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Original poster

Mottisfont -queues?

25 replies

SausageCasseroles · 21/12/2023 12:23

Has anyone been recently?

I've seen reports of hour long queues which we wouldn't manage.

Is that for 11am? Is arriving earlier and pre-queuing worth it? Are the queue lines all day or shorter say an hour later?!

We're planning to come just after Xmas (does it get quieter?!) But trying to plan the best time to come!

OP posts:
Original poster
SausageCasseroles · 22/12/2023 22:40

Just bumping this in case anyone has been recently.

It looks like queues even at 11am when it opens?

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oliveroses · 22/12/2023 22:46

I've heard it is really busy but I've only been really late in the day - arrived at 3pm and last admission to the house is 3.30. No queues whatsoever and we whizzed around. The house is done gorgeously themed around The Polar Express. I'd assumed the queues were all for the house rather than entry to the grounds but I'm not sure!

Original poster
SausageCasseroles · 22/12/2023 22:58

We really want to see the house and will drive down for an hour to get there...

I'd wondered about arriving early. But hadn't thought of ariving late...

I think the day we're coming it will be raining 😔. Is there a good outdoor trail?

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CheersToAMerryChristmas · 22/12/2023 23:04

Not been but saw someone moaning locally about a large queue for the house at 11am last weekend(?) when it was raining. But someone else said they walked straight in at 1pm having taken in the gardens and grounds.

oliveroses · 22/12/2023 23:10

Outdoors is lovely though obviously the gardens are a bit limited this time of year. Lovely riverside amble though. There are some good outdoor activities for kids, I heard - set up specially for the seasonal event.

Original poster
SausageCasseroles · 22/12/2023 23:12

Ah now I though they advised arriving before 11 and now I'm thinking maybe that's the worst advice!

We fancy an amble.

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Ratfinkstinkypink · 22/12/2023 23:14

We were there at 3 a couple of weekends ago and the queue was very long so we just went for a soggy walk round the gardens instead.

oliveroses · 22/12/2023 23:18

If you are traveling a little way late entry might be risky - but you could have it up your sleeve!

Original poster
SausageCasseroles · 22/12/2023 23:24

Ooh that's the risk Ratfink. How was the soggy walk? We could be doing that...

I think we'll aim early and maybe walk then queue... how long does it take to walk up the stream/round the main grounds?

I assume there's not a lot outside in winter?

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SpringSparrow · 23/12/2023 11:44

I’m here now and I would say get here for the opening time which is 10 am. We parked easily, they had people telling you where to park. House opens at 10.30 and we queued for about 20 mins, then went straight to the stables coffee shop and got a table and coffees and lunch and the last two mince pies 🥧. The queue for the house is much longer than when we arrived and it seems it is just going to get busier as the day goes on.

Original poster
SausageCasseroles · 23/12/2023 13:32

Oh fab.

So just checking.

Arrive at 10
Go straight to house queue?
It opens at 10.30 (not 11 as stated)

Then you went to the cafe and there was space....

(I am a bit special around planning things!)

How long did you spend? Are you doing the gardens/river?

Hope you have had/have a fab day. Must be magical Xmas eve!

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SpringSparrow · 23/12/2023 14:00

Aw thank you. Just on our way home now so we were there until about 1.30pm. Interestingly I checked the queue a couple of times and it was quiet at 12.30 and at 1pm and super busy at 11.30am. It probably varies throughout the day but I would still aim for ten. The house opened at 10.30 am . Also there are some big rainbow trout in the river so it’s quite fun to feed them bread if you are in to that sort of thing! Also feed the swan. Yup, the cafe at the stables had free tables at 11.30. There’s also a Christmas cafe in the stable yard close by with a reduced Christmas menu and another cafe in the lower ground floor of the house.
Hope you have a good day there!

DownWhichOfLate · 23/12/2023 15:20

From memory the play area and walk can get very muddy so wellies / change of footwear might be a good idea.

CheersToAMerryChristmas · 23/12/2023 17:14

The cafe in the bottom of the house has many more tables than the stables. Keep walking through from the counter to find the old kitchen, which is an interesting place to sit.

Original poster
SausageCasseroles · 23/12/2023 17:37

This is all super helpful thankyou.

I think it might be raining on Wednesday 😔. But I'm sure it will still be fab inside.

I'd love to feed the fish! And good hints about the cafe. I'd be clueless and already assumed it would be super busy but we'd need to eat!

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CantStandMeow · 23/12/2023 17:48

We went a couple of weekends ago. The same weekend as all the sad face newspaper articles, it poured down and queues were massive all day. We went to the house only, saw the elf bits on the way in but that's the only outdoor bit we did. DC are too old to be fobbed off with welly walks and the like. Car park not too bad considering how busy it was.

The rooms were beautifully decorated, takes about 30 mins to walk around. You'll feel lovely and festive after

TeenDivided · 23/12/2023 17:52

Mottisfont verteran here.
We did the house recently but on a school day.

Part of the river walk is/was closed we could only walk up one side and back on last visit.
Def feed the fish, they go into a frenzy.
The cafe in the kitchen in nice but can be echoey, service can be a bit slow.

The house was nice, we didn't go with children (well my 19yo came), the children seemed to be enjoying it.

Their outside trails are usually very good.

Alternatively (or as well) go to the Hillier Light up trail 10mins down the road which is good but only starts after dark and is ~£20 adults. All booked before xmas, still some availability between xmas and new year.

Original poster
SausageCasseroles · 24/12/2023 10:17

I'm wondering if it's going to be worth it if we have to queue in rain!

Maybe it will be a bit quieter after Xmas...

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Original poster
SausageCasseroles · 26/12/2023 18:27

So we're going tomorrow...

Can I arrive in the car park before 10 ready for 10 opening?

Thinking we might walk up the river and feed the fish if not raining... and come back for around

10.30 for the house opening (says 11 on the website but someone said 10.30 above)

Maybe a wander round the gardens and some lunch?

Sound about right? Looks like rain is after lunch so will be dryer earlier.

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DownWhichOfLate · 27/12/2023 15:25

Did you go? Bit blustery!

Original poster
SausageCasseroles · 27/12/2023 16:16

Yes! Managed to go and arrive early and good hint about the house as they told us it was open from 11 but they did open 10.30! Had lunch in the downstairs which was really nice and felt good value. Started to rain just as we left.

Wasn't as excited about the house as I thought. We went many years ago and it felt a but less spectacular/detailed but it could be cos my kids are (much) older.

I loved the postbox with the little things inside, and the one in the winter garden you could look inside!

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Original poster
SausageCasseroles · 27/12/2023 16:16

We've been sat home inside all afternoon in wind and rain!

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Gettingbysomehow · 27/12/2023 16:17

The rose garden is the best thing ever, I go every June.

Original poster
SausageCasseroles · 27/12/2023 16:18

Yes would love to go back when it's in bloom. It looked a bit depressing in the winter!

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CheersToAMerryChristmas · 27/12/2023 17:26

Glad you had a good visit.
I like spring when the snowdrops are out.

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