Lydiard Park is a beautiful historic estate on the western edge of Swindon, with the Palladian House, Church and Walled Garden, set in 260 acres of parkland. The children's play area, Cafe & Tea Rooms, events and education programmes make Lydiard Park a great destination for a family day out.

There's a wealth of history waiting to be discovered as you tour round the State Rooms of Lydiard House, celebrated for its ornate plasterwork, original furnishings and family portraits dating back to Elizabethan times. Next door, St Mary's Church holds further monuments to the St John family, including the unique Polyptych and Golden Cavalier statue. The Georgian ornamental fruit and flower Walled Garden has been faithfully restored with stunning displays of flowers, fruit trees and topiary and in the park, there is more evidence of this once-great country estate, including the castellated dam wall, Ice House and grand avenues.

Dogs are allowed in the grounds and the park is a lovely destination for a walk, run or bike ride. There are BBQs available to hire in the summer and lots of picnic spots. Lydiard Park runs events all year round, including Open Air Theatre, Live Music, The Luna Cinema, and more. Lydiard Park is also a venue for many high profile events including The Royal British Legion's Royal Wootton Bassett Field of Remembrance and Cancer Research UK's Race for Life.

Our onsite venue, The Lydiard House and Annexe, is a stunning and unique location for civil ceremonies and wedding receptions, as well as birthdays, anniversarys and other celebratory parties or dinners. The venue also offers a tranquil, yet focussed environment for corporate events, training courses and meetings. Facilities also include 36 en-suite bedrooms.

Lydiard Park was purchased by the Swindon Corporation in 1943 and today it continues to be owned and managed by Swindon Borough Council.

Lydiard House

At the heart of the park is Lydiard House – a striking Grade I listed Palladian house that for 500 years was home to the St John family. The ground floor state apartments of Lydiard House have been beautifully restored and are open to visitors to view the ornate plasterwork and original family furnishings displayed alongside portraits and photographs of the St John family.Your visit starts in the grand Main Hall, which was originally the impressive entrance to the St John's family home as well as being a space for dancing and entertainment. To the right, you will find the Library, lined with bookshelves decorated with classical plaster busts of famous philosophers.

Walled Gardens

Lydiard Park's Walled Garden is open all year round offering a beautiful and tranquil place to enjoy through all the seasons. It is a rare example of an 18th century Walled Garden. In the 1740s, the St John family built this rhombus-shaped garden behind the Coach House and Stable buildings. It was used to grow flowers and fruit as well as providing a pleasant place for the family to stroll after dinner.

As the once grand St John estate declined, so did this garden and by the end of the 20th century, it was in a sad state. As part of the Lydiard Park Project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the garden was restored to its former glory and re-opened to the public in 2007.

The Park

Lydiard Park is open every day from 7.30am to dusk (except Christmas Day). There are 260 acres of historic landscape with lawns, woodlands, lakes and pasture. Wide, accessible paths criss-cross the site making it a great location for a walk, run, jog or bike ride. Dogs are welcome in the park, though not allowed in the children's play area, playing fields, Lydiard House and Walled Garden (except guide dogs), the cafe and indoor areas of the Tea Rooms.

If you like to relax, there are benches around the park and the lawn provides a pretty spot for a picnic. There are static BBQs available to hire and lots more space for picnics in our BBQ field next to the main car park.

Next to the cafe, there is a large children's play ground with separate toddler area. Both are full of bright and modern slides, climbing and swinging equipment offering hours of active fun for children. The aerial adventure centre, Jungle Parc, is located in the woods next to the Forest Cafe.

The park provides different wildlife habitats, including the historic woodlands and the lakes and stream, and is home to a variety of birds, mammals, amphibians and invertebrates.

Lydiard House

Lydiard Park is open every day from 7.30am to dusk.

Please note that the Hook Street gates to the Park are now locked at 5pm each evening.  The Hay Lane entrance, however, is not locked and is open for vehicle access 24 hours.

Walled Garden 

The Walled Garden is open from 10:00am until 4:00pm seven days week. An admission charge applies. Tickets can be purchased from Lydiard House Museum on the day of your visit.

Lydiard House Museum

Lydiard House Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00am to 4:00pm (last admission 3:30pm) until Saturday 23rd December 2023.

Lydiard House Museum may close for booked events. Please check the Museum’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels for the latest updates.

The Museum will reopen on Saturday 30th March 2024 and will close for Christmas on Sunday 22nd December 2024.

Forest Cafe

The Forest Café is open:

• Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 5.00pm
• Saturdays from 9.30am to 5.00pm
• Sunday from 10.00am to 5.00pm

Coach House Tea Rooms

The Coach House tea room is open Monday to Sunday 10am to 4.30pm.

Toilets

Toilets at the Forest Cafe are open from 7.30am to 9.00pm daily.

Toilets at the Coach House tea room are open from 10.00am to closing time. 

Accessible toilets are available alongside the Forest Café and the Coach House Tea Rooms.

Ticket Prices

Entry to the grounds of Lydiard Park is free. Car parking charges apply, please see the parking page for more details. Tickets for Lydiard House and Walled Garden are available to purchase from Lydiard House and the Coach House Tea Rooms. For regular visitors to Lydiard Park, our Season Ticket option will offer great value and will save visitors money within two visits.

Admission prices

• Adult: £6.00
• Child (3-15 yrs): £3.30
• Senior (60+) / Student: £5.30
• Family Ticket (1 Adult + 2 Children): £11.30
• Family Ticket (1 Adult + 3 Children): £14.30
• Family Ticket (2 Adults + 1 Child): £13.75
• Family Ticket (2 Adults + 2 Children): £16.75
• Family Ticket (2 Adults + 3 Children): £19.70
• Under 3s: Free

Walled Garden Admission

• Adult: £2.50
• Senior (60+) / Student: £2.00
• Child (3-15 yrs): £1.50
• Under 3s: Free

Season Tickets – Valid for 12 Months 

• Adult: £12.00
• Child (3-15 yrs): £6.60
• Senior (60+): £10.60
• Student: £10.60
• Family Ticket (1 Adult + 2 Children): £17.00
• Family Ticket (1 Adult + 3 Children): £21.50
• Family Ticket (2 Adults + 1 Child): £20.65
• Family Ticket (2 Adults + 2 Children): £25.15
• Family Ticket (2 Adults + 3 Children): £29.60
• Under 3s: Free

Parking

You need to pay to park when you visit Lydiard Park, whether you park in a designated space in a car park or on a grass verge. For tariff information, visit the Lydiard Park car park page on the Swindon Borough Council website.

Find out more about events at Lydiard House & Park here

For updated information visit: https://www.lydiardpark.org.uk/