. It is truly magical here. Our guide for the beyond the fields tour was a wonderful story teller and things he said will stick with me for life. Absolutely worth the time/money to experience this place.Visited September 2023Traveled with familyWritten September 17, 2023
- ShieldsnanMonument, Colorado65 contributionsA great daytrip or spend the nightMiddleton Place is a lovely estate. We spent one night there which I would highly recommend. Their accommodations are superb! The rooms even have fireplaces! The included morning breakfast was incredible. We ate enough for the whole day! We spent 4 or 5 hours touring the estate gardens, livestock facilities and our buildings. It was a great day.Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten September 18, 2023
- Greg PGalva, Illinois336 contributionsBeautiful PlaceWe went to all four plantations while in Charleston and Middleton was absolutely the one I enjoyed the most. We had three hours here at the end of our last day in the area and it was not enough if you take the three tours offered in admission. I would suggest doing all three tours.Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten September 20, 2023
- CarolAnneDLeeds, United Kingdom81 contributionsExcellent Day OutA very interesting place to visit. The gardens are stunning and we had a garden tour with Lou who was most informative. We must return for the azaleas and camellias in the spring! The house tour was very interesting and altogether we spent the whole day there and learnt a lot about the Middleton family and American history.Visited September 2023Traveled with friendsWritten September 26, 2023
- YehbutHilton Head, South Carolina1,450 contributionsBeautiful place to visit anytime of the year!We enjoyed our time at this timeless wonderland!! Full of history and wildlife you have to spent several days here to truly enjoy its unique nature and beauty!! Many outdoor walking paths, steps, and waterways! Love it!!Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 1, 2023
- MikeStafford, Virginia12 contributionsLove this houseI had no idea what to expect when we booked the tour. The tour of the house is everything that was advertised and better. The staff did a great job describing the house and grounds and took the time to answer the man questions that I had. This is one of the best house tours in Charleston. A must see of mansions in Ashley River.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 8, 2023
- Nav1goVirginia1,113 contributionsGlad I chose this for day activity.We spent about 4 hours, starting with walking the first half of the property markers in about an hour. It takes you past many of the higher stops and you can do those as well such as the 900+ year old oak. Then had the buffet lunch at the restaurant on the property. We had a 1230 house tour - my one criticism is I would prefer this be guided because you get so much more and there is central space on both floors for the guide to speak while people move about the rooms. After about 30 min in the house we had some time to watch the sheep and go to Eliza’s house, the former slave quarters, before catching the 130 plantation breeds tour. We finished that at 2 and walked back to the reflecting pool and across the the far side of the property but soon decided to call it a day when the camélia garden wasn’t yet blooming. Plan this as a full half day excursion and take your time as the property is enormous and if you like animals, the sheep, goats, water buffalo and horses are all engaging.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 17, 2023
- Robyn BHendersonville, North Carolina145 contributionsHighlight of our Charleston trip!Middleton Place was one of the highlights of our trip to Charleston! We did the Beyond the Fields tour and the Garden Tour. Both were excellent. There is so much history to absorb! I learned so much. The beauty of the grounds is stunning: the ancient trees, the formal gardens, the animal enclosures, the authentic craftsmen and more. Make sure you take time to have lunch in the restaurant. Service was excellent, as was our dishes. Prices reasonable and the ambiance is charming. I highly recommend a visit. It's well worth the price of admission.Visited October 2023Traveled with friendsWritten October 19, 2023
- sdb27312 contributionsBeautiful and PeacefulOf all the things we did in Charleston, this was our favorite (and the others were all good). The grounds are beautiful and peaceful; there are no bad views anywhere. We opted for the general admission which included some free tours; we did the Guided Garden Tour and the Beyond the Fields: Enslavement at Middleton Place. Both were well done and interesting. Lunch at the restaurant was very good though the menu is somewhat limited, and the buffet is a bit expensive. The views from the restaurant, however, cannot be beat. We did not visit any other plantations in Charleston, so we can't compare Middleton to the others, but we enjoyed this one very much.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 19, 2023
- Sarah BSaint Louis, Missouri364 contributionsSpectacular!This place is breathtakingly beautiful. The property is expansive and includes beautifully manicured gardens, lawns, ponds and waterways, and original structures. The “Beyond the Fields” lecture about the space trade and slave life at Middleton was informative and impactful. The house is small but has original items from the Middleton family and other items of interest. This was by far my favorite attraction in Charleston, surpassing Magnolia Plantation just down the road.Visited October 2023Traveled soloWritten October 20, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
4,421 reviews
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ShannonC12112
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL20 contributions
Jun 2020
Have to agree with the other reviewers who found Middleton Place to be historically sugar coated. The gardens are beautiful for sure and the staff were very friendly and willing to answer questions, but I personally they didn't appreciate their approach to telling the story of the slaves who worked there. Also found it to be very expensive- $90 for 2 people to visit the gardens and see the interior of the house. Would recommend this for people interested in viewing the gardens and a peaceful walk or picnic outside.
Written June 29, 2020
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.
Mommy1Indiana
Scottsburg, IN443 contributions
Oct 2020 • Solo
I enjoyed a solo trip here while my family fished. It was so peaceful and the grounds were well landscaped. The volunteer for the garden tour was very knowledgeable. You had to pay extra to go in the house but since I was limited on time, I just spent the time exploring the gardens. There is an extensive area with historical signs by the stables, to show vehicles, pottery, and other things of interest from that time period. Highly recommend! You could occasionally hear construction sounds in the distance and the tour guide said it's a battle between progress and preservation. So glad the family has chosen to preserve this!
Written October 15, 2020
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.
L E Crosley
20 contributions
Dec 2020
Gardens are spectacular. Saw an alligator sunning in the pond on an unseasonably warm December day. Take some time to visit the Garden Marketplace. Here the living history craftspeople who work in the Stable yard sell the wares they create in the various outbuildings. 70% of the purchase price goes back to the craftperson, so you know you're helping real people when your purchase souvenirs from there.
History lovers will enjoy the house. I consider it worth the additional purchase price.
History lovers will enjoy the house. I consider it worth the additional purchase price.
Written December 7, 2020
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.
marz
Massachusetts5 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
2 of my friends and myself took the Middleton Place with lunch tour with Pineapple Tours yesterday. For what we saw the tour was good the lunch not so much. The tour guide for Pineapple Tours and the person who greeted us when we arrived advised that we were on a schedule and needed to be at the house and restaurant at least 5 minutes before the time as they were very strict about the schedule. We were a little early for both, the issue is it took us 45 minutes to get served our meal and the quiche was cold and the shrimp and grits was warm. We were fearful of sending it back as we didn’t know how long it would take to get it back. Needless to say by the time we finished our lunch we needed to head back to the bus. Our driver was very apologetic and explained that he had notified them well in advance of our arrival so there should not of been any issue. We spent $91 for this trip and didn’t see half of what was promised very disappointing,
Written June 19, 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.
888travelert
Indianapolis, IN152 contributions
Mar 2020
We visited during an unusual time. The world all but shut down due to the Corona Virus. Our goal was to stay outside and take in the beauty of the south. This was the perfect spot to accomplish that goal. We had several plantations to choose from and we asked many people for suggestions and then we found that Middleton Place was offering a dramatic monologue by "Mama Hattie." Let me just say that Mama Hattie brought me to tears. She was amazing and I will count her performance as a highlight of our visit to Charleston. As for the plantation - there was a photo opp around every corner. Absolutely beautiful - reminded me of the grand gardens in England.
Written March 19, 2020
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.
Cody M
Myrtle Beach, SC2 contributions
Jan 2022 • Solo
Beautiful grounds with plenty of majestic giant oaks, flowers, and wildlife to fill a whole morning. The restaurant also served delicious low country cuisine for lunch at affordable prices. Visit in the morning and you can easily feel like you have the whole place to yourself because there is so much ground to cover and things to see. Best gardens in Charleston.
Written January 10, 2022
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.
Rubicon_Johnny
Myersville, MD248 contributions
Mar 2022
Middleton Place was a wonderful stop on our Charleston vacation this March. We planned ahead and scheduled a private VIP tour which included a carriage ride on the grounds, a credit towards lunch at the restaurant, and tickets to the house tour. The carriage ride was fantastic and we really learned a lot from our tour guides during the ride. The Middleton Place house tour is interesting, but not absolutely a must see, and the same for the restaurant. It was tasty, but also priced a bit steep for the quality and options that are served. Perhaps the best thing about Middleton Place are the gardens. The gardens are absolutely breathtaking and massive. If you visit Middleton Place but don't spend at least 2/3 of your time taking in the gardens, then I'm afraid you may have missed out on the best part.
Written March 12, 2022
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.
Sara J
1 contribution
May 2022
The grounds are absolutely stunning and there are enough tours and exhibits to keep you busy for a good chunk of the day. However, the house tour costs extra and is NOT worth it. One guide gave a quick summary of the family outside the house, and then inside another guide talked about the family portraits in the hall. After that we were set loose to tour the house ourselves. I can see why they did that--the house is not very big and it would be impossible for a whole group to look at most of the rooms at once. However, I don't feel like I got much out of the tour, and the most interesting parts (the photograph of the ruins before the earthquake knocked them down, the photos and details about enslaved people who worked on the plantation) were available in other parts of the grounds that were open to general admission.
Also, while the tour guides made sure to always acknowledge that the wealth and grandeur of Middleton Place was only made possible because the family owned slaves, I felt like they often fell short of imparting what their lives were like. We attended the Beyond the Fields: Enslavement at Middleton Place tour and it was rambling and far-ranging. It often went on tangents that had nothing to do with the slave trade and the experiences of enslaved people.
Also, while the tour guides made sure to always acknowledge that the wealth and grandeur of Middleton Place was only made possible because the family owned slaves, I felt like they often fell short of imparting what their lives were like. We attended the Beyond the Fields: Enslavement at Middleton Place tour and it was rambling and far-ranging. It often went on tangents that had nothing to do with the slave trade and the experiences of enslaved people.
Written May 2, 2022
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.
Cristi67
Evans Mills, NY51 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
Absolutely stunning! We visited in the middle of a very stormy, windy rainy day and yet were still not disappointed. Definitely recommend taking the tours because you’ll learn so much and further appreciate your visit. The house tour was short and very informative. If you skip this tour you’ll miss the opportunity to see/hear some amazing history. Our incredible garden tour guide was not only highly informative but he also braved the weather with us and didn’t cut his talk short one bit. Be sure to wear walking shoes that you don’t mind getting a bit muddy on rainy days. We visited Magnolia the next day and were struck by how very different the two gardens are and how glad we were that we did both. The market had hot beverages that warmed us up after and light lunch & snacks had we wanted those too.
Written April 4, 2022
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.
AverageJoe55
Atlanta, GA654 contributions
Jun 2020 • Couples
We visited on a weekday morning in June and spent four hours. Encourage a summer visit to start as early as the grounds open. They are well maintained but this place is huge!! Gardens are lovely. We toured the house and especially learned a great deal from Greg, the docent working there. He has a passion for not only the Plantation but history surrounding it and the area. It is a bit out of the way but worth the time. Even starting at 9 am it gets hot quickly so plan accordingly. At least there are plenty of benches in the shade to stop and marvel at the grounds.
Written June 22, 2020
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.
I’m going with 2-3, if you can tour the house @ the beginning of your visit. Then browse the gardens, then do the outside tours of workmen/trades, especially important the slave quarters, then end at gift shop/market area.
Written April 5, 2023
Will we need a reservation for lunch on Wednesday, February 21?
Written February 10, 2023
I agree with the others --- It's not likely necessary to make a reservation because it is a less crowded time to visit. But you could call ahead the day before
Written February 15, 2023
The base tour price- does that not allow you to enter/tour the residence? Is it grounds and exhibits only, but does not include entry into the house?
Written October 10, 2022
Entry into the small house museum required a separate ticket.
Written October 14, 2022
Did I read that correctly 120 USD per person?
Written July 26, 2021
$26 per adult, $15 for students over 14 with student id, $10 kids 6-13 and free if under 5. If you stay at the Middleton Inn, you get free admission (might check on this one - they may have a limit per room or something...) You can eat at the restaurant without a tour of the place...
Written August 1, 2021
How much time should we allow to see everything here?
Written May 23, 2021
Did I miss the beautiful camellias blooming?
Written April 14, 2021
Sorry for the late response. They were all bloomed when we were there. So I’m sure they have finished. Was a beautiful sight fir sure!!!
Written May 3, 2021
What about elderly that cannot walk well - riding tours?
Written February 17, 2021
I didn’t see any riding option however much of the paths are flat; I believe a wheelchair could easily be used.
Written February 18, 2021
unknown check website but sure service animals allowed...very important there is wildlife and farm animals loose on property as it is still working farm, so be advised accordingly.
Written August 17, 2020
I am bringing my grandson who is eight and very interested in history, what would be the best tour for him?
Written February 8, 2020
Thanks for reaching out! For a child this age the part of the property that may be most interesting is the stable yards where artisans in costume interact with visitors and explain the various tasks that would have been the responsibility of an enslaved person. Those tasks would include blacksmithing, carpentry, animal care, making pottery and sewing or repairing textiles. The House Museum tour would be the second suggestion, though note that tour participants are almost always adults rather than young children. But if your grandson has an understanding of early American history that's a bit beyond that of most kids in his age group, he may well find some of what he learns to be of interest.
Written February 10, 2020
If you only want to walk the property and view gardens us there an admission fee?
Written January 9, 2020
Yes there is an admission fee but you can walk around freely. If you want to see the famous sculpted terraces, you head for behind the left side of the main house.
Written January 10, 2020
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