Mottisfont Abbey, which can be found a few miles north of Romsey, earned the honour in a list from The Telegraph.
The publication ranked the “20 finest National Trust properties in the land,” with the Hampshire spot earning first place.
Discussing the list, they wrote: “From castles to sprawling mansions and intimate houses, the National Trust’s cast list is a who’s who of architectural delights.
“The organisation itself will never please all of the people all of the time, but how lucky we are to have access to its historic properties dotted across the country.”
The full list of the UK’s best National Trust properties to visit can be found on The Telegraph website here.
Why is Mottisfont Abbey the UK’s best National Trust property?
Mottisfont Abbey earned a score of 44/50 to claim the top spot, scoring a 10/10 for History and 9/10s for Facilities and Things to See.
Meanwhile, 8/10s were earned in the Architecture and Grounds categories.
It was described as a “glorious patchwork of history” thanks to its “renovated Georgian house built around a Tudor palace sitting on the foundations of an Augustinian priory”.
The Telegraph added: “From the 1930s, owners Gilbert and Maud Russell entertained a vivid circle of friends here and Maud’s second husband, the artist Boris Anrep, created two mosaics here.
“The mellow facade conceals the Derek Hill Collection of modern art and Rex Whistler’s theatrical faux gothic murals in the Saloon.”
Praise was also given to the rose garden designed by Graham Stuart Thomas, which contains the National Trust’s collection of pre-1900 old-fashioned roses.
The National Trust shares that one of the house’s main features is an “extraordinary drawing-room painted by Rex Whistler”.
This complements its “permanent 20th-century art collection” as well as exhibitions which are held on the top floor.
It’s not just the house that makes Mottisfont Abbey stand out, though, as its grounds and gardens are something that draw visitors in all year round.
Ranging from its “carpets of spring bulbs” or “rich autumn leaves”, there’s always something to catch your eye.
The website adds: “Our world-famous collection of old-fashioned roses flowers once a year in June.
“Winding paths meander through stately trees, with the sound of water never far away.”
Entry to Mottisfont is free to National Trust and Art Fund members as well as under-5s.
Prices for families (which is two adults and up to three children) are £66 (with Gift Aid) for peak admission, while adults are £26.40 and children aged between five and 17 are £13.20.
Peak admission is 10am to 3pm daily except for bank holidays and Rose season (May 21 to June 13, when it will be charged between 10am and 5pm.
What do visitors think of Mottisfont Abbey?
Mottisfont Abbey has been well-received by visitors, earning a 4.4/5 score on Tripadvisor from 1,679 reviews.
One person described their “lovely morning” walking around the “beautiful gardens” as well as learning about the history of the area in the house.
Another said it was a “really fascinating” place to explore and found that how the history of the place was brought to life was “very clever”.
They added: “The storytelling has much improved since our last visit maybe a decade ago and we learned loads about Maud Russell, the family and their extraordinary circle of high society political influencers, creatives and socialites.”
A third wrote: “What a splendid place to spend a day!
“I loved the River walk and there are some magnificent trees, really huge and old.”
Additionally, they praised the fact there was “lots to learn” in the house as well as the cafe in the walled garden.
Do you agree that Mottisfont Abbey is the UK’s best National Trust property? Let us know in the comments.
