Ghost Story! Gothic Garden Party

About

We are celebrating our new exhibition in style – with a Gothic summer garden party!

Step into a Gothic tale as you explore our immersive exhibition, where moonlit woodlands, haunted villas and eerie seascapes surround rare treasures, including a first edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Lord Byron's snuffbox.

Visit candlelit Dove Cottage after hours and enjoy live Gothic poetry performances in the Garden-Orchard. Drinks and summer refreshments will be available from our Café, where you will be able to try your hand at writing your own spooky tale.

Gothic dress and costumes encouraged! We will also have Regency costumes and accessories for you to try on so that you can take the perfect Gothic selfie.

About the exhibition

Opening 7 July 2026: At a moment when Gothic stories continue to captivate audiences across film, television and literature, Wordsworth Grasmere presents a major new exhibition exploring the origins of the Gothic imagination. Bringing together rare books, manuscripts and treasures from the 18th and 19th centuries, including a first edition of Frankenstein, Ghost Story! Into the Gothic Imagination explores the origins of the stories and ideas that laid the foundations for modern horror and fantasy fiction.