Red Mansion Foundation
What Visitors Say
William Morris’s first ever house is a must visit for all architects ans design lovers. Part of English heritage, the house is exclusively visited as part of a guided visit- the volunteer guides are very well read and prepared to answer any design related question, and on the garden there’s also a second hand bookshop. No café tho for scones as advertised on the website. Very much worth a visit if you love visiting historical homes. It’s also the first ever Arts and Crafts house (and had electricity and indoors bathrooms from the beginning).
Amazing house to visit if you are a Morris fan or just like architecture. Not much left of the original furniture, but what is there is worth seeing. Guides do an amazing job at immersing you into the house and life there with anecdotes. You have to book in advance to go in, but the gardens are open to everyone.
Well the garden is lovely and the staff are friendly. A surviving house amid 1930s estates formerly orchards. Inside almost empty apart from structural cracks. Almost no furniture and no personal possessions, no books. Minimal pictures or tapestries. Does not feel lived in but he only lived there 5 years a long time ago. No personal connection felt with William Morris or his family despite a very spicy lifestyle. It needs the Creativity and Magic of Morris brought to the house. Tour very thorough but needs more humour and more of the sense of the man.
The former home of the artist WM Morris ( William ) and his wife. There is of course a great deal of art work,much better Morris and his wife but also by their friends. Subsequent owners covered much of the work up but it has been revealed one more for everyone to enjoy You need to book on their website as they offer a guided tour around the house. Red House belongs to the National Trust and entry is free for members. The tour is carried out by a National Trust expert tour guide. It's very informative and really gives an insight into the lives of the artistic couple and their artist friends. The house has a lovely garden with an artistic theme and flowers and plants complement the colour of the house. There is a tea room on site and public toilets. There is also a second hand bookshop that's very reasonable indeed. Please note that there is not really anywhere to park near the house. I used Just Park ( online or App ) and managed to park 0.4 miles away . Access to parts of the house and some of the garden would be difficult for wheelchair users. If you are I tested in WM Morris, his influence and work can be found at other National Trust Properties in the South East. National Trust membership is from £7.50 per month for individual membership but there are deals for couples,families and 17-25 year olds.
Very beautiful spot, very well introduced by the guide, amazing gardens to spend time in, super sweet second hand bookshop but come with change if you intend to buy. Also bring drinks and food as there is no coffee shop nearby.
Highlights
Current Exhibition
Tight curation, strong themesShows often pair artists across cultures to test how images travel and change meaning.
Main gallery
Residency / Prize Projects
Process on displayResidencies generate sketchbooks, tests and small works that explain how artists think.
Project space or catalogue desk
Talks & Screenings
Context you won’t get from labels aloneShort artist talks and panels add the ‘why now?’ to the ‘what is it?’
Programme board / evenings
Opening Hours
Fun Facts
The foundation is best known for commissioning UK–China artist exchanges and exhibitions rather than holding a permanent collection.
Its prize and residency initiatives have showcased work from UK art schools alongside contemporary Chinese practice, building long-running networks.
Shows are often staged with partner venues as well as in-house, so checking current location and hours matters more than for a conventional museum.
