Thoroughgood House
Thoroughgood House is a attraction in Bayside, Virginia Beach, best for colonial-history fans, a quiet afternoon, free things to do.
Likely built in 1719 by Argall Thorowgood II — who died during construction, leaving his wife Susannah to finish it — the Thoroughgood House is one of the oldest surviving colonial homes in Virginia Beach and a National Historic Landmark. The compact brick house preserves details added by the family over generations, including wainscoting and a dramatic turned staircase, and it sits in a beautifully kept English garden worth a stroll on its own. A modern Education Center on the grounds tells the wider story of Princess Anne County, the Thorowgood family, and how this corner of the Lynnhaven River country became Virginia Beach. Best of all: admission is free, with guided tours every 45 minutes, Thursday–Saturday 10am–4pm and Sunday 1–5pm. Groups of ten or more should call a day or two ahead.
- Free
- Family Friendly
Amenities
- Guided tours every 45 minutes
- English garden
- Education Center
Know Before You Go
- Best for: colonial-history fans, a quiet afternoon, free things to do
- Parking: On-site parking in a residential neighborhood off Parish Road.
- Accessibility: Historic c. 1719 house museum with period interiors; contact Virginia Beach History Museums at (757) 385-5100 for accessibility details.
- Dogs: not allowed
- Location: 1636 Parish Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455, Virginia Beach, VA
Last verified 2026-07-10.
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Upcoming Events Nearby
Lynnhaven River NOW Oyster Roast
May 1, 2027 · annual (first Saturday in May)
Lynnhaven River NOW's signature fundraiser turns the waterfront lawn at the Brock Environmental Center into an all-you-can-eat oyster roast, marking the nonprofit's multi-decade push to bring the Lynnhaven's namesake oyster back from near-collapse. Roasted and raw oysters pulled from the restoration reefs anchor the spread, backed by barbecue, local beer and spirits, live music, and a shucking contest, with proceeds funding the group's oyster-reef and water-quality restoration work. It's a rare chance to eat Lynnhaven oysters within sight of the reefs that grew them, at a bayfront green building a few minutes off Shore Drive.
Town Center Summer Fest Music Series
May 22, 2026 – September 7, 2026 · seasonal (nightly concerts, late May-early September)
The Central Business District Association's free concert series takes over Town Center's Fountain Plaza most nights from late May through early September, with cover bands, tribute acts, and local musicians playing against the backdrop of the plaza's high-rises. Restaurants ringing the plaza put out sidewalk seating within earshot of the stage, turning a weeknight downtown into an impromptu outdoor show. It's the closest thing Virginia Beach's inland downtown has to the Oceanfront's summer concert culture -- free, walkable, and parked in the Town Center garages rather than beach lots.
Autumn in the Air
November 7, 2026 · annual
A newer addition to the city's Parks & Recreation calendar, this single-day fall festival takes over Mount Trashmore Park with folk, americana, and rock bands on an outdoor stage, food and drink for purchase, and activities scattered across the lakefront lawn. Now in its third year, it's grown into the city's answer to a proper autumn street festival without the Oceanfront crowds -- bring a lawn chair or blanket, since tents and large coolers aren't allowed in the event area. Free admission and parking make it an easy afternoon add for anyone already in Kempsville.