House, Gardens & Cafe Open Tuesday - Sunday 10.30 - 17.00

‘The Wild Escape’ – Meet a Creature Sensory Trail

1st-23rd April

Discover the beautiful and curious creatures in our museum with our sensory Wild Escape trail which celebrates the diversity of UK wildlife and some extraordinary journeys that wild creatures make. The trail uses touch, smell and sound to encounter a range of creatures and reflects on how we can help preserve their precious habitats.

Free with museum entry.

To find out more about the Art Fund’s Wild Escape please see: artfund.org/thewildescape

The Wild Escape is made possible by lead support from Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants, with additional support from Art Fund and a group of generous individuals and trusts.

Please consider coming to Gilbert White’s House & Gardens by bus to reduce your carbon footprint! Bus fares are £2 per person per single journey thanks to a Government scheme to promote greener travel. Our activities are timed to fit in with the no 38 bus timetable between Alton and Petersfield. Please see www.stagecoachbus.com full timetable.

    Gilbert Whites House

    Gilbert White was aged 7 or 8 when the White family moved from the Vicarage on Selborne’s Plestor, to this house, called ‘The Wakes’ (named after the Wake family who had lived here previously). At that time the property would have been no more than a ‘two up, two down’  but over the subsequent years lots of extensions and additions have been made, creating the long sizeable house you see today.

    The rooms have been restored following descriptions in White’s own correspondence and include a chair he used at Oriel College, Oxford (loaned from the College), items of contemporary furniture, family portraits and bed hangings embroidered for him by his aunts.

    On display is the original manuscript of his book, The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, which was purchased with generous help from English Heritage and others.

    Learn more