Hello sarah v Thanks for taking the time to review after your recent visit to Killerton and I'm sorry to hear that you felt disappointed with the Christmas decor. The traditional Christmas decorations used in the house are in keeping with the history and beauty of the building, many of which are handmade using natural materials from the estate. We're glad that you can appreciate the time and effort it takes to decorate a house on this scale. We have taken the decision to move away from fairy tale themed Christmas displays as our Conservation Management Plan found them to be misaligned with the conservation work we are striving hard to maintain within the house and collection, but also with the impact caused on the estate as a whole (with the increased footfall in certain areas and need for an additional car parking, for example.) We also wanted to move away from the inclusion of plastic or single use decorations, which many of the themed displays had, as this is not sustainable for the environment. Thank you for your feedback and we will pass it back to the Christmas Team. Wishing you a joyous 2023.

Hello T9831HOandyb Thank you for your feedback and I'm sorry to hear that you were unable to buy lunch on your recent visit to Killerton. The Christmas period was very busy for us and unfortunately, although the food and beverage outlet started the lunchtime service with fully stocked fridges and hot food, they did run out by the early afternoon. I'm sorry that the team were unable to make a sign to inform our visitors of this. We will take your comments on board and try to have one prepared for any future occasions where, as in this situation, the queue of customers is unprecedented, so as not to cause disappointment. Many thanks.

Hello I2939CEemmaw Thanks for taking the time to review after your recent visit to Killerton and I'm sorry to hear that you felt disappointed with the Christmas decor. The traditional Christmas decorations used in the house are in keeping with the history and beauty of the building, many of which are handmade using natural materials from the estate. We have taken the decision to move away from fairy tale themed Christmas displays as our Conservation Management Plan found them to be misaligned with the conservation work we are striving hard to maintain within the house and collection, but also with the impact caused on the estate as a whole (with the increased footfall and need for an additional car parking, for example.) We also wanted to move away from the inclusion of plastic or single use decorations, which many of the themed displays had, as this is not sustainable for the environment. We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed the outdoors play trail and the trees in the chapel. The community groups work hard to produce the hand made decorations and we think they look fabulous too. Thank you for your feedback and we will pass it back to the Christmas Team. Wishing you a joyous 2023.

Hello Michael We're sorry you were disappointed that we were unable to open Killerton on the day you wanted to visit. It is because we care about our visitors that we made the very difficult decision not to open. Ice on the ground made the public areas and even gravel paths unsafe - of course a sprinkling of snow would not have stopped us opening. As a charity, we can assure you that it is not a decision that is taken lightly, and every other option and solution would have been explored, but the safety of our visitors, volunteers and staff is always paramount. The pay to enter part of the estate was closed but you were still able to walk around Danes Wood and Ashclyst Forest, should you have chosen to, at your own risk. To save a wasted journey in the future, please check our website and social media platforms before travelling. Many thanks.

Hello Bellab46139 Thank you for taking the time to review your recent trip to Killerton. Of course, we’re sad to learn that you were disappointed with elements of your visit. The house has been traditionally decorated this year using lots of natural materials from the estate. The traditional Christmas decor is intended to compliment the history and beauty of the house. We took the decision to move away from fairy tale themed Christmas displays as our Conservation Management Plan found them to be misaligned with the conservation work we are striving hard to maintain within the house and collection, but also with the impact caused on the estate as a whole (with the need for an additional car parking, for example.) We also wanted to move away from the inclusion of single use decorations and cut fresh trees, which many of the themes had, as this is not sustainable for the environment. We will take note of your feedback on the light levels and investigate this. We’re pleased to hear that you were able to see the community Christmas trees in the chapel. It’s clear to see how much care and attention have gone into the decorations and we’re delighted to be part of these communities. We hope to welcome you back to Killerton again in the near future.

Hello dragonara2 Thank you so much for your review after your recent visit to Killerton. We are delighted to hear that you had such an enjoyable time with us and we will pass on your feedback to all involved making the Christmas decorations. It's great to learn that you were also able to see new parts of the estate; Killerton is full of adventures! We hope you have a lovely Christmas and we look forward to welcoming you back in the New Year.

Hello Bellringer09 Thank you for your review and I’m sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your visit to Killerton. At Killerton we have plenty of parkland where dogs can walk on a lead, acres of land where they can run off the lead, water bowls at key places around the stable block and house, tethering posts, and a hose available to wash muddy paws. The Stables Coffee Shop, second-hand bookshop and shop also welcomes dogs. With all this considered, we feel that Killerton is dog friendly. It's only a small proportion of the estate, the house, garden and chapel grounds that are only suitable for registered assistance dogs. This is primarily because of the historic nature and conservation of these areas (which are listed due to their historical significance), but also so we have some parts of the estate that are dog free zones. Not everyone likes dogs and so we try to accommodate all our visitors. Each National Trust property has their own policy on dogs and being dog friendly does not mean that dogs are allowed in all areas. Any member of the team on site would have been able to explain this reasoning for you if asked, to avoid you leaving unhappy. Alternatively, Danes Wood and Ashclyst Forest (which are both a short walk/drive from the main site) are open areas that are suitable for dog walks. We hope that these other options are useful to you on your next journey.

Thanks for your visit and for taking the time to review, rhian02014 We're glad that you stopped by too. Lots of our visitors take advantage of our location and Killerton is the perfect place to stretch your legs when travelling through Devon and Cornwall. We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed your visit, including the the café and grounds. The house will soon be decorated for Christmas and the fashion collection will change in February 2023 so here will be lots more to see if you're able to make another trip. We hope to see you again soon.

Hello 161mouse Thanks for your review and for taking the time to share your thoughts on your visit. What a way to be greeted into Killerton House, it makes us smile just thinking about it. We're so pleased to hear that you were able to experience the pianist as music really does bring the house to life. Thank you again for your visit and we do hope that you will be able to join us again soon.