Rycote Park and Adwell Estate

Visitors will enjoy exclusive access on this special day visit combining two remarkable Oxfordshire estates, each with a rich history and distinctive character.

Rycote Park
Rycote Park was once a great Tudor palace, visited by royalty including Elizabeth I both as a princess in captivity and later six times as queen. Bought by Lord Williams of Thame in 1539, it remained in his family line – ultimately the Earls of Abingdon – until 1911. Largely demolished in 1807, the house was remodelled by successive owners of the 20th and 21st centuries, creating today’s comfortable home within a beautiful park, restored with the help of Elizabeth Banks and still carrying echoes of Capability Brown’s original 1760s design.

The current owner will take visitors on a private tour of the grounds and Chapel, consecrated in 1449, with its remarkable seventeenth-century fittings, including a western gallery, carved reredos, and fine pews. Other highlights include the restored Ice House, extensive gardens surrounding the house, and the large Edwardian working kitchen garden, offering an evocative glimpse into centuries of landscape design, architectural heritage, and the evolving life of this Oxfordshire estate.

Adwell Estate
The gardens at Adwell were first laid out in the mid-eighteenth century when the Haseley Brook was diverted to create a waterfall and lake, complemented by extensive tree planting, much of which survives today. While tastes have changed over the centuries, the essence of lawns, water gardens, shrubberies and a kitchen garden has remained.
The present custodians have added their own touches, creating a formal flower garden within the walled garden to balance the Italian Garden, enhancing the lakeside water garden, and developing a wooded dell. Distinctive yellow-painted bridges connect the landscape, while a significant salvia collection brings colour and variety. A notable feature is the church, designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield, which forms part of the garden and is open on request. Adwell is not generally open to the public, but welcomes pre-booked groups for exclusive guided tours led by the estate’s knowledgeable head gardeners.

Includes arrival refreshments and a two course lunch at a nearby eatery.

You will require your own transport between venues.

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