Wordsworth Trust

Dove Cottage

A former inn called 'The Dove & Olive Bough', Dove Cottage was Wordsworth's first family home. He moved in with his sister, Dorothy in 1799.

Step inside to get a sense of that time: stone floors, dark panelled rooms, glowing coal fires and the family’s own belongings. Little has changed in the house since the Wordsworths lived here.

Buy your tickets online and save time when you arrive.

Events for everyone

From talks, walks and contemporary poetry readings to family activities, behind-the-scenes tours, festivals and introductions to Romanticism, our events programme is varied and has something for everyone.

Browse our event listings

The Wordsworth Museum

The Wordsworth Museum, situated beside Dove Cottage, tells Wordsworth’s remarkable life story, his tragic childhood, his travels through the French revolution, his radical ideas which are so relevant today and how he changed literature forever. It features original, handwritten manuscripts, paintings, personal possessions and a programme of special exhibitions which change several times a year.