1 0

    Guided Tour

    Guided Tour

    Discover an ordinary terraced house with an extraordinary hand-painted interior.

      About the tour:
      • Uncover the details of David Parr's decorative process and how his family preserved his legacy.
      • Enriched by accounts from David Parr's notebook and memories from the people who called 186 Gwydir Street home.
      • An immersive experience enhanced by audio and visual elements.
      • Ideal for enthusiasts of social history, the decorative arts and the Arts and Crafts Movement.
      • A maximum of 6 visitors on any tour, creating an intimate experience.
      • Your tour will last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, with time after to browse our shop, archive area, and gardens.

      About the house:

      Home to the Victorian working-class artist, David Parr and his family, the house is an example of Arts and Crafts workmanship layered with 20th-century social history.
      As a workman for the Cambridge firm of artworkers, F R Leach & Sons, David Parr painted houses and churches by hand in schemes created by some of the best architects and designers in the country.
      In 1886, he bought 186 Gwydir Street and, over the next 40 years, decorated his terraced home by lamps and candlelight in the style of the grand interiors he worked on every day. Following his death in 1927, his granddaughter, Elsie Palmer, preserved the home for over 85 years.

      Your visit will last approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, including time after your tour to browse our shop, archive area, and gardens.

      Want to plan a visit for a group of 7 people or more? See our Group Tours.

      Please read the booking information below before purchasing your tickets. 

      £22.50 GBP
      £22.50 GBP
      Sale Sold out
      Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.
      View full details

        Booking Info

          Refunds and Cancellations

        • If it's less than 2 weeks until your visit, your ticket cannot be refunded or exchanged. Please email info@davidparrhouse.org with all booking enquiries.

          • When You Arrive

        • Please arrive on time for your tour. If you arrive early (more than 10 minutes before your booked time), the previous tour will not yet have finished. We must keep to time as we run tours throughout the day.
        • On arrival, please ring the bell at 184 Gwydir Street and we will welcome you inside.

          • Visiting Restrictions

        • All guests must be at least 12 years of age. Guests aged 12-15 must be accompanied by an adult.
        • All bags must be left in the secure locked drawers in 184 Gwydir Street.
        • Mobile phones must be switched to silent for the duration of the tour, and photography is not permitted during a guided tour.
        • Stiletto heels and bulky coats cannot be worn in the House. In the winter, the House is cold, so please wear warm layers.
        • Dogs are welcome in the Shop and garden, but not inside David Parr House itself.

          • Accessibility

        • All tours involve walking around the House and climbing steep stairs.
        • David Parr House (Grade II* listed building) has various floor levels and is not wheelchair accessible. Our Shop and Studio Space is partially wheelchair accessible.
        • Please email us at info@davidparrhouse.org to discuss any accessibility queries.

        Support David Parr House