nicole
27.01.2025
If you are interested in arts and crafts this is a great reason to visit Cambridge. Extraordinary story of a craftsman who hand painted houses ( including his own) and churches for some of the most famous designers such as William Morris - well worth a visit
Catherine Bentham
11.11.2024
A hidden gem! Open only Thursday and Saturday and the tours take only 6 people at a time, so do plan ahead as they can get booked up quickly. We had a fascinating tour with Jan and Jennie, who bubbled with enthusiasm for the house and its creator, David Parr. The house is full of tiny details and quirks, and you will wonder where the 1 1/2 hours has gone.
caro pattle
31.10.2024
Enjoyed a lovely tour today with Helen & Jill, both very knowledgeable volunteer guides. The tour was a great mix of social & historical context as viewed through the lens of the house and its extraordinary decoration.
While I was there, an exhibition of contemporary art was also on display, with the works reflecting on craft & the use of text within the house. There were several wonderful Grayson Perry pieces.
Very much enjoyed it all - thank you to the Trust in caring for the home & its history!
Sharon Coates
22.09.2024
This home is a truly wonderful example of social and decorative arts history. You are taken back in time, you can imagine how the Parr family lived here and their love for the house. You will be amazed and I thoroughly recommend a visit; you will not be disappointed.
Paul Hayes
25.08.2024
A fascinating insight into the personal world of David Parr. (A lesser known contemporary of William Morris. ) Guided tours of up to 6 people bring the experience to life.
Ben Cowell
17.08.2024
What a wonderful visit. Fascinating house, and a true delight to hear the stories of David Parr and his family. Our guides were brilliant - well informed, and pitched just right. Highly recommended.
Sarah Cruise
11.08.2024
Fascinating time capsule of a house. An experience like no other and well worth a visit. Not just for the awe inspiring work by David Parr, but also for the house through the ages under Elsie's eccentric care.
Amelia Deering
06.08.2024
Amazing!
Maria Varallo
20.07.2024
Surprised at this little gem on Gwydir Street, very interesting and had a wonderful tour of the house by a two super guides. Excellent afternoon and highly recommended, thank you.
Diane Johnston
14.07.2024
This is a wonderful piece of both decorative art and social history.
Alice Groser
30.06.2024
Incredible hidden gem in the heart of Cambridge!! Our guides, Mary and Nicky, were so knowledgeable, kind and funny and really made the whole visit. Cannot recommend highly enough!
Emma
05.06.2024
A really interesting tour of a unique house. The social history is as interesting as the devorative art. They only allow 6 people to tour at a time so that you can see the rooms and the decorative features without being too crowded. Knowledgeable guides.
Karen Powell
31.05.2024
We had a wonderful tour around the house. Our guide, Cathy, impressed us with her enthusiasm and knowledge about Parr’s family and life It’s quite extraordinary that such an unassuming building on the outside holds so much history and talent inside. Thank you Cathy, well worth the visit
soph h
25.05.2024
Really lovely place inconspicuously located opposite the bustling Hot Numbers coffee shop. Our guides were great, lots of interesting stories and anecdotes about the house and the family. Fascinating slice of Cambridge history, and very cool to think that several generations of the Parr family lived in the house, the last one only moving out not ten years ago!
Melanie Houlder
27.04.2024
I visited the house this week and was blown away by the quality of the tour guide and the organisation of the tour. This is a very unique house with a fascinating history well worth a visit.
Irene Donchenko
26.04.2024
I thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the place! The house is incredible and exceptionally well-preserved. A big shout-out to Mary and Nicki for creating such a special atmosphere. A definite must-visit in Cambridge!
Jane Bromley
26.04.2024
Enchanting. Very knowledgeable guides who bring the experience to life with lots of detail about the style and techniques of the decoration and the lives of those who lived there.
Rachel Dormor
03.03.2024
This is such a wonderful place, thank you for saving it. It's an incredible piece of art history and social history, The guides were so respectful and interesting and contextualised the house well. Thank you for a great visit
Yvonne Buttolph
29.02.2024
One of Cambridge's little known gems. I waited some months before I could arrange to take a tour on a Thursday or Saturday. Tickets are few as only 6 can go round the house at any one time. Originally owned by David Parr, it is a wonderfully conserved Victorian house showing his exquisite arts & crafts wall and ceiling coverings. Be prepared to be stunned by his handiwork and by the foresight needed to keep the house safe for posterity. Be charmed by the enthusiasm of the guides.
Sarah Bradney
26.02.2024
A wonderful couple of hours, immersed in the Arts and Crafts. So interesting and a layer to the social history in Cambridge.
Janine Brown
18.02.2024
I attended a lino cutting course which was excellent.The Tutor was knowledgeable and able to help those who required it. The event was well paced and we all finished and printed off our designs.There was a plentiful supply of equipment and resources. Some participants took advantage of the opportunity to walk through the house. This was the first time I had attended a lino cutting course at this venue and would definitely book other courses here. It was good value for money and a way to learn a new skill or perfect the art of lino cutting and printing.
Moira Christie
05.05.2023
What a gem run by sensitive warm people who are passionate about this tribute to those crafts people who did the work in particular the family man David Parr who created a beautiful space for those he loved with his talent.. Morris would have appreciated it. This is a space you must visit.
Julia Jeans
22.12.2023
We did the tour of the David Parr House yesterday and it was excellent. It is by guided tour only, there were only 4 visitors, I think their max is 6 or 7, so very intimate. The two volunteer guides were excellent, very knowledgeable and obviously very passionate about the house and local history. The house is an amazing piece of local history, so unique and so different from the usual grand house museums. The visitor centre is beautiful, a great little shop (also available online). Would highly recommend it if you are interested in arts & crafts and/or local history.
Peter Murphy
01.12.2023
If you are visiting Cambridge, just go. A gem, brought to life by the knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides.
Jane Glennie
15.10.2023
Friendly and welcoming guide.
Fascinating house to visit if you love Victorian decor, Arts&Crafts Movement, time capsules, or social history like Back In Time for Dinner.
A survival so much rarer than any stately home, and worth visiting as a result.
Hatty Richmond Dakin
09.10.2023
We really loved our visit to this seemingly ordinary house (it is actually anything but), which offered an unique insight into the life of its extraordinary owner and his family. The size of the house restricts visits to small, guided groups, which makes an experience that is all the better. The guides are very knowledgeable and super welcoming. Highly recommended for anyone interested in arts, craft, local history or all the above.
Caroline Cawley
24.09.2023
What a gem! I did think the price quite high before we went but you get 1.5 hour tour and the pleasure of knowing you’re helping to fund the brilliant work the team are doing there. Gorgeous stuff in the gift shop from local artists and makers.
Rosemary Sykes
01.09.2023
A really fascinating tour with great guides.
Marian Taylor
18.08.2023
Came with friends to visit this unique house. Very friendly and knowledgeable guides who made us very welcome. Lots of interesting information that brought the house and owners to life. Definitely worth a visit.
Mark
22.07.2023
A fascinating house brought alive by two excellent and knowledgeable guides. Highly recommended.
Caroline J
14.07.2023
Fascinating house- very informative. Highly recommend.
Katharine Cantell
08.07.2023
Excellent tour. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend.
Jon Dalladay
02.07.2023
A fascinating house with fantastic guides to show you round and answer questions
Sam Smith
01.07.2023
A fascinating time capsule of a uniquely decorated home. Really enjoyed the small group tour with an engaging and knowledgeable tour guide.
Mike C
15.06.2023
We had a personal tour because we had friends visiting from New Zealand for a few days wheich didn't coincide with the usual tours of teh house. Everybody was so helpful in arranging this. We were allowed 6 people and this made it only slightly more expensive than the standard tour so it was well worth doing ti this way. We were all totally fascinated by opur tour. Our guide was very knowledgable and helpful and we are so please we went - we had been menaing to go for a couple of years and so pleased we finally got to do it! Thanks everyone!
