Shaw's Corner, down the lanes of Ayot St Lawrence, was the home of the playwright George Bernard Shaw for more than 40 years, from 1906 until his death in 1950. Built in 1902 as the village rectory, the Edwardian villa was rented and later bought by Shaw and his wife Charlotte, and it stays much as he left it, with Arts and Crafts interiors, a bust of Shaw by Auguste Rodin and his Oscar for the film of Pygmalion. The 3.5-acre garden has lawns, summer borders and an orchard, and at its far end stands the revolving writing hut, which Shaw turned to follow the sun. Dogs are welcome in the garden on a short lead. Reviewers praise the knowledgeable guides on the morning house tours and find the garden lovely without being huge. The approach roads are narrow; the free car park is very small, so expect a wait on busy days, and there is a second-hand bookshop but only a kiosk, not a cafe.
