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Kingston Maurward Gardens and Animal Park
Kingston Maurward House was built in 1720 for George Pitt in the classic Palladian style that so characterised this period.
The contemporary parkland and pleasure gardens were laid out in the style popularised by Capability Brown. Simplicity was the hallmark of the gardens which consisted of rolling turf, carefully placed groups of trees, a lake and a lakeside temple.
The Gardens today are a survival from several periods. The lovely 35 acre formal gardens were created between 1915 and 1922 within the existing framework of the 18th Century Parkland setting. The gardens have been sympathetically restored using photographs from the 1930’s retaining the best features of the old and introducing new ones. They consist of a matrix of small gardens each with its own theme, tree trails, lakeside walks and a delightful walled garden.
The Animal Park is a firm favourite with children and home to an interesting collection of animals – small medium and large. Children can feed and cuddle some of the animals and there is also a large play area . The Visitor Centre provides information on the Animal Park and Gardens and has a wide variety of plants and gifts for sale.
Opening Times
Open All Year
Opening 04/01/2010 - 22/12/2010
Monday 10:00 - 17:30
Tuesday 10:00 - 17:30
Wednesday 10:00 - 17:30
Thursday 10:00 - 17:30
Friday 10:00 - 17:30
Saturday 10:00 - 17:30
Sunday 10:00 - 17:30
Bank Holiday 10:00 - 17:30
* Closed Christmas and New Year.
Events
Friday, 24th September 2010 - Sunday, 26th September 2010
Tickets Information
| Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff* |
|---|---|
| 2 Adults up to 3 Children | from £15.50 |
| Adult | from £5.00 |
| Concession | from £4.50 |
| Child | from £3.00 |
Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.
Road Directions
Nearest major road is A35. Signposted from A35 Dorchester Bypass.
Public Transport Directions
Nearest station is Dorchester West and South stations.
Facilities
Attraction Facilities
- Childrens Play Area
- No Dogs
- Plant Sales
- Shop
Venue Facilities
- Wedding Venue
Provider Preferences
- In countryside
- Outdoor Attraction
Accessibility
- Guide Dogs Permitted
- Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors
- Ramp/Level Access
- Toilets for Disabled Visitors
Parking & Transport
- Car parking
- On site parking
Catering
- Picnic Site
Payment Methods
- Delta accepted
- Groups Accepted - Essential to prebook.Large groups broken up into smaller groups of 30.
- Maestro accepted
- MasterCard accepted
- Max group size - 150
- Min group size - 10
- Special group rates
- TIC Staff Admitted Free
- Visa accepted
Establishment Features
- Conference facilities
- Event venue
- Open all year
- Tea / Coffee Shop
- Toilets
Specialist Features
- Family Fun
- Marketed towards families
Tours and Demonstrations
- Educational Visits Accepted
- Guided Tours Available for Groups
Additional Images
Click to enlarge images below:
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