Kelmscott Manor

The Cotswolds


Nestling near the Thames 20 miles west of Oxford (northwest of Faringdon), Kelmscott Manor is a gorgeous garden-fringed Tudor pile that was bought in 1871 by a prestigious pair of artist-poets: Dante Gabriel Rossetti and William Morris, founder of the Arts and Crafts movement. The interior is true to Morris’ philosophy that one should own nothing that is neither beautiful nor useful, and displays his personal effects along with fabrics and furniture designed by Morris and his associates.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The Cotswolds attractions

1. Cotswold Wildlife Park

5.93 MILES

Younger visitors in particular will enjoy this hugely popular wildlife centre, 3 miles south of Burford. Its vast 250-species menagerie includes penguins,…

2. Dragon Hill

8.12 MILES

The 10m-high, flat-topped mound known as Dragon Hill was believed by locals to be the site where St George slew the dragon. Archeologists prefer to think…

3. Tolsey Museum

8.24 MILES

This engaging local museum occupies the upper floor of an unusual 16th-century building with a columned open arcade at street level where traders once…

4. Uffington White Horse

8.3 MILES

On the lower slopes of its high namesake hill, this elegant, minimalist horse image is the oldest chalk figure in Britain. Created during the Bronze Age,…

5. Uffington Castle

8.37 MILES

Uffington Castle, atop White Horse Hill, is a superbly sited hill fort that dates from around 700 BC. All that’s visible today is the vast grassed-over…

6. St John the Baptist’s Church

8.4 MILES

Burford's splendid church, near the river, took over three centuries to build, from 1175 onwards. Its fan-vaulted ceiling, Norman west doorway and 15th…

7. St Mary’s Church

8.44 MILES

This 12th-century church, in the village of Swinbrook, 3 miles east of Burford, is remarkable for the tomb of the Fettiplace family, who dominated this…

8. Wayland’s Smithy

8.6 MILES

Much older even than the nearby White Horse, this chambered neolithic long barrow measures over 50m long. Fourteen human skeletons discovered within it…