Brantwood, Historic house museum in Coniston, England.
Brantwood is a historic house and museum set on the shore of Coniston Water, surrounded by gardens, woodland, and meadows. The main building and its grounds offer different areas to explore across the expansive property.
John Ruskin acquired the estate in 1871 without visiting it first, then significantly expanded the original small building. Under his direction, new spaces and gardens were added that reflected his views on art and nature.
The house displays personal collections assembled by John Ruskin, including furniture, books, and geological specimens across multiple rooms. These objects reveal his interests and the way he chose to live.
Access is from the lakeshore side, and the grounds include both the house interior and outdoor areas to explore. Plan to spend enough time to see both the building and the gardens and waterside areas.
The wisteria gardens contain one of the few major collections of this plant in the region and display horticultural experiments from the 1800s. These botanical trials remain visible and show the era's interest in plant cultivation.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.