Hinton Ampner House and Garden

About

Best known for its fine garden, Hinton Ampner is an elegant country house with an outstanding collection of furniture, paintings and objets d'art. After a fire in 1960, the house was remodelled by the owner, Ralph Dutton, the eigth and last Lord Sherborne, who was also responsible for the design of the gardens.

The garden is widely acknowledged as a masterpiece of 20th century design. The five hectare (twelve acre) garden unites a formal layout with varied and informal plantings in pastel shades. Set in superb Hampshire countryside, there are magnificent vistas across parkland and the South Downs. Highlights of the garden include the dell, a sunken garden with fine topiary, and the recently restored walled garden.

You can also explore 1,600 acres of the Hinton Ampner wider estate, with dog-friendly walks through glorious woodland beech avenues, and stunning views over the South Downs. This is also an excellent starting point for other routes such as the Wayfarer’s Walk.

If the ancient trees in Hinton Ampner’s historic parkland could talk, they would tell of Civil War battles, war time evacuees, and ghostly hauntings. The trees span all the centuries of inhabited life at Hinton, and a downloadable 45 minute trail* delves into some of their amazing stories. Discover trees that have been there since Tudor times, hug the huge gnarled oak that overlooked the battlefield of the Battle of Cheriton in 1644, and find out why the Victorians filled some of the parkland’s oaks with concrete, still seen today

The tea room offers a selection of light lunches including home-made cakes and cream teas.

There is a shop selling products from local honey to home-grown plants when available.

Events are run at Hinton Ampner throughout the year. Find out more about what's on and how to book them.