The master key to unlocking the thirteen rooms of the house & gardens
THE TALLISTON EXPERIENCE
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THE EXPLORER'S PASS
Every visit to Talliston is unique, so we decided to create an experience to match. The Talliston Explorer's Pass gives you the chance to tailor your time inside the magical world of Britain’s most extraordinary home. You’ll get access all areas to the house & gardens with each and every room set to perfection. Come alone, with up to eight guests – or gift the experience for an unforgettable treat or celebration.
DISCOVER. EXPLORE. EXPERIENCE
This is the opportunity to truly build your own adventure. You’ll get up to three and a half hours for you private and exclusive event – and the possibilities are endless. What would you do with your time inside the house and gardens? Walk the labyrinthian trail of rooms and doors? Be inspired to write or draw within the rich and creative locations.
Perhaps you’d like a full tour – or treat someone to high tea in the Victorian watchtower, or a picnic hamper in the courtyard garden. And why not add a stayover in one of our three extraordinary bedrooms.
So whether it’s to surprise someone you love with a birthday treat or just to relax in our Japanese tea room, this is the experience for you.
WHAT YOU GET
Each experience gives up to three and a half hours exploring Talliston, plus complimentary teas, coffees and tasty nibbles. Upon booking you’ll be sent full details, plus a personal passport and map of the thirteen magical rooms at the house & gardens. You’ll also receive a personal call from creator John Tarrow to personalise details of your experience.
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NEW! VIRTUAL & ACCESSIBILITY EXPERIENCES
The labyrinth of Talliston is now open to all explorers – either from around the world or the comfort of your sofa. John Tarrow offers a virtual experience with a tour exploring the house & gardens available via online access. To talk through the options, click on the button and set up a call.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
ACCESS ALL AREAS
Explore the house & gardens at your leisure in a truly immersive experience
UP TO 8 GUESTS
Perfect for solo, small groups or an unforgettable celebration gift
MAGICAL EXTRAS
Build your own unique adventure with additional tours, food, drinks and more
YOUR PASSPORT TO ADVENTURE
Step inside the imagination of author and creator John Tarrow for a magical exploration of doors, rooms and hidden secrets. Book your morning, afternoon or evening visit, then add extras to create a truly tailor-made experience inside the house & gardens.
Want to eat, drink, dine or celebrate? Add afternoon tea, evening supper or one of our at-table hampers that can be served in the Victorian Watchtower, the New Orleans kitchen or al fresco in the Irish courtyard.
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We also offer two guided tour with Talliston's creator and author, John Tarrow. The first focuses on the 25-year project to build Talliston – or for readers of the fantasy adventure novel , step inside the book showcasing the rooms and objects that inspired the story.
Plus after your experience, we offer guests the chance to book into one of three extraordinary bedrooms for an unforgettable overnight stay followed by a fabulous candlelit breakfast before departure.
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ALL DETAILS OF THESE OPTIONS, MENUS & MORE WILL BE SENT TO GUESTS AFTER BOOKING YOUR EXPERIENCE
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HOUSE TOUR / B&B LIMIT IS SIX GUESTS
HOW TO BOOK
PICK YOUR DATE
Check availability in the calendar below – or leave open to decide later
CHOOSE YOUR GUESTS
This experience can be taken by one person or up to eight guests
PERSONALISE YOUR VISIT
Once booked you'll get a private call to create a truly tailor-made experience
"I created Talliston because I needed a house that was beautiful & functional
& allowed me to go on wild adventures without ever leaving home.
The extraordinary lies within all of us. Even you. So, let's go..."
THE EXPLORER'S PASS
Want to gift the experience or decide the date later? Click to purchase one of our beautiful Talliston gift vouchers...
THE TALLISTON EXPLORER'S PASS
Your unique passport into an extraordinary world of imagination and magic
BOOKING YOUR EXPERIENCE
The Explorer's Pass is private & exclusive exploration of Talliston House & Gardens for two to eight guests with access all areas to the entire property. The experience lasts up to three and a half hours either as a morning (10:00-13:30), afternoon (14:30-18:00) or evening (19:00-10:30) session. These events are tailored to every group and run Wednesday to Friday and some Sundays, plus extended periods around holidays, Halloween and Christmas.
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Upon booking you will receive confirmation and each group will be sent their own passport and map of the thirteen magical rooms at the house & gardens. You will also be asked to book a personal call from John Tarrow to finalise and personalise details of your experience.
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
The base cost of each experience includes:
• An Explorer's passport and map of the thirteen magical rooms at the house & gardens
• Up to three and a half hours access all areas to explore the house at your leisure
• Each room set up to perfection, with all the music, sights, scents & sounds
of the unique time & place created in each location
• Access to teas, coffees, plus seasonal nibbles in the New Orleans kitchen
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VIRTUAL & ACCESSIBILITY EXPERIENCES
For guests wishing to book an online tour, the experience includes:​
• An Explorer's passport and map of the thirteen magical rooms at the house & gardens
• A two-hour tour and extra Q&A session with John Tarrow
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PERSONALISE YOUR EXPERIENCE
To create a truly tailor-made visit we also offer the addition of these magical extras:
Food & Drink: Afternoon Tea
£12 per person
Add to your experience an indulgent tea in the living room consisting of a sweet and savoury selection of sandwiches, cream-filled scones and refreshments of tea, coffee and herbal infusions.
For full information & menu, click here.
Food & Drink: Evening Supper
£12 per person
Add to your experience a light supper in the living room consisting of a sweet and savoury selection of hot tarts or toasted sandwiches, slices of cake and refreshments of tea, coffee and herbal infusions. For full information & menu, click here.
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Food & Drink: Magical Hamper
£25 per person
For a larger meal, enhanced into your experience with one of our locally sourced, handcrafted hampers. We offer a Savoury Supper hamper, a High Tea hamper & a Picnic Salad hamper. All hampers are for two people to share with extraordinarily generous portions, all homemade and cooked fresh for your arrival, plus refreshments of tea, coffee and herbal infusions.
For full information & menu, click here.
Tour: House & Garden Tour
£35 per group
Join author and creator John Tarrow on a journey through each and every one of the unique and incredible locations, telling the story of the incredible 25-year journey to create the house & gardens. These tours are limited to a maximum of six people.
Tour: The Stranger's Guide Tour
£35 per group
John Tarrow also offers guests the chance to step inside the book, discovering the behind-the-scenes story of the fiction book based on the thirteen extraordinary locations of the house & gardens. This tour is suitable both for those who have read the novel – or an immerse preface to those who plan to do so. These tours are limited to a maximum of six people.
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Bed & Breakfast
£95 per room / per night (RRP £145pr/pn)
To extend your access to the entire house, following your experience we offer the chance to sleep in one of Talliston's extraordinary rooms with a discounted bed & breakfast overnight stay. Choose between the Scottish Edwardian bedchamber, Moorish Spain bedroom or the rustic Canadian cabin in the woods. For full B&B room information & breakfast menu, click here.
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GUEST INFORMATION
These experiences operate under our three-rule policy:
#1 | Leave As You Find It
While you may interact with everything within the house & gardens, replace and restore the rooms fully before moving on.
#2 | Tread Respectfully
While exploring, be always be mindful of your impact on the extraordinary environments and objects and move safely through the unique spaces.
#3 | Stop. Look. Listen
To get the most from your visit, take time to dwell in the locations. Be silent and still. Observe and open your senses to the unnatural world around you.
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These events are open to guests aged 11+ only – and everyone under 18 needs to be accompanied by a supervising adult.
Due to the delicate nature of the wooden floors, no high heel or stiletto shoes are to be worn.
Strictly no food, drink, bags or luggage of any kind may be brought into the house for this event. We reserve the right to search any guests before you leave.
Personal-use photography is permitted.
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Additional experiences must be booked at least two weeks in advance of your event.
All menus have seasonal variations and items are subject to change without prior notice.
Please make sure you list the full name and specific dietary requirements for each guest. We are also happy to accommodate dietary and allergy requirements, plus gluten-free and plant-based alternatives to all menu choices.
Visitors must be of standard level of fitness and be able to navigate the elements of an ordinary household (steps, stairs, etc.) Unfortunately there is no safe access for disabled visitors.
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​After confirmation, final information, directions and guest information will be sent at least one week before the event.
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