Max Gate - Thomas Hardy's Victorian Villa
| Max Gate Alington Avenue Dorchester Dorset DT1 2AA |  |
At this villa, Thomas Hardy wrote some of his greatest works including The Woodlanders, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure, The Dynasts, and over nine hundred poems.
Only the hall, dining room, drawing room, and garden is open to the public. Private visits, tours, and seminars by schools, colleges and literary societies, are permitted by appointment with the tenants.
There is free car parking on the public streets just outside the property. Admission cost to enter the house is £2.75 for adults and £1.50 for children.
Visiting from Abroad
Travel by train to Max Gate and avoid the rush hour traffic. You can park your car at a secured Gatwick car park for less than £1 per day. The cost of petrol from the airport to Dorchester is about the same price or less (when booked in advance) as a train ticket. Schedules are available at the Southwest Trains website.