Barrington Court

A part-closed house with a lot of garden

Barrington Court, at Barrington near Ilminster (TA19 0NQ), is a National Trust property that the Trust calls an atmospheric fragment of old Somerset. The estate is the vision of Colonel Lyle and his architect James Edwin Forbes. If you are planning a visit, know the situation first: Court House is closed for a major conservation project, so you cannot go inside it for now.

What you can see

The ground floor of Strode House is open. Outside, the Trust points to garden rooms, avenues and orchards to explore, plus parkland. The site also has a shop, the Book Barn and Beagles Cafe. Opening times differ for each part and change through the year, so check the National Trust property page before you set out.

Dogs, parking and facilities

Dogs on leads are welcome across the estate, garden and parkland, except in the Kitchen Garden. Assistance dogs are welcome everywhere, including the Kitchen Garden and Strode House.

There is a car park, and a cycle rack near Visitor Reception. The two electric vehicle chargers run at 22 kW, work during opening hours only, and visitors bring their own cables. Picnic space is on the South Lawn, and the cafe has tables outside. The site has toilets and is listed as family friendly. For access details, such as surfaces and the layout inside Strode House, use the property page or ask the venue before travelling.

Nearby

Montacute House is another National Trust property in Somerset with part of the building closed in 2026, but it is a different kind of visit: an Elizabethan house with the ground floor and garden open, rather than an estate of garden rooms and orchards. Barrington’s address is near Ilminster, the town to use as a base for food and places to stay.