About
Woolsthorpe Manor is the birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton — born here on Christmas Day 1642 — and one of the most significant sites in the history of science anywhere in the world. The modest early 17th-century limestone farmhouse where Newton was born and grew up was the setting for some of the most transformative intellectual achievements in human history.
In 1665, when Newton was 23, Cambridge University closed due to the Great Plague. Newton returned to Woolsthorpe for an extended stay of approximately 18 months. During this period of enforced isolation in the Lincolnshire countryside, the young mathematician worked at extraordinary intensity, developing in these quiet rooms the foundations of calculus (which he called the method of fluxions), formulating his theory of universal gravitation, and conducting experiments with prisms that led to his revolutionary understanding of white light as a spectrum of colours.
The famous apple tree still stands in the orchard at Woolsthorpe. Newton himself, in old age, described watching an apple fall in the orchard and being prompted to think about the force that pulled it to earth — and whether that same force might extend to the Moon. Whether this account is strictly literal or somewhat embellished, the tree's survival and its association with one of the greatest intellectual insights in history makes it one of the most visited trees in the world. Grafted descendants of the original tree grow in scientific institutions across the globe.
The farmhouse is presented as it would have appeared in Newton's time, with period furnishings and the room where he slept and worked during the plague years. On the walls of one room, traces of sketches and diagrams — possibly made by Newton himself — have been uncovered and preserved.
The Science Discovery Centre, housed in a purpose-built facility adjacent to the manor, explores Newton's three great discoveries through hands-on experiments and interactive displays designed to engage visitors of all ages with the science that Newton pioneered in these rooms more than 350 years ago.
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Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
💡 Visitor Tips
- The apple tree is in the orchard behind the manor house — make sure to find it and take your photograph. It is a deeply affecting encounter with scientific history.
- The Science Discovery Centre's prism light experiments are genuinely exciting for all ages — don't rush through, allow time to actually conduct the experiments yourself.
- The manor house is small and visitor numbers are managed — your timed entry will give you unhurried access to the rooms. Take your time in the study room where Newton worked during the plague year.
- Ask a guide about the wall sketches that may be in Newton's hand — this fascinating detail is not always prominently highlighted but is one of the most intriguing features of the house.
- Woolsthorpe pairs wonderfully with Belton House, just 7 miles north — both are National Trust properties built or inhabited in the same late 17th-century period, and together make a memorable day out.
- The apple tree produces actual apples in autumn (September–October). Visit in this season and you may see apples falling in the orchard exactly as Newton described.
- For science teachers, Woolsthorpe's educational program is excellent and well-adapted to curriculum requirements. Contact the education team early as popular dates book up quickly.
- National Trust members should book a timed entry online even in low season as the property has limited capacity and popular time slots fill up.
Highlights
Discover the unique exhibits and collections at this museum.
Collections
The collections at Woolsthorpe Manor are relatively modest but include period furnishings appropriate to the 17th-century farming household, scientific instruments and replicas related to Newton's experiments, portraits and biographical materials relating to Newton's life and career, and the apple orchard itself as a living collection of scientific heritage.
The Birthplace Manor House
The authentic early 17th-century farmhouse where Newton was born and lived, presented with period furnishings to evoke the atmosphere of the plague years when Newton's greatest discoveries were made.
Science Discovery Centre
Purpose-built interactive science centre exploring Newton's three great discoveries through hands-on experiments and exhibits.
The Apple Orchard
Working orchard containing the famous Flower of Kent apple tree associated with Newton's insight into gravity.
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Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.