Boscobel House
A house and landscape closely associated with Charles II's escape after the Battle of Worcester in 1651, including the Royal Oak tradition and a concealed refuge inside.
A house and landscape closely associated with Charles II's escape after the Battle of Worcester in 1651, including the Royal Oak tradition and a concealed refuge inside.
Register entry — BOSCOBEL HOUSE. National Heritage List for England reference: 1273964. Recorded designation: Grade II* listed building.
First listed: 1951-09-29. This is the listing date, not a construction date.
Source: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1273964
The register identity was cross-checked against the official record name, coordinates and grade on 21 October 2026.
An English editorial overview and visiting guidance are available in this dossier. Check the linked official information for current opening times, access and booking arrangements.
Record
- Historic house associated with Charles II's escape
- United Kingdom
- Boscobel
- West Midlands
- other
- 1951-09-29
Editorial reading
English Heritage presents Boscobel through its role as a refuge for Charles II after his Civil War defeat at Worcester. The story connects concealment in the Royal Oak with a night spent in a priest's hiding place within the house. These events belong to 1651, not to the later restoration of the monarchy.
The current visitor interpretation links the house with a period garden and the surrounding landscape. Nearby White Ladies Priory is another site associated with the escape, but it is a separate place and should not be confused with the surviving house.
Our editorial reading: consider how a domestic property could provide concealment and support within a wider network of refuges. The historical narrative is strongest when the house, hiding place and associated landscape are read together rather than as a single isolated anecdote.
Source: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/boscobel-house-and-the-royal-oak/ (checked 21 October 2026).
Recommendation
Use the official opening and accessibility information to plan the house and grounds. If extending the visit towards White Ladies Priory, check the route and current conditions; it is a separate site, not another room of Boscobel.
Location and visiting
Confirm current opening times, access and reservations with the place itself. These details follow the source record.
Sources & credits
Source record: Wikidata
Source record: Eigen redactie
Source record: National Heritage List for England (Historic England)
Source record: Wikimedia Commons
Explore the region
Based on the recorded country and region. Europe’s regional grouping is an editorial choice. Open the English regional collection to explore places across the Mondes and linked publications.