About
Lyddington Bede House was once part of a palace belonging to the Bishops of Lincoln, built beside the parish church in an ironstone village. By 1600 Sir Thomas Cecil had turned it into an almshouse for twelve bedesmen and two women, a role it retained into the twentieth century. The small rooms with their fireplaces contrast with the bishops' great chamber above, where a carved Tudor cornice and timber roof recall the building's grander past. Audio boxes give voice to the residents' letters, and recreated rooms suggest life here in Victorian times. Visitors recommend checking access before travelling, since an exterior visit gives only part of the story. Uneven stairs lead upstairs and there are no toilets on site. An officially described short village walk leads to the medieval fishpond earthworks.
ClosedSee all times
- Visitor accessCLOSED
Opening times may change at short notice.
Grounds use compacted gravel and grass; veranda and room thresholds are uneven. Upper floors have stone and wooden steps, without a lift. No on-site toilets.
2026-09-14 to 2026-09-20: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun CLOSED.
The gardens are open daily, 10am to 4pm.
2026-09-21 to 2026-09-27: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri CLOSED; Sat, Sun 11:00 - 15:00.
The gardens are open daily, 10am to 4pm. From 26/09/2026: The gardens are open daily, 10am to 4pm.
2026-09-28 to 2026-12-20: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun CLOSED.
2026-12-21 to 2026-12-27: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun CLOSED.
2026-12-28 to 2027-01-03: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun CLOSED.
2027-01-04 to 2027-03-14: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun CLOSED.
2027-03-15 to 2027-03-16: Mon, Tue CLOSED.
House opens the second and fourth weekend of April-September, 11:00-15:00; gardens open daily 10:00-16:00. Confirm selected dates. The generic BOOK TICKETS button has no working destination.
Ordinary recorded admission is free for everyone; membership is not required.
Dogs at the location: Not confirmed. Not confirmed: the official visitor information does not state a pet-dog rule.
Dog walks in the grounds: Not confirmed. Not confirmed: the official visitor information does not state a pet-dog rule.
Dog walks in the surrounding area: Not confirmed. No separate surrounding dog-walking route and its access rules were verified in the official property information.
Leads: Not confirmed.
Seasonal dog restrictions: Not confirmed; advertised opening dates and area closures still apply.
Assistance dogs: Not confirmed by the official policy text read.
PricingFreeFree for all visitors
Free entry for everyone
Entry
Free for everyone
Pricing details
Free for everyone. Optional donations support the site.
ParkingNo car park
Arrive on foot, by bike or by public transport.
Parking details
No on-site parking. Use lawful street parking in the village. Blue Coat Lane is for a pre-arranged accessible drop-off, after which the car must return to the street.
Walking routes1 route
Lyddington medieval fishponds village walk(opens the full route on the National Trust site)
WalkDog access not confirmed
Five-to-ten-minute walk through the village from beside the Bede House and church to the medieval fishpond earthworks. Use lawful village parking; route-specific dog access is not confirmed.
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Checked 2026-09-14
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