Witley Court and Gardens

Looking for outdoor venues to head to with friends and family, seems to be how the rest of 2020 is going to be. One to add to your list of fabulous places to visit is English Heritage owned Witley Court and Gardens https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/witley-court-and-gardens/ .

Witley Court can be found in Droitwich and was once a great country house known as a great setting for extravagant parties and royal entertainments at its peak in the Victorian period. Sadly, in 1937 a devastating fire broke out in the house, ravaging through the servants quarters through to the main reception rooms. The house wasn’t to be lived in again, stripped by scrap collectors and left to become what is now known as one of the countries most spectacular ruins. When looking around, you can still gain a sense of the scale of the 19th Century interiors as well as being able to see the early layers of the buildings history laid bare by the fire.

The south and east parterres in the gardens have been restored by English Heritage to give an idea of their Victorian glory and gosh does the south parterre show this in abundance. At the centre of the south parterre is the Perseus and Andromeda fountain, well known to be one of the grandest in Europe. English Heritage have restored it to full working order and every hour, on the hour, it is turned on to show just how magnificent it is.

We had such a lovely time here. Exploring all the different ruins, including the orangery, the beautiful fountains, the woodland walks and gardens.

They have Garden Tea Rooms which we visited and thought were well spaced out, clean and tidy. They were serving the most delicious cakes, hot and cold drinks and lunch items, all at reasonable prices. We couldn’t help but treat ourselves, sat outside in the large gardens.

Due to the current situation in England, the play parks are sensibly not open.

We loved our autumnal walk and fell in love with one tree in particular, just look at the colours on this – stunning.

Tickets/Prices

Tickets should be pre-booked online where you choose a time slot to arrive. The time on your ticket is the earliest that you can arrive and you have an hour from that time, to enter the site. Limits on visitor numbers have been implemented to help keep everyone safe, and you won’t be able to visit without your booking confirmation. As a Member, your ticket will be free, but you still need to book in advance. We found the site really safe and all social distancing measures in place were great, including a one way route through narrow paths and sections where without this, you could come too close to people. Once in the main Court and Gardens, it is so spacious, a one way system is not needed.

Adult £9

Child (5-17) £5.40

Under 5’s FREE

Family of 2 adults and up to 3 children £23.40

Family of 1 adult and up to 4 children £14.40

You can also gift aid if able to, which adds a few pence on top of these prices.

We paid for a family ticket but then enjoyed the place so much, we decided to join English Heritage and have purchased an annual pass (15 months for the price of 12 months) which costs for 2 adults and up to 12 children, just £109 for the 15 months. Sharing on here as we think that’s a total bargain.

Opening Times

Witley Court and Gardens is open daily from 10.00-17.00.

Upcoming Events at Witley Court

Spooky Witley Court, 24th October – 1st November 2020, 10am – 5pm

“Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Witley Court. Follow the trail to solve creepy clues and gather round to listen to spooky stories. There’s a frighteningly fun fancy dress competition every day – just come in your scariest outfits to be in with a chance of winning.

With tales of spectres and strange apparitions, Witley Court has long had a reputation for ghostly happenings. Swoop by and sink your teeth into a Halloween adventure for all the family.”

Ghost Tours at Witley Court (ages 16+), 28th – 31st October 2020, 7pm & 8:30pm

“Do you dare explore Witley Court in the dark this Halloween?

Join our storytellers as they guide you on a bone-chilling journey through the past. With tales of ghosts, supernatural sightings and horrors from history, this is not a night for the faint-hearted.

Once a lavish Victorian mansion, Witley Court was gutted by a devastating fire in 1937. Today, sinister sounds and chilling apparitions have been reported in the ruins. And with its eerie woodland and tragic past, the ruins of Witley Court have many more tales to tell.

These tours are suitable for those aged 16+. Don’t forget to bring a torch – things are going to get dark.”

Spooky Woodland Walks at Witley Court, 29th – 31st October 2020, 5:30pm, 6:30pm and 7:30pm, suitable for ages 5+

“As the days grow shorter and the nights get longer, bring your family to join our ghost-hunting storytellers on a trip through the shadows of Witley Court’s grounds.

With well-told tales full of spooky, strange and silly goings-on, this Halloween walk is sure to get you into the spirit of the season.

This is an outdoor tour, so please wear suitable clothes and shoes. It lasts about 45 minutes, and it’s suitable for children aged 5-12.”