National Trust houses across Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire will start to reopen following the Government’s easing of Covid restrictions

Basildon Park and The Vyne are among properties that will start to reopen from Monday, May 17 and welcome visitors back.

National Trust Staff and volunteers have been working hard behind the scenes to get properties ready to reopen safely with social distancing in place. Some small properties or rooms which can’t accommodate social distancing will reopen later once Covid restrictions are lifted or when repair or redisplay work is completed.

Bookings at busy times such as weekends bank holidays and school holidays are recommended to guarantee admission, but booking is not usually necessary for mid-week visits. In all houses masks are mandatory – unless exempt – and Track & Trace details will be requested.

In Berkshire, Basildon Park will be open every day except Wednesdays, noon-5pm.

All the staterooms are open on the first floor of the house with volunteer room guides to provide information about the house and its history. The second floor remains closed and there’s a one-way system for visitors follow around the eight open rooms of the house. (Grounds are already open)

The grounds are already open at The Vyne, Hampshire, 10am-5pm, but from Monday, just the ground floor of the house will be open every day 11am-3pm.

Greys Court in Oxfordshire reopens on Wednesday, May19 and will be open Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-4pm.

Nuffield Place also reopens on Wednesday, with weekly opening times of 10.30am-5pm,Wednesday to Sunday. There will be tables and chairs outside for visitors to bring their own picnics.

In Buckinghamshire, Hughenden Manor, where the grounds are already open, will open its doors from Monday and will be open every day 11am-5pm.

Other nearby properties opening include Waddesdon Manor, from Wednesday, and Claydon from Friday.

National Trust director general Hilary McGrady said:, “This is a big moment that we have all looked forward to for months as we welcome people back safely, to spend time together at their favourite properties.

Entry arrangements for houses will vary so please check property web pages before visiting. www.nationaltrust.org.uk