Charterhouse

Overview

Three historic floors of historic storytelling, surrounded by a halo of beautiful green space filled with wildlife, and ‘Purnell’s Café & Bistro at Charterhouse’. One of Coventry’s most important heritage sites and the centre of Charterhouse Heritage Park.

Charterhouse is always evolving and developing, as a one-of-a-kind living heritage site with something for everyone to enjoy and new, exciting things to discover every time you visit.

Regular admission is now closed until 28 March 2024 – but we have various events over the winter season – see below

Winter opening 2023-2024

After a successful opening season in 2023, like many historic houses we have ‘put the property to bed’ during the winter. This is a chance for conservation work to take place, and for staff and volunteers to catch-up on maintenance of this Grade I listed building.

The last regular day of opening was Sunday 5 November. The historic house and garden at Charterhouse as well as Purnell’s Café & Bistro will be closed from then, and Charterhouse will re-open again on Thursday 28 March in time for Easter.

There will be a number of events in and around Charterhouse during the winter to celebrate the season. See below for details of these events, and sign-up to our newsletter to keep you posted on what’s happening at Charterhouse.

Tickets

Adult ticket

2024 tickets go on sale early 2024.

£9.00

GoCV ticket

Must present GoCV card on arrival

2024 tickets go on sale early 2024.

£8.00

Child ticket

(ages 5 - 17)

2024 tickets go on sale early 2024.

£4.50

Child ticket

(ages 4 and under)

2024 tickets go on sale early 2024.

FREE

Group rate ticket

(for over 12 people, price per person)

2024 tickets go on sale early 2024.

£8.00

Essential Carer ticket

2024 tickets go on sale early 2024.

FREE

GoCV child

Must present GoCV card on arrival (ages 5 - 17)

2024 tickets go on sale early 2024.

£3.50

GoCV+

Must present GoCV card on arrival

2024 tickets go on sale early 2024.

FREE

Regular admission is currently closed until 28 March 2024. Tickets for 2024 season will go on sale in 2024.

Tickets give visitors readmission for 12 months, so you can keep coming back again and again to enjoy this special space.

Tickets will be available to buy in-advance, or you can also get them on the door.

Opening times

Charterhouse and Purnell’s Café & Bistro is now closed from 6 November 2023 to 27 March 2024 (inclusive) – but see below for seasonal events over winter.

During the open season, regular opening times are:

Thursday – Sunday
10am – 4pm (last admission 3.00pm)

Also open Bank Holiday Mondays
10am – 4pm (last admission 3.00pm)

 

 

Purnell’s Café & Bistro is now closed from 6 November 2023 to 27 March 2024 (inclusive)

During the open season, regular opening times for Purnell’s Café & Bistro at Charterhouse are:

Thursday to Saturday, 9am to 8.30pm

Sunday, 9am to 5pm

Also open Bank Holidays, 9am to 5pm (café menu only)

Purnell’s Café & Bistro at Charterhouse

Glynn Purnell at CharterhouseOur café and bistro, situated in the newly refurbished refectory attached to the former Prior’s House, is run by the West Midlands’ very own Michelin-starred chef Glynn Purnell.

Access to the cafe is free and there is no need to book.

With a field-to-fork ethos of making the most of the amazing produce being grown in the garden on site. Purnell’s at Charterhouse provides visitors with that much needed respite after a busy morning immersing themselves in the history of Charterhouse.

You can see a sample menu, find out more, and book here

Read all about it

The latest edition of the Heritage Park Times is available to view and download now online. If you’d like to get your hands on a physical copy, get in touch  and we’ll let you know where you can pick one up.

 

A former monastery

The Grade I listed, 14th century building has quite the story to share, and has served many different purposes since it was first founded in 1381. The site began life as a Carthusian monastery, home to a silent order of monks who lived peacefully off the land. The building passed hands as a private house through the following centuries, with notable inhabitants including Robert Dudley, famous favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, and John Whittingham who cultivated the nursery and walled garden that produced exotic fruit for wealthy locals. In more recent years the house has a whole new tale to tell, with tenacious members of the community coming together to save the building from sale and possible demolition.

To find out more about the amazing history of the house, see the story of Charterhouse. 

What's on at Charterhouse

Christmas wreath making at Charterhouse
Thurs 7 + 14 December 2023

Christmas wreath making at Charterhouse

Charterhouse, Thurs 7 + 14 December 2023 | 2pm - 4pm and 6.30pm – 8.30pm

Charterhouse head gardener Gianni Antoniazzi will be lending his creative skills to help you create a beautiful foraged wreath. You get to take your creation home and also enjoy festive mince pie and refreshments. Suitable for beginners.

Read more
Charterhouse festive late night tours
Thurs 7 + 14 December 2023

Charterhouse festive late night tours

Charterhouse, Thurs 7 + 14 December 2023 | 6pm – 8pm

Explore Charterhouse after dark! Join us for special tours of Charterhouse at night and experience the building like never-before. Includes festive refreshment.

Read more

Education

Now that Charterhouse is open we are busy getting ready to launch our bespoke education programme, coming in 2024.

Find out more

Find us

Charterhouse, London Road, Coventry CV1 2JR

By foot
You can find us on foot less than one mile from the city centre, either by walking through London Road Cemetery: Paxton’s Arboretum and across London Road, or by using the back entrance through the alleyway between 229 and 231 Humber Avenue, CV1 2AQ.

By train
We’re just a 20 minute (1 mile) walk or a short taxi ride from Coventry train station.

By bus
You can jump on the X18 (Stagecoach bus) to Stratford from Stop TS2 near Sainsbury’s in Coventry city centre, arriving on London Road right by the entrance to Charterhouse (nearest stop – Acacia Avenue) in just 10 minutes. The X18 runs every 30 minutes.

Alternatively, you can catch the 3 (National Express Coventry bus) towards Warwickshire Shopping Park from Cross Cheaping (Stop BS6) in Coventry city centre, arriving at Humber Avenue on London Road right by the back entrance to Charterhouse in just 7 minutes. The 3 runs every 15 minutes.

By car
We have a large car park available for Charterhouse visitors just off London Road (A4114). See below for details on parking charges.

Sat Nav destination: CV1 2JR

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Find us on Google Maps

Parking

As a city centre car park, we have had to introduce charges so there is space in our car park for visitors.

Parking is free for visitors to the Charterhouse and/or Purnells’ Café & Bistro when open and if you register on arrival at reception. 

Visitors to Charterhouse including Purnells’ Café & Bistro please register on arrival at reception.

Other car park users must pay for parking Monday to Sunday between 8am and 9pm. All car park fees support Historic Coventry Trust to care for Coventry’s heritage now and in the future.

Parking charges are:

Up to 1 hourFREE
Up to 2 hours£2.20
Up to 3 hours£3.20
Up to 8 hours£5.20
Up to 13 hours  £8.20

Pay using the RingGo app and pay by credit or debit card, or call 0203 046 0010. The location code is 33643.

There is no need to display a ticket.

Access for all

  • Assistance dogs are welcome in the house
  • Passenger lift to all floors
  • Accessible toilets available on the ground floor
  • Carers get in free
  • Film within the interpretation area has subtitles
  • Café bar – on the ground floor and fully accessible
  • Garden – accessible routes throughout

Accessible parking

The entrance to Charterhouse and Purnell’s Café & Bistro is a 200m walk from the car park. Please note that a temporary drop-off point is available at the entrance. For further guidance, please contact admin@historiccoventrytrust.org.uk

Wall Paintings
Access to the rooms with wall paintings are down two steps, but full interpretation of the paintings and a replica is available on the second floor accessible by lift.

 

Admission and ticket info

What does this include?

Visitors can enjoy unlimited visits for 12 months from the date of visit.

Where can I buy tickets?

Tickets are available to purchase online (above). Tickets are also available to buy in-person at Charterhouse. Existing ticket holders with a code to re-visit still need to book to visit again – you will not be charged at checkout/on completion of your booking.

Do I need to book in advance?

It helps if you book in-advance for your ticket, and this will help you gain entry if it is busy. However, you will be able to get a ticket on-the-door if there is capacity. Please note we’d love you to paid by card, as this helps keep our costs down and for security reasons.

Will there be any additional charges?

No, not for normal Charterhouse entry. However, throughout the year there may be some events for which there will be an additional charge. These will be advertised on our website.

Does this include all events at Charterhouse?

No, certain events may be subject to an additional charge and may not be included in your ticket, please check individual events for more details.

Do you offer concessions?

There are discounts for those with a GoCV card, essential carers get in free, as do all under 5s and GoCV+ holders. Every ticket gives 12 months unlimited access. All proceeds from admission go into ensuring a sustainable future for Charterhouse.

What if I only want to visit Charterhouse once? 

Your ticket is valid for one visit or 100! As a charity, a ticket which is valid for 12 months allows us to treat your purchase as a donation.

What is Gift Aid?

Historic Coventry Trust is a charity and so, if you are a UK taxpayer, we’re able to benefit from the UK government’s Gift Aid scheme. By purchasing your ticket and selecting to Gift Aid, you are allowing us to treat your purchase as a donation. This enables us to reclaim the tax on your ticket price at 25p for every £1, at no extra cost to you.

Do I need to buy admission for under-5s?

No. All under 5s go free to Charterhouse

What do i need to show when I visit Charterhouse? What if I lose my ticket?

Your ticket will be issued via email as an e-ticket. You can either print this out and bring it with you or display your e-ticket to a member of staff using your phone or tablet. If you lose your e-ticket, our staff will be able to search for you using the details you provided on purchase. This can be name, email address, post code etc.

Do you accept GoCV cards?

Yes, discounted tickets are available for GoCV card-holders and can be purchased online. Please bring your card with you when you visit.

Do you offer group visits?

Yes. For group tickets, please email us at admin@historiccoventrytrust.org.uk

Free visits for 12 months

VISITORS CAN ENJOY UNLIMITED VISITS FOR 12 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF TICKET PURCHASE.

How do I book a return visit?

You can book online or in-person with the code provided on your ticket.

What ID do I need to bring when I return?

You are required to bring proof of identification such as passport, driving licence, credit or debit card every time you visit the while your ticket is valid. Under 18s are not required to bring ID for entry to Charterhouse.

Can I give my ticket to a friend to use?

No, all tickets are non-transferable, including children’s, that is why we ask you for your personal details on purchase and why we will ask to see some ID on your return visits. If you are unable to provide matching ID, we reserve the right to refuse entry.

How can I renew my ticket at the end of 12 months?

Your initial ticket gives you a code allowing free entry for one year, from date of visit. After this, you’ll need to buy a new ticket. Your ticket will not renew automatically.

Further info

Dogs

  • Dogs on leads are welcome in the house and gardens.
  • Dogs are welcome in specific areas within the café

Children’s buggies

  • Depending on how busy we are we may ask you to leave your buggy in the entrance whilst you go through the house.

Cycling

  • Bike racks are available in the car park

Smoking

  • Charterhouse is a no smoking / no vaping site

Funders

Made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

Made possible with Heritage Fund and Coventry City Council logos

 

With special thanks to Coventry City Council, Historic England and numerous trusts and foundations including The Architectural Heritage Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation, Wolfson Foundation, Foyle Foundation, and Benefact Trust.

Charterhouse Heritage Park

Historic Coventry Trust is working to preserve the landscape around Charterhouse, restoring and actively managing the area as the Charterhouse Heritage Park.

Find out more

Stay with us

 

Stay in some of the West Midlands’ most important historic buildings nearby. Spend the night in a fairy-tale medieval gatehouse, or one of four gorgeous timber-framed cottages in the city centre.

Find out more

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