Upton House And Country Park

• Opening hours and visitor information
• What to see and do
• How to find us
• Outside Event Location - Details for hire
• Friends of Upton Country Park

Address: Upton Country Park, Poole  BH17 7BJ

Tel: 01202 262753

Upton Country Park is set in over 100 acres of award winning woodland, gardens and parkland.  We have an estimated 200,000 visitors each year.  The Park is popular with families, dog-walkers, artists and bird watchers.

Upton Country Park boasts four Green Flag Awards for meeting the national standards for parks and green spaces in England and Wales.  The award is run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy in partnership with GreenSpace and BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) .

In June 2009 the Borough of Poole adopted the 'Future Direction of Upton Country Park' report setting out a clear vision, aims and projects to develop the experience of Poole's only Country Park. Please see the attached report for more details.

Opening hours and visitor information

Country Park               1st April - 31st August               9am - 9:30pm

                                  1st September - 31st March       9am - dusk

Estate Office               Monday  - Thursday                   9am - 5:15pm

                                  Friday                                       9am - 4:45pm

Walled Garden            Daily, May - September              9am - 4pm

Plant Centre                Daily, February - September       12noon - 4pm

Tearooms                    Daily                                        10:30am - 3:45pm

Kiosk (near House)      Daily, February - September       12noon - 4pm (weather dependant)

Petanque Pitch            Available most days. Free of charge to use.

Public toilets are available near the car park and Peacock Tearooms. 

What to see and do

• Lawn - The large lawn at the front of the house is the ideal location for picnics and games.  There is plenty of space for children to run around with balls and safely enjoy themselves.
• Formal gardens - This is the most colourful part of the Park and directly surrounds the House extending out to the duck pond, shoreline and woodland.  Year round colour is provided by trees, shrubs, a herbaceous border, a heather garden and rose garden.
• Peacock Tearooms and Art gallery - Enjoy fine catering, refreshments, light lunches, home made cakes and ice creams inside or outside in the courtyard.
• Shoreline and woodlands - Perfect for walks and spotting the local wildlife and birds.  Free Guided Walks are also held at the Park from time to time.
• Bird Hide - The perfect place to spot birds of Poole Harbour on the salt marshes and mudflats.
• Walled Garden and Herbaceous Border - Originally used to supply the house with fresh vegetables, fruit and flowers all year round.  It joins the old stable block, now the Peacock Tearooms
• Roman Farm - Spot the Romano-British Farm with it's replica Roman thatched, oak framed buildings.  This is a learning resource and is not usually open to the public.
• Orienteering - Have fun finding and following the numbered posts around the Park using the map put together by the Wessex Orienteering Club.  You can buy it from the Peacock Tearooms and the Kiosk for £1.00.
• Plant Centre - Here you can buy a wide selection of plants to raise funds for the Friends of Upton Country Park.
• Petanque - Groups currently play on Wednesday and Sunday Afternoons throughout the year. See the Friends website for details of how to join the Club.

How to find us

• By Car - The Park is four miles from Poole Town Centre, clearly signposted on the A35.  There is free parking for approximately 250 cars.
• By Bus - Wilts and Dorset and First Bus Service run buses to Upton Country Park.
• On Bike - there is an off-road cycle route from the railway station via Holes Bay.  It is approximately a 15-20 minute cycle.  Upton Country Park is also included on the Heritage Cycle Route.
• On foot - to walk the cycle route would take approximately 50 minutes.

Outside Event Location - Details for hire

Typical events, held in the gardens, include:

• Oakleigh Fairs Poole Town and Country Show.
• Friends of Upton Country Park Plant Fair in the Walled Garden.

Friends of Upton Country Park

The Friends of Upton Country Park  are a group of volunteers who work alongside the Council to promote the Parks facilities for work, rest, play and learning.  The organisation is a registered Charity who raise funds by hosting events to help improve the Park's facilities.