AttractionEnglish Heritage

Audley End House and Gardens

Saffron Walden, Essex

One of the great English country houses, with acres of Capability Brown parkland and a dog friendly café terrace, though your dog waits outside the house.

Audley End is the best place in England to understand how a great house worked, and the service wing is the part people remember. The state rooms are full of fine furniture and paintings, but downstairs is where it comes alive: the 1880s kitchens of Mrs Avis Crocombe, Victorian cook and unlikely YouTube star, laid out with the fittings and sounds of a working household.

While you work through the house, the 1830s nursery and the Coal Gallery, your dog has the better half of the acreage. The grounds were remodelled by Capability Brown into parkland with the River Cam running through, a serpentine lake and long open lawns, so there is real room to walk, deep grass, water and mature trees, and the Cart Yard café has dog friendly seating.

Dogs on leads are permitted in the grounds, with assistance dogs welcome throughout including the house. Parking is free with overflow onto grass. At £23.80 an adult this is the most expensive site on the list, so if you cannot go into the house, decide in advance whether the grounds alone justify it or whether membership makes better sense.

At a Glance

Dog Access: On-lead in the grounds; Dogs on leads permitted in the grounds. Assistance dogs are welcome.
Site Type: House & Palace
Entry: £23.80 adult; £11.90 child · £59.50 family
Members: Free for English Heritage members
Facilities: Café / restaurant, Gardens, Museum, Parking, Picnic seating, Shop, Toilets
Telephone: 0370 333 1181
Parking: Free parking, with overflow on grass area. Note that the main access gate to the site is 9’6” high by 9’ wide. Please ask staff for help if your vehicle is bigger than this. Special events held at Audley End may have different parking information and prices. Please check the special event's website for details.

English Heritage Membership

Planning Your Visit

Opening times

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 10:30 - 16:00
Thursday: 10:30 - 16:00
Friday: 10:30 - 16:00
Saturday: 10:30 - 16:00
Sunday: 10:30 - 16:00

Opening times and prices were checked on 26 August 2026 and are subject to change, and some sites close for events or over winter. Confirm on the English Heritage site page before you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Audley End House and Gardens dog friendly?
Dogs are welcome in the grounds of Audley End, where Capability Brown's sweeping parkland — complete with the River Cam, a serpentine lake and long open lawns — gives them plenty to explore. The Cart Yard café has dog friendly seating too, so you can take a break together. Dogs aren't permitted inside the house itself, though assistance dogs are welcome throughout including the house.
Are dogs allowed at Audley End House and Gardens year round?
The listing doesn't specify seasonal restrictions on dog access, but it's worth checking the Audley End website before you visit, particularly if a special event is on, as these can affect parking arrangements and site access.
What should I know before visiting Audley End House and Gardens with my dog?
Dogs must be kept on leads throughout the grounds, so bear that in mind if your dog is used to running free. Admission is £23.80 per adult, and since dogs can't enter the house, it's worth deciding in advance whether the grounds alone — which are genuinely expansive and beautiful — are worth it for your visit, or whether an English Heritage membership might make more sense. Parking is free, with overflow onto a grass area, though the main access gate is 9'6" high by 9' wide, so larger vehicles may need to ask staff for assistance.