Visiting A La Ronde with Kids

Tucked just off the beaten path north of Exmouth lies one of Devon’s most enchanting architectural curiosities: A La Ronde. This is not your usual stately home, it’s sixteen-sided, filled with shellwork, odd little rooms and fascinating personal stories. Here is our brief overview of visiting A La Ronde with kids.

Why it’s worth a stop

• The house was built in the late 18th century by two creative and independent cousins, Jane and Mary Parminter, after their Grand Tour of Europe.
• They decorated it with their own handiwork: shell mosaics, feather friezes, curios from travels, papercuts, and more, making each room full of surprises.
• The layout is centred around a grand octagonal hall from which the rooms radiate.
• The gardens, orchard, meadow and vantage points over the Exe estuary offer peaceful walks and a chance to pause in nature.

What to see and do

• Explore the Shell Gallery, a highlight, where thousands of shells are artfully arranged. The house now also includes a 360° interactive touchscreen to help view parts of the gallery. The kids enjoyed viewing all the different curiosities as well as the whole quirkiness of the building.
• Walk the grounds: the orchard, hay meadow, and gardens are calm spaces for a stroll or picnic. We visited during the summer of play, so there were some old-fashioned games for the kids to explore in the orchard area of the grounds. This is also a great place for a picnic; there was an outside cafe open whilst we were there, so do check out their opening times if you require takeaway food and drinks.
• Take time to sit and gaze over the Exe estuary – the views are peaceful and wide.
• For families: pack a picnic, bring sketchbooks or nature journals, let children spot shells, insects, or shapes in the trees.
• There was croquet on the lawn when we visited in the summer months.
• Second hand bookshop

Practical tips

• Address & access: A La Ronde is located on Summer Lane, Exmouth, EX8 5BD (though the postcode doesn’t always bring you directly). Follow the signs on the main road rather than SatNav through the housing estate.
• Opening times: Usually open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:30am – 5:00pm (last entry around 4:00pm) in the main season.
• Pricing (as of recent): Adults ~ £10.00, Children ~ £5.00 (check the National Trust site for up-to-date rates). Free to members.
• Facilities: There’s free parking for visitors, mobility parking, and accessible toilets. Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds (but only assistance dogs inside the house).
• Best times: Quieter mornings or late afternoons tend to offer more peace and fewer crowds.
• Combine visiting here with a few hours down on the beach or combine visiting here with a train ride along the coast.

Why it stands out

Many historic houses offer grandeur; A La Ronde offers oddness, intimacy and personality. It’s a house built by women, for women (originally) with a will to preserve its character, Mary Parminter’s will even stipulated that it be inherited only by unmarried female relatives for years.

Walking through it feels like stepping into someone’s creative dream, rooms that spill into each other, windows that frame views, corners that call for quiet observation, and hidden treasures behind every door.

For families, it’s a wonderful place to slow down, ask questions, and explore both nature and imagination together.

Thinking of visiting?
I’d love to hear what you discover when you visit A La Ronde with kids. Please share a favourite hidden corner, a shell you loved, or a moment of quiet you carried home with you.