Tudor Place

Museum · Georgetown

Tudor Place

Museum · Georgetown

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1644 31st St NW, Washington, DC 20007

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Highlights

Step back in time at this charming 1816 Georgetown home, where a treasure trove of historical artifacts and serene gardens tell stories of illustrious past residents.  

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1644 31st St NW, Washington, DC 20007 Get directions

tudorplace.org
@tudor_place

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1644 31st St NW, Washington, DC 20007 Get directions

+1 202 965 0400
tudorplace.org
@tudor_place
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@tudorplace

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Jul 18, 2025

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"Tudor Place This 1816 neoclassical Georgetown neighborhood gem, once the home of Martha Custis Peter, a granddaughter of First Lady Martha Washington, stands as a microcosm of early American history and culture witnessed through the eyes of six generations of the prominent Peter family spanning 178 years. Guided tours take you inside, which have graced US Presidents, leading politicians, military leaders, and dignitaries, and feature over 15,000 objects from the mid-18th to late-20th centuries, among them the largest collection of George Washington's personal items outside of Mount Vernon. Books, silver, ceramics, jewelry, paintings, drawings, sculpture, photographs, manuscripts, furniture, glass, weapons, musical instruments, a 1919 Pierce-Arrow 48-B5 Roadster (the Peter family car), and one of only three surviving letters from George to Martha Washington can be viewed. Afterwards, explore the beautifully manicured 5.5 acre gardens, with Bowling Green, Boxwood Circle, Tennis Lawn, dining terrace, gazebo, open lawns, and various garden structures and spaces replete with flowering trees, roses, and English Boxwood."

D.C. Hidden Gems and Treasures
View Postcard for Tudor Place Historic House & Garden

Darcy Gray

Google
This is a neat house to visit. It was built in the late 1700’s to early 1800’s by the granddaughter and her husband of Martha Washington and passed down through generations until the 1980’s. The house is well preserved, unfortunately when we went they were not doing tours and the second floor was closed off. The tour would have been nice but the staff that were posted throughout the first floor were very helpful and knowledgeable.

S. Demaret

Google
The Tudor Place is absolutely worth a visit. We took the one-hour guided tour and it was such a lovely experience. Our guide was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable — she brought the house to life with so many fascinating stories and historical insights. The best part? The cozy, preserved atmosphere of the home. It truly felt like stepping into a different time… as if we were visiting our grandmother’s house. Warm, welcoming, and full of charm. Highly recommend!

Ken Pak

Google
What a gorgeous gem for eco-friendly weddings & portraits! Loved the experience with my client couples' small wedding and environmental portrait session. I would definitely recommend this venue to anyone looking for gorgeous & quiet greenery environment away from D.C crowds and busy streets & parks.

Natalie

Google
The Tudor Place is a wonderful historical experience in the beautiful Georgetown. I have been on two tours - both were excellent. There is so much history behind this home, so much to learn and the historians who guide the tours are so knowledgeable. Highly recommend touring Tudor Place. Buy tickets online in advance.

Nils Paellmann

Google
Fabulous and storied mansion of the Peter family. Great location and beautiful gardens. Currently Tudor Place has a very interesting exhibition on the enslaved individuals who lived at Tudor Place and their descendants. Our tour guide did a great job of illuminating this history including some oral history. The Marquis de Lafayette visited Tudor Place in 1824, 200 years ago. Note the portrait of the Marquis. The house includes many original details and is well maintained.

Chad Slater

Google
Not well known about - but definitely worth your time if you are a history buff. So many artifacts from the Washington family it's very impressive.

Jinwenrui Ma

Google
Poor service. The woman at the front desk is so rude. Although the garden is beautiful, there are many more beautiful gardens in DC.

Lorna Cole

Google
Beautiful property. I enjoyed the house tour very much. Very lovley garden.
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Hailey C.

Yelp
This lovely 1800s home located near the Dumbarton Oaks is open to the public as a museum. You can enter and poke around the gardens on your own or you can also visit the front desk to sign up for a guided tour. The rose garden is so lovely and tranquil, plus you can see squirrels running around in their backyard.
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Alexis B.

Yelp
I took a tour of Tudor Place a few weeks ago when I visited Georgetown for a day, and I really enjoyed it. Tudor Place is a Federal style mansion famous for being the home of a granddaughter of Martha Washington and later generations of the family. It's for that reason that Tudor Place houses largest collection of Washington family objects outside of Mount Vernon (they point many of these out on the tour). The house is beautiful, and my tour was really good - lovely tour guide, not too many people on the tour that we were cramped in rooms along the way, and very interesting. It has some small gardens, but the house is definitely the star (especially as I visited in late fall, and the gardens weren't quite at their best). I recommend this tour to people interested in American history or Federalist architecture! Check it out if that describes you and you're in the area!

Rae D.

Yelp
We were a few minutes late to our reserved time because our bus had problems. The lady would not let us join the tour and would let us join the following tour because they were "full." There were very few visitors when we were there. Very inconsiderate of families with transportation and mobility challenges. We don't live here, so that was that I guess. People like to power trjp. Sad.

Stacey Gabrielle C.

Yelp
What a beautiful place! My bestfriend did an amazing job doing her research and inquiring with Tudor Place about hosting my surprise bachelorette party here with 9 other girls. My girls made a beautiful picnic with sushi, cupcakes, wine, and friendship bracelets. My bestfirend spoke to the staff here about their policies and if we could bring our own food an alcohol which was approved. We had a lovely time up until the very end as we were packing up to leave. A woman named Hannah who says she is the "organizer" for gatherings came out to notify us that they were closing soon. We apologized and told her we are leaving now (she could clearly see us packing up). She scans the the area and asks "did you have alcohol here?" in a very reprimanding tone. We were a little confused at this point and told her yes we did and told her it was approved prior to our visit. She then continues with an authoritative tone that alcohol is not allowed and gatherings needed to go through her,and the people my friend spoke to don't always know the rules. She then says "Now , I have to ask you to leave faster" .... which was strange as she clearly saw us packing and some of us leaving. She unfortunately seemed to be having a terrible day and had a really bad attitude and a very stern face. We were not combative and we had already said we are leaving and that we were clearly misinformed. Why act as if it was our fault that we were misinformed? Although I am thankful to the other staff who did give info to my friend and allowing this gathering to happen as it was wonderful . Hannah was absolutely rude and unprofessional by the way she handled this situation. She could have simply let us know that alcohol was not allowed in the future and we were misinformed and be polite and professional about it, especailly since we were already apologizing and leaving. Hannah, I'm sorry if you were having a bad day, we all have them sometimes, but there is no reason to act inappropirately especially at your place of work. Someone needs to train you on manners based on our interaction today. Hopeuflly you will be better at your job next time and be aware of what gatherings are happening at your location.
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Orest S.

Yelp
This is an interesting place in Georgetown. Free self-guided tour in the garden, but $10 to get inside the building.
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Jada C.

Yelp
Beautiful property. Unfortunately I didn't know online tickets were needed and they were out so I was only able to tour the gorge garden and property. Huge and beautifully kept premises. Nice walking paths, smokehouse, large garage, ponds, well manicured bushes and beautiful nature. I look forward to returning in the spring w tickets to tour the inside as well as seeing how the outdoor foliage will bloom.
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Stephanie G.

Yelp
I wanted to go here for a while, but it was closed due to COVID. Now, it's free to go in but you need a reservation. When I tried to book, it said online it wasn't available but sent me a confirmation, when I called I had to leave a message and took a while to get back to me to confirm I was reserved. I wanted to see an estate of Martha Washington's descendants, and there's good information on the owners up until the house became open to the public. This house is on a big property in Georgetown. The gardens seem open for everyone (although online made it sound like you needed a reservation for that too). Check in at the gift shop, then they have a piece of paper with object descriptions since the tour is all self-guided and you can basically only look in most of the rooms. The objects are well-labelled numerically and one can refer to the sheet for more information. There is someone in the last room to answer questions if needed. First floor only. The grounds/gardens were beautiful and lots of good photo ops. It's actually very relaxing as there weren't many people around. I believe they do weddings and it's actually a really beautiful and quite a large estate. The front actually looks much nicer than the back/the side you enter from, so take a walk around. The gift shop had pretty expensive items, but since it was a free house tour, it made sense to buy something. I think for a history fan or someone who wants to do something in Georgetown, this was a good experience.
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Robert W.

Yelp
My wife and I were in DC for a week and were stretched trying to see so many great attractions and historical venues. This place made our short list and we were no disappointed. You owe it to your selves to include this stop in your whirlwind time in our Nation's capitol. The history is almost overwheming and staff is great. rlw
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William C.

Yelp
This is such an interesting home and garden with a fascinating history. I really enjoy learning more about our nation's history and there are many homes in the DMV where it's possible to experience the spaces of notable people. Tudor Place is one of them. It was owned by descendants of Martha Washington and it's possible to see multiple artifacts from George. Ones that you won't see at Mt. Vernon. As Martha did not free her enslaved people upon her death, these people were inherited by her children and grandchildren. The historians at Tudor Place have done a lot of work to better understand who they were and give an identity to these individuals. The house also has some architectural and construction features that are unique to this structure. The docents are very knowledgeable and willing to patiently answer all of your questions. And of course, there is a portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette for all of you wanting to see yet another one in a room where he was entertained.
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Jennifer C.

Yelp
I was here for a wedding Beautiful location for a wedding Very picturesque. The staff I encountered were extremely nice & helpful. I would recommend this place
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Austin G.

Yelp
If you love history or architecture, add the Tudor Place to your DC itinerary. Here's why: 1) History: As one of the only historic mansions in the USA continuously owned by the same family, there's much to learn from it. The land where the house is built was purchased using the wedding gift money from George and Martha Washington by Martha's granddaughter, Martha Parke Custis. Because of the Washington connection, many objects inside come straight from Mt. Vernon, including, randomly, a desk from Francis Scott Key. Some items date back to 1660! 2) Space: It's a beautiful home with two floors, a gorgeous garden (just not in the winter), a garage, and a few other spaces on the property. The rooms are fascinating, especially seeing how they evolved as time went by. The guided tour will point these out throughout the main space. If you love history and architecture, the small price to pay for a tour is definitely worth it. If you're not into these things or have small kids, you may not enjoy it as much as others. Still, if you want off-the-National-Mall museums, this is a great spot!
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Tiffany S.

Yelp
I was visiting Georgetown for the first time & needed to fill up my day. I stopped by the Tudor Place to kill a couple of hours! I enjoyed the tour of the home at Tudor Place! Lots of great tidbits, historical items from George Washington's home, etc. I thought our tour guide was very knowledgeable. After the main house tour, you can wander the grounds and explore yourself. Note: if you're prone to being bitten by bugs like I am, bring bug spray before you explore the gardens. I got some giant mosquito bites! No fault of Tudor Place - it happens. 243/365
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Maria D.

Yelp
This was an amazing stop on our tour of Washington, D.C., something that I urge everyone to take a look at while in the area. We had come on a Tuesday afternoon at around 3:00 pm, and luckily, we were the last ones allowed on the tour, which only consisted of four people! Our tour guide was Jane, and she was absolutely amazing! Not only was she knowledgeable about the house, she was also enthusiastic, and brought forth a lot of joy when completing the tour. Although the house was a bit hot in certain areas (due to the lack of air conditioning units), it was a pleasant experience. I really enjoyed the historical accuracy that was boasted in each room, and how thorough Jane was in explaining how George Washington was connected to the home in many different ways. There were many aspects of American history that I was unsure of, however, Jane filled-me in quickly, giving me the whole rundown on how Tudor Place played an important part in the formation of the country. I also loved the garden, which was picturesque, and definitely a great spot to take some lovely photos! The house was kept in pristine condition, with the rooms set as it were when the family was still living there. The gift shop was a nice touch, as it sold many historical artifacts. Along with the low admission price and knowledgeable staff, Tudor Place is definitely a stop that everyone should consider when in D.C.!
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Liz F.

Yelp
Reviewing during COVID, so can't comment on the mansion itself, but entrance to the garden is free so long as you reserve a timed entry ticket from their website. The garden is breathtakingly beautiful. They encourage you to bring a picnic lunch, and there's plenty of space to distance from other groups when doing so. The employees are very friendly and gave us helpful overviews of everything on the grounds. COVID protocols were great, and restrooms are also available. Wonderful place to spend a sunny day!
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Aarti B.

Yelp
Highly recommend doing the guided tour of the house! I paid $10 for it, you can get discounts and pay only $1 like other Yelpers have noted during certain months or days. While Mount Vernon Estate gets all the attention, Tudor Place is really the underdog! I really enjoyed learning about history and hearing the stories of George Washington's children growing up in the home. The house is very well maintained and quite large. Our guide was friendly and very knowledgeable. I was surprised at how much I learned in an hour. It's actually not shaped like a Tudor home. The outdoor gardens are nice and quaint. Don't forget to check out the garage in the back with the Ford T model, it's really cool! When I went, there was a wedding going on, which looked really nice. As the Tudor Place is shaded, I can see how it would make a nice venue. Perched on the hills of Georgetown and tucked away from M street, Tudor Place is hidden gem! It's a well-kept local secret and not overrun with tourists like Mount Vernon Estate. If you are a history buff or like checking out cool houses, do the guided tour!
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Terelyne A.

Yelp
I was surprised to only pay $1 for the guided tour. Our tour guide is very informative and very knowledgeable. I didn't get his name. We were there on 02/03 2 pm group. The house and its contents were well preserved . Highly recommend this place when you are in the DC area

Kyla A.

Yelp
Amazing! A friend and I went for a tour of the Tudor Place and had a wonderful time. The property is gorgeous and still has so many of the original fixtures and artifacts kept in great condition. Our tour guide, Sophia, was incredibly knowledgeable of the home and the family that lived there. Sophia was so kind and let us go over our tour time in order to thoroughly answer all of our questions. Many thanks, Sophia!
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Lauren B.

Yelp
My sister and I both won tickets for a complimentary tour of Tudor Place thanks to the Georgetown outdoor yoga summer series. While the tickets said they could only be used for a weekday tour, when I contacted the staff, they said they would honor them on a weekend so we could actually go and we decided to book a tour while our parents were in town. We took the Circulator bus from Foggy Bottom and from there it was just a short walk to Tudor Place. Our family was the only one on the tour and our tour guide shared so much information with us and you could tell that she wanted to share even more, but we were starting to run out of time because she had another tour following ours. Interestingly, my parents had been watching Mysteries at the Museum on the Travel Channel a few days before their visit and George Washington's camp stool that is at Tudor Place had been featured. The stool has been recovered so it actually looks brand new and it probably would have been overlooked if we hadn't mentioned to our guide that we wanted to see it because it was among the furniture near the fireplace in one of the rooms. One of the things I most enjoyed about touring this house was how much was original, from the furniture to the Martha Washington's tea set that had a Mount Vernon sticker on it because so many of the artifacts in Tudor Place had come from Mount Vernon and been cataloged with numbered stickers. Note you can't take pictures while inside the house. The gardens were nice, but I'm sure they are prettier in the spring when more things are in bloom. I did enjoy seeing the Millennium Landmark Tree. (The tree was chosen in 2002 by the America the Beautiful Fund as the Millennium Landmark Tree for the District of Columbia.) The day we visited, chairs were set up under this large tree for a wedding. It was a gorgeous day out so we enjoyed walking around the gardens and seeing everything that was on the map and then walking back town the hill to M Street. After living in DC for 4+ years, I had never heard of Tudor Place prior to winning the tickets at outdoor yoga, but we really enjoyed our tour and it was a nice way to spend a morning visiting and realizing there was so much history associated with the house and so many amazing artifacts inside.

Modern A.

Yelp
Didn't go inside the house but was very lovely. The garden was pretty and is a photogenic spot. Very peaceful and not too busy but there were a good amount of people visiting. Staff were nice even though we stayed a little longer than we were supposed to as we didn't know it closed so early (either closed at 3 or 4).
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Kat S.

Yelp
After visiting Mt. Vernon the day before, I felt like this was the most natural spot for me to visit while I was in Georgetown. A short walk to Tudor Place through the beautiful houses of Georgetown was truly a pleasure. Check-in at the gift shop and wait for the next tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the family and the house. I found it interesting to see how the house had passed through multiple generations, and the changes that each generation made to the house. After the house tour, visitors are allowed to wander the grounds. You can walk through the many gardens, look at the garage, and just get a feel for how large this plot of land is in an area where houses are squeezed so tight together. Peaceful, serene, and like taking a step back into the past. I would definitely recommend this stop for anyone interested in local history of the area.
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Candice S.

Yelp
Of all the impressive things we saw in DC, this was one of the highlights. I think it was because there were so many personal items in the house. Plus the accompanying stories brought history to life, especially how the residents experienced that history in their day-to-day lives. Several generations of the same family lived in and made changes to Tudor Place, presenting a glimpse of how daily life changed over a couple of centuries. There were so many things to look at, from George Washington's camp stool use at Mount Vernon, to Martha's china, and the window where the family watched Washington, DC, on fire. Taking pictures is allowed as long as no flash is used. My favorite room was the study. A later descendant of George Washington didn't want to harm any of the original walls, so he installed an electrical outlet in the ceiling, with a cord that dropped down to an outlet in front of the desk and right in the middle of the room.
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Mary Kate E.

Yelp
One thing remains consistent with most of these reviews - condescending, rude staff. I wouldn't necessarily say that the lady I first encountered was rude per se, but she wasn't exactly the most friendly either. She would remind me of what I would consider a crazy cat lady. She does great with her 17 cats, but not with people. She lacked couth and people skills. It wasn't the most welcoming first impression. When my group was shown to the beginning of the tour in the atrium, she deeply exhaled with frustration and said, "Since Patrick is apparently running late; I guess I will have to tell you about the six generations that lived in the house." She rushed through it leaving everyone in a bit of a daze of confusion. When Patrick Kidd, our tour guide of the house, walked in; she didn't introduce him or anything. She simply vacated without even a simply goodbye gesture. Seriously, this lady had something stuck up her behind to be walking around with that 'tude of hers. Patrick went over - with specific details - the photo posters of who and what and how the house came to be. He was consistently informative throughout the entire duration of the tour. He mentioned that he has been working here for 15 years. Patrick is very sweet, has a good sense of humor, and doesn't hesitate to answer questions. He seems to know the answer to every single thing that was asked. There are a lot of items in the house that cover from 1805 to 1983. I was amazed and intrigued with how detailed the house was. The house tour cost $10 for adults, but if you're a student, senior, or child the price is lower. I used my old college ID to get me the $8 rate. The gardens are $3 without the tour of the house. I fathom that the gardens are quite beautiful when in full bloom. With it being 34°F today and it being March 27th, nothing was really in bloom. Spring has not sprung yet. I did find one flowering tree that had a few buds on it, but not much else. I think if I were to come back in a month or so it will be filled with more blossoms and blooms. I would likely return. I would like to see the gardens with the flowers. It is five and a half acres full of gardens.
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Naomi G.

Yelp
Bad vibes from the employees. A few days ago I called about getting married there. The girl on the phone was super friendly and said although she was out of town for the week she was "99% sure" that her boss would want to cover for her as she "loves those kinds of weddings" but she'd have to get back to me but the short answer was yes. The day was open. Nice chat. Okay great! She said she'd follow up with an email and/or phone call. Waited to hear back a couple days and nothing. Well I live in the neighborhood and on my walk today decided to pop in to see if we could move forward. The coordinator came out and asked me what day and she said she thought there was no availability. I said "oh bc you're out of town?" She hadn't yet put two and two together that I was the one that called about that day. She said that they had a wedding the day before and the day after, but they probably "couldn't get coverage for that day". Hmmm...then she said I'll call you if we end up hiring someone else to help but if not we won't have availability. I gave her my phone number (but she didn't ask my name) and then she remembered talking to me on the phone...so confused. Ok a few things. Why didn't she call me back to let me know that the "99%" yes a couple of days ago is now a no? On the phone a yes and I walk in and it's a no? How can you have coverage on a Wednesday and Friday, but not a Thursday...or wait maybe it was no availability? And finally, I would call inquiries back even if we couldn't accommodate. Not say "I'll call you if we can hire someone". But otherwise we won't call you. What? I was so confused. Maybe it was my big ol pregnant belly in sweaty workout clothes that changed her mind. Maybe it was something else.... in any event we won't go back. Too bad bc we live across the street practically. There are tons of nice venues in DC. Read the reviews about the uptight employees below. They are spot on.
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Gayle G.

Yelp
All there is to do in Georgetown is eat, drink and shop, right? Wrong. Next time you are in Gtown, instead of doing the same old, same old..check out this place. The gardens are gorgeous, especially in the springtime. The view of the city and the Potomac can't be beat. The Tudor House was built by Martha Custis Peter who was George Washington's step- granddaughter, Yeah, even the Father of our Country had a confusing family tree. The porch will look familiar as it was built by the same guy who designed the Capitol building. Some of the of furniture, books and silver were originally owned by George and Martha. Yes, it is possible that George slept here!
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Jennifer G.

Yelp
Update!!!! So after my time at the gardens/home tour (see below) I left feeling very negatively about my experience there. I posted my review and thought that would be it. It wasn't. I later received a message from the management of Tudor House and communicating with her and how seriously and compassionately she handled a sensitive situation really turned the experience around for me. Due to this I've changed my rating. Previous review: Two stars. The gardens are nice. I wish I'd had more time to peruse but time wasn't on my side today. The home was classic and not overly stated like some of the other historical mansions in DC. Our tour guide did a good job of explaining the artifacts in each particular room with a brief history lesson of each family that lived there. So why the low rating you may ask... Well our tour guide, while quite knowledgeable and personable, had no clue as the the offensiveness of some of her offhand comments. For example, I felt she downplayed the role that slaves had in that home and made it seem as if the family did something grand and heroic by freeing their slaves AFTER slavery was deemed illegal. I guess they were lucky to be freed at all? She also gushed over confederate general Robert E. Lee, and said, "I'm not saying I'm a confederate or anything but if you read about him he was really a good guy! Really he was." I was shocked and you could tell other tour members were uncomfortable as well. Being one of three people of color on the tour it was embarrassing that the other tour group participants felt the need to look at me as if I was going to go toe to toe to with this woman to defend in 2017 why her ideas about said general were ludicrous. Overall the tour started great but ended up leaving me frustrated, disheartened and a bit dejected about my experience there. I doubt I'll ever return.
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Paul N.

Yelp
It's a good place to stop by in Washington, D.C. if you want to get away from the huge crowds on the National Mall and in Downtown metro area. I didn't go inside the house primarily because no photos were allowed there, but for $3 I went to the gardens and they were pretty awesome. A few small fountains, benches to sit and relax at, and a large lawn in the back were great. The place is really nice to check out especially during the spring and summer months.
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Pegah Y.

Yelp
We visited Tudor Place Historic House & Garden in Georgetown in February 2017. The garden is beautiful, as is the tour of the house. They have tours every hour on the hours and it was extremely informative. The house used to belong to Martha Washington's granddaughter and it was fascinating to learn about both the history of the house and the history of the families who lived there throughout the decades / centuries. The house has a large lawn and magnificent windows, tapestries, and rooms. We spent a fun afternoon touring this place and I would love to return in the future.
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Michael W.

Yelp
Not a place for kids. Tour guide was so monotone she lost me within 45 seconds Waste of money and time
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Steph S.

Yelp
I recently gathered a few friends together for Tea at Tudor place. They hold 'afternoon tea' on Sundays by reservation only, at $35 per person. The fee also includes a private tour of the house. The private tour was amazing. All of my guests were surprised to learn the historical significance behind the house. And we took some lovely photos outside in the gardens. Our tour guide Christine was truly passionate about history and was a true Tudor place scholar. We could have listedn to her describe the house for hours. However, I recommend skipping the tea. Most teas in DC are about $75 (like Ritz and Willard), so I knew this one wouldn't be the same caliber. Although the rooms in the Dower House are lovely, the food is underwhelming to say the least. The fruit was bruised (strawberries not sweet, grapes were soggy and brown), the desserts were boring (except for the swan shaped one), and the try included a very strange eggplant sandwich that was so off putting none of my guests even wanted it touching their other food. My poor gluten free friends had the saddest plates of all and they were so hungry. I felt bad for them. The scone was hard and cold and super tiny with sugar crystals on top, no clotted cream or butter. There were only 2 choices of tea - green and earl grey. My guests were hoping for more options. All food came on a wobbly silver tray. Tea service was great though - Amy was very bubbly, warm and welcoming. After the tea and tour were over we were all starving. I personally ordered a pizza on my way home! 4 stars because the Tudor place tour was stellar, and is truly a gem in DC/Georgetown. But I'll never be back for a tea there unless the food changes drastically.
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Elaine M.

Yelp
I kind of despise when people refer to something as "off the beaten path," or when people wet themselves over how adventurous they are because they visited a sparsely-poulated site during their travels, but Tudor Place truly is off the beaten path, or at least, off the Dumbarton Oaks-trod path. Indeed, we happened on the Tudor House & Garden only because Dumbarton Oaks was characteristically closed. Unfortunately, the neoclassical exterior of the house was having some stucco replacement work done, but the house tour was still going in full force and cost a mere $5 with AAA membership ($6 without). Given that the house was no smaller than Mt. Vernon, and a whole lot more pleasing aesthetically (none of the walls were the toothpastey, agrarian green, for one!), this was a small bargain. Our tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. He spoke mostly about the Peter family's--the owners of the house-- collection and some about the history of the house and the connection with the Washingtons. There was only one other couple on the tour with us, and the wife felt the need to "bless [the] hearts" of the Peter family continuously. I don't think they need your blessings, San Diego tourist lady, they seemed to have done pretty well for themselves. I would particularly recommend this tour as a comprehensive slice of D.C.-area history over the last 200-years. As Gayle mentioned, the Peter family was related to George Washington through his (wealthy) wife Martha, and they held on to the place all the way up to 1984. Portraits and photos of the Peter family hang everywhere and convey every era. I really felt like I was inhabiting a world of filial dysfunction. Especially interesting are the photos and portraits of Armistead Peter III and his wife, their heydey in the 1920s-40s. Peter was a painter himself, and one of his oeuvres, an enthralling portrait of his wife sporting the coquettish green cap, a fashion import from France at the time, hung proudly in the salon. The gardens are nice too. The landscaping isn't breathtaking, but it is certainly peaceful.
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Tracey S.

Yelp
This is a beautiful house with many historic artifacts, especially ones belong to George and Martha Washington. I highly recommend a visit for anyone visiting the DC area.
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Natalie K.

Yelp
Nothing can ruin an experience like condescending staff members. I unfortunately had the same experience with the staff at Tudor Place as some previous reviewers. My mother, sister and I went for a tour, hearing great things about how the house and garden are definitely worth a visit. With a Living Social deal in our pockets and a beautiful day ahead of us we made our way to Tudor Place. We were greeted with a rude woman selling tickets who after telling us we were the only three people scheduled for the tour of the house, lectured us about making a reservation... since they were obviously busy. It then became a list of things we could not do. You can walk outside and look around the back of the house but you can't touch anything. And there's no taking photos inside the house. Please don't stand there. This is a small house, no backpacks. None of us were even wearing backpacks. After the buying tickets debacle, the docent then lectured all three of us grown women on how the camera bags we were carrying (which are no bigger than purses) were going to be an issue. You can't carry it behind you. Would we like to leave our cameras in their office? No. I'll keep my very expensive camera with me. And since I'm a grown woman, I can be careful. Just ask nicely. I have to say it was distracting. I barely enjoyed the tour. Granted, like many historic homes the rooms are small, but saying, "the rooms in the house are small so just mind your bags" is enough. I'm not 12. The docent ran through a long family history and then proceeded to explain all of the art on the walls. Very little was said about the furniture or the history of the house itself. Call me crazy but I prefer my tours with a little more information and a little less condescension from the staff. I'm paying for this tour. It wouldn't kill you to be nice... or informative. After the tour the three of us bolted from the house. If we had stayed any longer we might have been reprimanded for something else. Wandering through the gardens was beautiful... mostly because we were not chaperoned by staff. Unfortunately but not surprisingly one section of the garden was closed off ("DO NOT TOUCH") but in agreement with the other reviewers, the garden was the most enjoyable part.
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Tamarah S.

Yelp
Sunday afternoon. Visitor in town. They've seen the DC top-10. Come here, have a wander round, it's really pretty. It's a fine house filled to the brim with covetable furniture and intriguing trinkets and some gently landscaped gardens. A fine upstanding member of society will show you around and feed you with precious pieces of shiny, useless trivia about federalist architecture and the petticoat semaphore of the family daughters. Then go and have a lovely cup of tea and and a scone. Ten hours of yoga couldn't melt away stress this effectively.
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Flaneuse D.

Yelp
Small formal garden in Georgetown. I can't review the house because I've never taken a tour -- but I make it a point to visit the garden a few times a year. It's an intimate place, good to visit with a friend for a nice chat, or alone with a book. On a few occasions I've been there during the week and there was no one in the garden but me and the ducks, so I got to linger in one of the garden chairs and play Lady of the Manor. There are many nooks and crannies in which to sit, each with a nice view of a fountain, sculpture or other element. They ask $3 for visit the garden (without the house), which I'm happy to pay for access to this charming and semi-private spot.
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Chrystina Z.

Yelp
Didn't view the house; just the tiny garden. Not worth the $3 (parks are free people). The woman who sells tickets inside the house is horribly condescending. Not even a modicum of friendliness. She was sure to tell us twice that the gates lock at 4pm, so get off the property soon. Yeah, reminds me of why I hate G-town. Skip this and go to Dumbarton Oaks up the street (that museum is free and the grounds/gardens are larger).
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Carl N.

Yelp
3.5 stars No issue with the staff. I think as long as one conducts themselves in a respectable manner, that should very rarely be an issue. I found the guy at the visitor center to be nice enough. Took my three dollars, offered me a map and gave me my receipt, simple as that. As for the gardens. Once you have seen all the main things in DC, this is a good, not crowded place to check out. While not as grand/huge as Dumbarton gardens, and not quite as nice, it provides a different atmosphere. So despite that, it is peaceful, less crowded. I would recommend for locals who want to chill on a sunny week end, not for tourists with limited time, IMO.

Donny N.

Yelp
We arrived just in time for the last tour of the day and the staff was super helpful letting both of us go even though there was only one space left. We have visited quite a few historic homes and what stood out at the Tudor Place was how much of the original furnishings and historic artifacts were still on display here compared to most other homes. The tour guide was great and very passionate about the family and house history. Probably my favorite part was the window where the family watched Washington D.C. burn in 1812. My wife's favorite part was seeing all of the Martha and George Washington artifacts. Beautiful grounds too, we look forward to coming back in the spring.

Katka M.

Yelp
I organized a tea here for my mother's birthday. The staff was very responsive with communication and very welcoming on the day of the event. Several guests remarked that the sandwiches and tea were better than ones they had in the past elsewhere. It was a very hot day, so we didn't get to enjoy the gardens. Our tour after the tea was great. We split in two groups and each guide was very knowledgeable and generous with their time. It was a lot of information to digest, but we were very happy with what we learned. We were all aware of the parking challenges and carpooled, uber-ed, and walked. It was a great afternoon with old friends and family.
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Jim C.

Yelp
If you end up at Tudor Place skip the house tour and focus on the garden. The lady that sold me my ticket was very condescending and when she asked me were I was from and I told her NY. She told me that it was good to have foreigners here. The last I checked DC and New York were part of the US. The tour guide was very nice but completely clueless. She had to keep checking books in each room to tell her what was in each room and even then she still did not know several things.

Christina E.

Yelp
We held our wedding here and were thrilled with every last detail. Courtney Bryce, Events Manager, was easy to communicate with, thorough, organized, and helped calm any of my nerves! We truly felt like she went above and beyond for us and we will never feel anything but lucky to have been married at such a beautiful and unique venue. We highly recommend the elopement package - perfect in this intimate, historic setting.

Margaret A.

Yelp
My friends and I visited here on May 8th on a small bus tour given by Fairfax County Park Authority. Laura, the person who gave us the tour did a wonderful job of describing everything. This was especially important as my is blind. Laura was very informative about the families who lived in the house as well. Her knowledge and enthusiasm made the house come alive for us. The gardens are lovely also.

Miranda S.

Yelp
I had an amazing time on my tour. We visited on March 28, 2018 and our tour guide was amazing she had so much knowledge. We were the last tour of the day and she still exuded positive energy and enthusiasm. She knew about every object in the room.

M F.

Yelp
I am very disappointed of the managing services that the event area had provided me so far. It has been a month since I requested information and assistance in booking a day for a private event... still not response. Courtney Bryce, Private Events Manger has not being able to arrange a day for a private event. She is very slow in returning emails or phone calls (If she does that) and her communications skills in booking an events are poor. I wish this place could be managed with more professional talents, including the tours and afternoon tea.
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Betsy P.

Yelp
I stopped in with my parents when they were visiting over the Holidays. Tudor Place is a charming house in the heart of Georgetown that has a rich history and a lot of interesting historical items. There are a lot of places to go as a tourist in DC and this it a great one off of the beaten path. We had an excellent tour guide who answered all of our questions and definitely knew her stuff. I would recommend Tudor Place for any history buffs or tourists who want to see something different.

A P.

Yelp
The house looks nice enough, but as other reviewers have mentioned, the staff is absolutely miserable. I was careful to make a reservation a week ahead of my visit (which was difficult to begin with because the only person to reserve tours with was out of the office the first three times I called). The location isn't easy to get to, but I figured it would be worth it as a different DC tour and at the price of a Living Social coupon. We get there, on time, only to discover that the lady at the front desk has given away our spots! The crazy thing is, there were empty seats in the room we were shuffled away from. This, mind you, is also after standing behind two people who were let in who spoke at length with the front desk attendant about not having made reservations. AWFUL. What's the point in even making reservations if they're not honored? I left and vowed never to return. I'd rather lose money than deal with this.
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Andrew M.

Yelp
Make sure to check out the vintage Pierce Arrow in the garage. But easily my favorite relic in the house is the 220-year old super-intricate clock on the mantel in the living room.
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Mia C.

Yelp
Had an easy experience buying ticket on line....had just as easy an experience changing my time the day of...pleasantly greeted at the door...fabulous tour guide (Robyn) and great experience in the gardens...small, intimate but interesting in an historical sense...could not have asked for more. Thank you tudor place staff.

Christie F.

Yelp
As a native I was surprised to hear about this gem hidden away in Georgetown and I was very eager to check it out. Our tour guide Fran did not disappoint. She was fabulously informative and fun. The home and history of the 5 generations of the Peters family is wonderful. This is a great tour full of local flare and stories.
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Katharine G.

Yelp
The place is nice, but the cherry blossom tea is not so hot. It is nice to discover a new place in Georgetown. The grounds are nice, the house is nice. We came for the cherry blossom tea, but the tea was not very good. Cold scones with no butter. Sandwiches were blah. Desserts were a disappointment. Some nice chocolate-covered cherries but the rest were tired store-bought cookies. Bleh. It was held in the Pierce Arrow garage which was nice because we would have sweltered out in the garden with the 85 degree weather. Come for the house tour and the grounds---skip the tea.