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Pencarrow House & Garden

Washaway, United Kingdom•4.6(1.1k)•Botanical Garden, Historic House

Explore a 500-year-old Georgian family home with 50 acres of beautiful gardens, children's play area, and on-site café in rural Cornwall.

Pencarrow House and Gardens is a unique historic Georgian mansion nestled on the edge of Bodmin Moor that has been the family home of the Molesworth-St Aubyns for almost 500 years. Unlike many heritage properties, Pencarrow remains independently owned and operated, offering visitors an authentic glimpse into centuries of family history and lifestyle. The venue features a Grade II listed garden spanning 50 acres with seasonal highlights including bluebells and peacocks roaming the grounds. Visitors can explore the historic house through guided tours that reveal hidden passageways, intriguing portraits, and quirky architectural details. The grounds also include an Iron Age fort, making it ideal for families seeking both cultural education and outdoor adventure. Families with children will appreciate the dedicated play area featuring an enchanting slate-roofed Wendy house, alongside the Peacock Café which serves light lunches, homemade cakes, and traditional Cornish cream teas with gluten-free options available. The venue is entirely dog-friendly, welcoming pets to explore the expansive grounds. Open daily except Saturdays, with seasonal hours, Pencarrow caters to all ages from infants upwards, combining educational heritage experiences with recreational activities and quality local food.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Opening Hours

Monday: 10:00 – 17:00
Tuesday: 10:00 – 17:00
Wednesday: 10:00 – 17:00
Thursday: 10:00 – 17:00
Friday: 10:00 – 17:00
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 10:00 – 17:00

Venue Details

Venue Type

Indoor & Outdoor

Typical visit duration

All day

Booking

Walk-in

Recommended ages

0 months (newborn)+

What this place offers

ToiletsToilets
Public transportPublic transport nearby
Accessible toilets
Free WiFi
Baby changingBaby changing facilities
Food available
On-site parking
🐕Dog-friendly
Parking nearby
Pushchair friendlyPushchair friendly

☕ Food & Drink

Peacock Café

Cafe serving freshly made light lunches, homemade cakes, cream teas, and locally sourced Cornish produce with vegan and gluten-free options available

Hours: 10:00-17:00 daily (closed Saturdays), lunches 12:00-15:00, last orders 16:30

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Google Reviews

4.6(1.1k reviews)
D
Darren Cooper

Darren Cooper

a month ago

An amazing place to visit. Staff are amazingly friendly and helpful. The house tour was fantastically informative with our guide Kat. Lasted about 1 hour. Cafe was great, better than alot of natioal trust (but not national trust). The gardens made for a beautiful walk even in this heatwave (lookout for the baby frogs dont you want to squish them)

C
CHRISTINA BROOKS

CHRISTINA BROOKS

2 months ago

Having recently been widowed, it's up to me now to rebuild my life. Brian and I often visited Pencarrow and loved every aspect of it. I therefore I thought it would be lovely to become a Friend of Pencarrow, which means that I can visit as much as I like and walk my beautiful dog Pom. Springtime is glorious, and after a wet winter, the spring flowers, bluebells, rhododendrons and azaleas were stunning. There is also a very nice courtyard garden with a tearooms. A gift shop in the car park and book shop are also great.

M
Mark Poley

Mark Poley

2 months ago

Fascinating historic house set in lovely gardens. The guided tour of the house was excellent. Each guide no doubt brings out slightly different aspects of the long family history and wide range of interesting artifacts. So it might be worth doing more than one visit! 😊 And it was a more extensive tour than we had expected. It was one of the best house tours we've been on. Big thank you to Sue, our tour guide. Nice little cafe, with light lunches on offer as well as tea, coffee and cake (which were fab). Do allow time to visit the gardens, both the formal Italianate and informal garden which stretches all the way to an ancient hill fort. All in all it was a really good day out 😎👍👍👍👍

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Frances Orchard

Frances Orchard

2 months ago

We arrived when it first opened, so it was not busy, but soon became busier as the morning wore on. The Peacock tea room is a must. The cream tea was wonderful, especially the scones as they were fresh from the oven. Lovely gardens to wander through. Quite easy for those with limited mobility or parents with pushchairs. The house is imposing. The guide was fantastic, providing lots of interesting nuggets of information. The staff were all very welcoming, professional and approachable. Ample free parking. Definitely worth a visit, especially this time of year to see the azaleas, rhododendrons and wisteria.

F
Frederic Raetsch

Frederic Raetsch

2 months ago

We had a brilliant tour of the house! We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the estate, especially thanks to our wonderful guide Susan — thank you so much. It is absolutely worth a visit, and we hope this special house, with its beautifully detailed interiors, will continue to attract many visitors in the future while preserving its authentic charm. The garden is lovely as well, and it is the perfect place to take your time and enjoy the plants, flowers, and sunshine.

Reviews last updated: 7 October 2026

Events at Pencarrow House & Garden

No upcoming events scheduled

Check back soon for new events at this venue.

This venue was last updated on 7 October 2026

Frequently asked questions about Pencarrow House & Garden

Is Pencarrow House & Garden free to visit?

Pencarrow House & Garden is a paid attraction — see the official website for current ticket prices.

What ages is Pencarrow House & Garden suitable for?

Pencarrow House & Garden is suitable for visitors of all ages, from babies through to adults.

Is Pencarrow House & Garden dog-friendly?

Yes, dogs are welcome at Pencarrow House & Garden.

Is there parking at Pencarrow House & Garden?

Yes, Pencarrow House & Garden has on-site parking.

Is there food at Pencarrow House & Garden?

Yes — Peacock Café is on site at Pencarrow House & Garden. Cafe serving freshly made light lunches, homemade cakes, cream teas, and locally sourced Cornish produce with vegan and…

Is Pencarrow House & Garden pushchair-friendly?

Pencarrow House & Garden isn't the easiest for pushchairs, prams or buggies — stairs or uneven terrain may make a baby carrier a better option.

How long should we plan to spend at Pencarrow House & Garden?

Pencarrow House & Garden is a full-day experience — plan accordingly.

How do I get to Pencarrow House & Garden by public transport?

Pencarrow House & Garden isn't on a major public transport route — driving is recommended.

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