The collection includes the Speaker's State Coach, historically used for the opening of Parliament.
Rosalie Chichester, the last owner, bequeathed the entire 2,700-acre estate to the National Trust in 1949.
The carriage collection is one of the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom, featuring over 50 individual vehicles.
The house interior features a notable 'shell room,' a decorative project involving thousands of seashells collected by family members.
The estate grounds contain a private chapel, St James, which dates back to the 18th century.
The woodlands are a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to their role in supporting rare lichen species.
The house was constructed in 1823 to replace an earlier manor on the same site.
The collection of model ships on display reflects the seafaring history of the Chichester family.
The estate utilizes a lake created in the 19th century as a central feature of the landscaped pleasure grounds.
Red deer and fallow deer are frequently spotted in the estate's extensive parkland.
Arlington Court is a Regency-era country house designed in the Greek Revival style by Thomas Lee. The estate houses an extensive collection of horse-drawn carriages, including state coaches and smaller private vehicles, displayed in the dedicated Carriage Museum. The house interior retains a significant collection of family heirlooms, model ships, and shell work curated by the Chichester family. Surrounding the house are extensive formal gardens, pleasure grounds, and a Victorian-style wild garden. The estate encompasses over 2,700 acres of parkland and woodland, much of which is accessible via marked trails. The property is currently managed by the National Trust and remains open to the public as a heritage site. The site is located in the North Devon countryside, approximately seven miles northeast of Barnstaple.
The view of the house reflected in the front lawn's lake.
Visit the Carriage Museum first, as it often has different closing protocols than the main house.
Wear waterproof footwear if planning to explore the woodland trails, as paths can be muddy.
Check the estate map upon arrival to locate the specific trails that lead to the lake and formal gardens.
Do not attempt to walk the entire 2,700-acre estate in a single visit without a map, as the terrain is undulating.
The house and museum occasionally close for conservation work; check the National Trust status before arrival. Grounds generally open year-round, while house interiors may have seasonal closures in winter.
No photography inside the main house; keep to marked footpaths to protect the SSSI woodland.
