-
January 2024 by Renee Lawton
I visited this place during my September 2023 vacation. Because the time I arrived, I did not have enough time to see the interior of the mansion. However, I was able to walk trough the beautiful gardens and arboretum. Additionally, I got to walk around the mansion and see a great view nearby. Loved this place.
-
January 2024 by B. Chang
We went for the Afternoon Tea. The price for non members is 37 $ + admission = 55$ pp. We received pp 2 small scones, 5 finger sandwiches the size of a cracker (ham+cheese, cucumber, chicken salad, crab, salmon) 1 macaroon, 1 petit four and 2 mini truffles + tea. The ambiente is very nice, the service was excellent. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about the quality of the food. Some of it was mediocre at best. Not an experience I am going to repeat.
-
September 2023 by Michael Pezzullo
Beautiful place. Wonderful staff. Relaxing ambience.
-
September 2023 by Main Street Drone
I visited the Blithewold Mansion for a wedding video shoot over the weekend and felt like a kid in a candy store.There were endless B-Rolls just waiting to be captured before my very eyes - I was in heaven.The mansion itself is a charm at ground level. However, at two hundred feet above, the view of the well manicured grounds, mansion, tent, and arboretum becomes clearer and is spectacular.Incorporate that with the ocean view as a backdrop is jaw-dropping.The sunset here... breathtaking.Melissa and the staff here are spot on, professionals, and curteous. Their hard work has not gone unnoticed.Because of time and my obligations to the wedding party, I could only capture brief aerial footage. However, I would love to help accentuate the beauty and magnificence of the Blithewold Mansion with management's approval of course.
-
July 2023 by Esther Helas
Such a lovely spot in Bristol! It was super warm and wet out but I really enjoyed my time outside. I got there a little later than my ticket, but still early enough that I had to wait to tour the mansion. Which, by the way, is a quick exploration that took me about 20 minutes with no audio tour/guide. If you love history, the mansion will take more or your time but if you like a beautiful view, the garden and the surrounding woods is more ideal. I easily spent an hour just nature walking. Worth every penny!
-
July 2023 by Ricardo Cardoso
Blithewold Mansion and gardens is a hidden gem, in quaint and historic Bristol RI.While perhaps not as large and pretentious as the Newport mansions, it is none the less a mansion! The gardens and grounds are a lovely place to stroll around and admire nature. The great lawn offers wonderful views, especially at sunset. Blithewold hosts a summer concert series which is a great place to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy some great music. In addition, they offer special events like weddings and at the holidays, the mansion is decorated. A true gem worth visiting!
-
June 2023 by Sheila S.
Our family were caretakers at Linden Place for many years, so are well versed on the 'background' related to running an efficient & accommodating venue, all while being attentive to maintaining the museum. We recognize how that isn't an easy feat. We decided to hold my sister's Bridal Tea at Blithewold, with Allan at the helm, working closely together with Genie, Anthony, & an impressive staff, that all were very organized, accommodating, and attentive to our needs. My sister was elated to be in this venue with fifty of her closest lady friends & family, held in the beautiful setting of the dining room with its dark carved wooden walls, blue & white accents, finely fastooned windows, with linened tables of 4, that held tiered china filled with a delicious assortment of housemade dainty sandwiches, scones, petit fours, & other delicious bites... and of course, the special Blithewold Tea Blend served by Blithewold staff.Genie & Anthony also saw to it that our lace doilies were placed under each china plate & teacup, and honeys, jams, chocolates, a victorian handkerchief, and a printed welcome / trivia game placed at each setting. Accommodations were made with Blithewold for an assortment of fruits to enhance the champagne and white & blush wines we brought in, all served out of the Breakfast Room adjoining the Dining Room. The south Breakfast Room housed a large table where guests could place their unwrapped gift, allowing for guests to easily view the gifts showered on my sister. I'm a retired florist, so of course, I sought to have flowers accenting everywhere. Blithewold allowed me to deliver the day before, storing them in a back room, then helping us set up the flowers the day of, which was very helpful.It was our plan to have our guests play croquet on the expansive sprawling back lawn, overlooking the bay. Allan & team had offered to setup the croquet games for us, but that plan was thrwarted by pouring rain the day of the Tea. Unfortunately guests couldn't enjoy the outside porches and beautiful grounds, due to the weather, but the Blithewold staff offered tours of the impressive 'summer retreat house', which was very appreciated by the guests.Organizing and executing an event can be daunting, but when you work with dedicated people such as Alan, Genie, Anthony, & many other attentive, service-oriented Blithewold staff members, your burdens are lightened, your fears disspelled, your mission for an enjoyable event supported... it makes for a successful event all around. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND considering Blithewold.
-
June 2023 by christina guarin
Visited this Blithewold for Newport County resident weekend! It was nice of them to office this experience to locals. It was our first time visiting!We were greeted by a nice lady at the door who explained the map and encouraged us to explore!The mansion was ok but the gardens were absolutely stunning!A giant sequoia which is so cool. A pond to sit and relax and you can walk along the water. It was a warm day but the main building has a water refill station which is a nice touch.All in all a great place to spend an afternoon and host an event!
-
June 2023 by Maureen Sweeney
Visited Blithewold Mansion and Gardens pretty much by accident! I was sent there to make a delivery. When I arrived, I found it to be a beautiful and peaceful place. After making the delivery, I decided to see what Blithewold was all about. I have lived in Rhode Island all of my 65 years and have never visited this place. I actually spent 2 1/2 hours walking around and admiring the beauty and serenity of this wonder hidden treasure. There was a wedding planned for later this evening and the setup was stunning! It was a beautiful day and I imagined the evening wedding was going to be magical. So much to see and experience that I will have to return again with my husband! I still cannot believe that I didn’t know about Blithewold years ago!!!!
-
June 2023 by Maureen J Sweeney
Visited Blithewold Mansion and Gardens pretty much by accident! I was sent there to make a delivery. When I arrived, I found it to be a beautiful and peaceful place. After making the delivery, I decided to see what Blithewold was all about. I have lived in Rhode Island all of my 65 years and have never visited this place. I actually spent 2 1/2 hours walking around and admiring the beauty and serenity of this wonder hidden treasure. There was a wedding planned for later this evening and the setup was stunning! It was a beautiful day and I imagined the evening wedding was going to be magical. So much to see and experience that I will have to return again with my husband! I still cannot believe that I didn’t know about Blithewold years ago!!!!
-
May 2023 by Bonnie B
We visited Blithewold Mansion during our 2023 Brown graduation weekend May 26th. We had picture perfect weather which made our visit nearly perfect (there was a private party on the back porch, so we were prohibited from that area.) The grounds and the blooming gardens were a delight for a novice New Englander gardener.The mansion is lovely and a few time period features were new to me even though I visit preserved estates often on travels.Staff were friendly and the grounds are open for picnics. The walking paths throughout the gardens are easy and the waterfront view is stunning. A lovely visit if you are in the area!
-
April 2023 by Glenda Learish
The grounds are what make this mansion tour well worth the price of admission. We stopped by during the Daffodil Festival and it was quite remarkable. Very large Asian influence in the gardens as evidenced by the extensive oriental trees and shrubs. Don't pass it by.
-
April 2023 by Maria V.
A beautiful experience in the gardens and mansion!! The gardens boast of a diverse and gorgeous range of plants, including bamboo, Redwood trees, and gorgeous blooming daffodils. The mansion's preservation is something to be proud of, with all original furniture from the Gilded Age that the family lived in. Even the stunning painted wallpaper is preserved in a thoughtful and thorough manner, which allows visitors to imagine exactly how the family lived and enjoyed the estate. Also a gorgeous location for events of all sorts. The staff was incredibly generous, particularly Anthony, who in the midst of his busy kitchen work allowed us to try a few delicious scones. Would highly recommend a day trip here!!
-
February 2023 by Henry P.
Tea at Blithewold! I took Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Boo-kay) for a Valentines Tea at Blithewold after catching a piece on RI PBS TV and the trip was well worth it, quite frankly. Plenty of parking, clean facility, and a gracious and friendly staff. This event had a harpist, playing a selection of traditional pieces and modern classics. A very nice potta' tea, love, that your auntie and grandmama would just love. Smooth blend with rich flavor. A typical High Tea menu. Beautiful campus. Lovely scenery. Great event for people watching. An enjoyable way to spend the day. Highly recommended. 11FEB2023
-
January 2023 by Beth Pereira
Blithewold is a MUST see in Rhode Island! We have family here and look forward to going every time we visit. We were hoping to get a spot for the afternoon tea, but they were fully booked when we checked online. However, we asked a staff member while touring the mansion and Anthony was so kind to fit us in! Chef Jonathan did an excellent job with the sandwiches, pastries and treats that were served and the tea was DELICIOUS! It is worth experiencing in every season!