The National Trust has announced that the house and parts of the grounds at Basildon Park in Reading, Berkshire, will be closed to the public from 23 March to 2 April 2026. This temporary closure means the historic mansion will be off-limits for visitors, with the entire estate shutting down completely for eight days during the middle of this period.
The 18th-century house will stay closed until Friday 3 April 2026, though the surrounding parkland will be open on a limited basis for local walkers. Residents can only access the parkland on Monday 23 March, Tuesday 24 March, and Thursday 2 April, while the entire site will be shut from Wednesday 25 March through to Wednesday 1 April.
During this time, the main Tea Room will be closed, but visitors can buy light snacks at the Tool Shed on the three days that the parkland remains open. The mansion is a well-known local landmark and has previously been used as a filming location for popular television shows including Bridgerton, Downton Abbey, and The Crown.
The site will return to its normal opening times in time for the Easter bank holiday weekend, with the house reopening and the Easter Adventures trail starting on Friday 3 April 2026. The family event will run daily until 12 April 2026, with standard entry priced at £20 for adults and £10 for children, while National Trust members can enter for free.
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