House Tour

“Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together.” John Ruskin

Info

Days
Thursdays and Saturdays
Times
9.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm
Running time
1 hour 30 minutes
Cost
£14.50 (£16 with donation) per person
Booking
from 1 to 6 people per tour

Description

Led by a trained guide, you will enter an ordinary terraced house with an extraordinary hand-painted interior. Home to the Victorian working-class artist, David Parr and his family, the house is an example of Arts and Crafts workmanship layered with 20th-century social history.

As a workman for the Cambridge firm of artworkers, F R Leach & Sons, David Parr painted houses and churches by hand in schemes created by some of the best architects and designers in the country.

In 1886, he bought 186 Gwydir Street and, over the next 40 years, decorated his terraced home by lamps and candlelight in the style of the grand interiors he worked on every day. Following his death in 1927, his granddaughter, Elsie Palmer, preserved the home for over 85 years.

Maximum capacity 6 people per tour. If you would like to plan a visit for a group of 7 people or more, please email info@davidparrhouse.org

Booking Info

  • Please arrive on time for your tour. If you arrive early (more than 10 minutes before your booked time), the previous tour will not yet have finished.  
  • On arrival, please ring the bell of the Visitor Centre at 184 Gwydir Street, which is next door to David Parr House, and one of our guides will welcome you inside. 
  • All guests must be at least 12 years of age. Guests aged 12-15 must be accompanied by an adult. 
  • All tickets are non-refundable. If you are unable to come on your booked tour, we suggest you give your tickets to friends or family and ask that you e-mail their names to us at info@davidparrhouse.org. 
  • Your visit will last approximately 1.5 hours. There will be a short introduction before the tour and time to browse our shop at the end. 
  • All bags must be left in the locked drawers in the Visitor Centre.  
  • Mobile phones must be switched to silent for the duration of the tour and photography is not allowed in the house. 
  • Stiletto heels and bulky coats cannot be worn in the house. In the winter, the house is cold so please dress accordingly.  
  • All tours involve walking around the House and climbing stairs. 
  • Because of the nature of the building, its Grade II* listing and the different floor levels, there is no wheelchair access. Only our Visitor Centre is wheelchair accessible. 
  • The House is a historic building, with delicate surfaces and objects. Please do not touch the surfaces and objects in the House other than staircase handrails.
  • Due to the age and character of the building, the House has dim lighting, uneven floors and steep stairs and other hazards. You must follow safety instructions from the staff at all times. 

Special requirements? Access information is available here.

Please read our full terms and conditions here. 

Booking

Help Support the David Parr House through Gift Aid

If you are a UK taxpayer you can support David Parr House by opting to Gift Aid your ticket.  By choosing to give a 10% donation, the Government will give us an extra 25% on top of your whole entrance fee. It makes a massive difference to charities like us and makes a significant contribution to the maintenance of the House.

More info

Find out about getting to the David Parr House.

Want to plan your day? Find out about the local area and self-led tours.

Subscribe to our mailing list to keep up with all of our latest news.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Sign up for our newsletter for the latest updates, workshops and stories about the house.
Sign Up Now