The house was once owned by the Purcell family and served as a retreat for King Charles I during the English Civil War.
Lord Bearsted, the founder of Shell Oil, purchased the house in 1927 specifically to house his art collection.
The collection includes a significant number of Sèvres porcelain pieces, considered among the best in the UK.
The 1930s 'Model Village' in the garden is a miniature architectural recreation commissioned by the family.
The gardens were designed to incorporate elements of the Arts and Crafts movement, emphasizing structural planting.
During the Second World War, the house was used to store the National Gallery's art collection to protect it from London bombings.
The house contains a specialized library focusing on art history, reflecting the personal interests of the Bearsted family.
The terraced lawn area is designed to follow the natural contours of the Edge Hill escarpment.
The site features a bog garden, which supports a variety of moisture-loving plants not typically found in traditional formal gardens.
Upton House and Gardens is a 17th-century country estate situated on the border of Warwickshire and Oxfordshire, notable for its extensive art and porcelain collections. The house was significantly remodeled by Lord Bearsted in the 1920s to showcase his world-class collection of fine art, including works by Stubbs, Canaletto, and El Greco. The interior features a rare example of an intact 1930s-style private collection displayed in a domestic setting. The grounds include a tiered garden layout, a kitchen garden, and an ornamental lake. Visitors can explore the long gallery, which houses the majority of the paintings. The estate is managed by the National Trust and retains its historical character, including the former servants' quarters. It stands atop Edge Hill, offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The site is a Grade II* listed building.
The view of the house facade from the bottom of the lower terrace looking upward.
Wear sturdy footwear as the steep slopes of the tiered gardens can be slippery in wet weather.
Check the National Trust website before visiting to see if the house is operating on a timed-entry system for the interior rooms.
Allocate time to walk the perimeter of the ornamental lake, which offers the best perspective of the house's architecture.
Attempting to reach the house via public transport, as there are no frequent bus services to this rural location.
The house and gardens are typically closed on certain weekdays during the winter season; check the official National Trust website for specific seasonal closures.
No photography inside the house rooms; do not touch the porcelain or oil paintings.
