Upton House

Upton House is an English country residence dating from the late 1600s located in Ratley and Upton, maintained by the National Trust. The estate features terraced gardens with herbaceous borders, a working kitchen garden, and a water lily pond set into the landscape.

The house was built around 1695 by Sir Rushout Cullen on land he had acquired in the area. The construction marked the replacement of an earlier settlement called Upton that had occupied the site centuries before.

The house displays an impressive art collection with paintings by masters such as Tiepolo and El Greco throughout its rooms. The interior arrangement reflects how a wealthy family from the early 1900s chose to live with and surround themselves with these works.

The building has limited wheelchair accessibility, so it is worth checking in advance which areas are easy to reach. The property is managed by the National Trust and welcomes visitors year-round with regular opening patterns.

A bathroom from the 1920s features walls covered in aluminum leaf, which was an exceptionally modern choice for that era. Additionally, chairs in the dining room were hand-embroidered by a household member during his recovery from illness.

Location: Ratley and Upton

Inception: 1695

Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access

Operator: National Trust

Part of: National Trust

Address: Upton, Banbury OX15 6HT

Phone: +441295670266

Website: https://nationaltrust.org.uk/upton-house-and-gardens

GPS coordinates: 52.10830,-1.46160

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:22