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The best stately homes to visit in Yorkshire holiday cottages

The best stately homes to visit in Yorkshire

Julie Smith 31 July 2022

How better to delve into the past than with a look around one of Yorkshire’s grand historic houses? Many of these stately homes come with beautiful grounds and gardens, perfect for enjoying a picnic before taking a tour of the grand country estate. Little ones won't be bored either with play areas, mazes and adventure playgrounds to keep even the most energetic children entertained. 

There’s also miles of gardens and woodland to explore with four-legged friends often permitted to join you in the grounds of Yorkshire's stately homes. And although it's difficult to find a place to stay that’s quite as grand as these Yorkshire historic houses, we do have a delightful selection of cottages for you to return to after your visit. Browse our range of luxury Yorkshire cottages to find the perfect base for a getaway and for more inspiration read our guide to National Trust in Yorkshire.

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Stately homes in North Yorkshire

Castle Howard

Castle Howard - Yorkshire stately home

Castle Howard near Malton is arguably one of the most-recognised stately homes in Yorkshire and has been featured in several versions of Brideshead Revisited. Built during the 1700s it contains both Baroque and Palladium architecture and the beautiful rooms include the Grand Hall with its painted domed ceiling.

There is a lot to explore outside too, including walled gardens, fountains, statues, a boating lake and Ray Woods. It’s a lovely day out for the whole family and there is a great farm shop on-site too, where free bones are on offer if you have a dog with you! (subject to availability). Dogs are also welcome in the grounds and to join you in Castle Howard’s Courtyard Café

Need to know:

  • Postcode of the stately home: YO60 7DA 
  • Opening times: 10am - 5pm (last admission to the house is 3.30pm)
  • Admission fee: Adult tickets are £15 for gardens only and £25 for the house and groundsIs it dog-friendly? 
  • Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds and cafe

Nunnington Hall

Nunnington Hall - Yorkshire country house

Nunnington Hall  is a Yorkshire manor house that’s located on the banks of a peaceful river near York. A stone bridge over the river separates the grounds of the house from the village if you want to take a stroll. Explore the beautifully-restored period rooms within this National Trust property and outside, a walled garden, peacocks and flowering meadows can be enjoyed by all the family.

If you've got children to entertain there are various nature trails, bug hunts and events throughout the year and grown ups can admire a range of art and photography exhibitions which take place in the attic gallery and hall. It’s also well worth taking afternoon tea at the atmospheric tearoom during your visit which boasts wonderful views across the garden.

Need to know:

  • Postcode of the stately home: YO62 5UY
  • Opening times: 10.30am - 5pm
  • Admission fee: £10.50 for adults or free for National Trust members
  • Is it dog-friendly? Dogs on leads are welcome in the gardens

Newby Hall and Gardens

Newby Hall and Gardens - Yorkshire historic house

Newby Hall and Gardens near Ripon is a great family-friendly day out in Yorkshire. This 18th-century country house beside the River Ure is a grade I listed building with a delightful collection of furniture, paintings and precious artefacts. Inside the Hall, rooms include the tapestry room, the statue gallery and the billiards room, all an exceptional example of 18th-century interior design. 

Built in the 1690s by Sir Christopher Wren, the house was later adapted and enlarged by both John Carr and Robert Adam. Children will absolutely love the miniature railway and adventure playground within the grounds of Newby Hall. Both children and adults will love visiting the teddies at Gyles Brandreth's Teddy Bear Collection, in their 'paw'pose built home in the gardens. Little ones can also check out the Mr Men and Little Miss items on offer in the gift shop while their parents find something lovely to buy.

Need to know:

  • Postcode of the stately home: HG4 5AE
  • Opening times: 11am - 5.30pm
  • Admission fee: £26 for house and gardens, £18 for gardens only
  • Is it dog-friendly? Dogs are not permitted into the house or gardens



Duncombe Park

Duncombe Park - Yorkshire historic house

Located on the edge of Helmsley in the North York Moors, Duncombe Park is a historic house that’s set in 450 acres. The land comprises gardens, 300 acres of parkland and a nature reserve so there’s plenty to see and do on a visit. One of Yorkshire's finest historic houses and estates, it is the seat of the Duncombe family whose senior members assumed the title Earl and Countess of Feversham until 1963. 

Events throughout the year include steam, country and antique fairs and the International Centre for Birds of Prey is based on the grounds too. Many people go to just discover the parklands with their waymarked walks, discovery trails and orienteering courses for all ages. 

Need to know:

  • Postcode of the stately home: YO62 5EB
  • Opening times: 10.30am - 5pm, gardens only open between April and August
  • Admission fee: £1 for the parkland, £5 for the gardens
  • Is it dog-friendly? The grounds are dog-friendly

Hovingham Hall

Hovingham Hall - stately home near Yorkshire

The Palladian-style Hovingham Hall is located in the Howardian Hills (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and lies between Helmsley and Malton. It's a thriving rural estate which has been owned by the Worsley family for 450 years and was the childhood home of the Duchess of Kent. Built in the 18th century on a site that the family have owned since the 16th century, it makes a great day out for those who love a little history in a beautiful location. 

As the majority of the estate lies within the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it really is a joy to visit - head to the Flower Gardens and The Dovecote, with the Glasshouse offering a taste of the tropical for those who like their blooms a little exotic. The house includes a beautiful domed ceiling, lots of architectural features and an array of artwork and furniture. Cricket is regularly played on the ground at the front of the house so you may well catch a game on a visit to Hovingham Hall - it is said to be the oldest continuously played on, private cricket ground in England.

Need to know:

  • Postcode of the stately home: YO62 4LX
  • Opening times: Guided tours by appointment
  • Admission fee: £20 per person, groups of over 15 people only
  • Is it dog-friendly? No



Fairfax House

Fairfax House - historic house in York

Fairfax House is located in the centre of York and is one of the finest examples of a Georgian townhouse in England. The house has regular events and exhibitions throughout the year and contains an impressive collection of furniture, clocks and paintings. 

Explore hidden treasures and discover the secrets within the house as you are taken back to the glory days of city-living in 18th-century York. Originally the winter home of Viscount Fairfax and his daughter Anne, the house's richly decorated interiors and elegant stucco ceilings make it a masterpiece of Georgian design and architecture. Children will love meeting Gregory, the Townhouse Mouse, who along with his friends has left a family-friendly trail to follow through Fairfax House. 

Need to know:

  • Postcode of the stately home: YO1 9RN
  • Opening times: 11am - 4pm
  • Admission fee: £7.50
  • Is it dog-friendly? No

Map of stately homes in North Yorkshire

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Stately homes in East Yorkshire

Scampston Hall

Scampston Hall is a stately home in Yorkshire

The 17th century Scampston Hall is a wonderful example of a Regency country house. It’s first and foremost a family home although you can arrange a tour with Sir Charles Legard and a team of friendly guides. The house has many fine works of art, furniture and porcelain to discover, and it is often used as a wedding venue and setting for corporate events. Home to Christopher and Miranda Legard, and lovingly restored by the family, you won't be kept behind ropes or barriers, enabling you to see everything at close quarters and ask any questions that you may have about the house.

Scampston offers a diverse range of events throughout the year, including plant fairs, gardening courses, academic lectures and painting classes. Don’t miss The Scampston Walled Garden which is set within the walls of Scampston Hall’s original kitchen garden and was designed by Piet Oudolf to complement the adjacent 18th-century Capability Brown-designed parkland. 

Need to know:

  • Postcode of the stately home: YO17 8NG 
  • Opening times: 10.00am - 5pm 
  • Admission fee: £14 for the hall and gardens, £9 for the gardens
  • Is it dog-friendly? Dogs on leads allowed in some parts of the grounds

Burton Agnes Hall

Burton Agnes Hall - Yorkshire country house

The Elizabethan Burton Agnes Hall has been described as the perfect English country house and has a beautiful setting in the Yorkshire Wolds. It’s filled with treasured art and furniture and was originally designed by Robert Smithson – Master Mason to Queen Elizabeth I. Set in the village of Burton Agnes, near Driffield in the East Riding of Yorkshire, it was built by Sir Henry Griffith at the beginning of the 17th century to designs attributed to Robert Smythson. 

Home to the same family for over 400 years, fifteen generations have filled the Hall with beautiful treasures, from French Impressionist paintings to tapestries and carvings. The grounds are home to gorgeous gardens, a woodland walk and giant games to keep younger visitors happy. They will love ambling along the shady path to the woodland adventure playground which sits in a grassy glade at the side of the home. Hop on the double zip wire, tyre swings and five-person seesaw and if you have toddlers with you, there's a gentler play area for them to burn off some energy without getting hurt. 

Need to know:

  • Postcode of the stately home: YO17 8NG 
  • Opening times: 10.00am - 5pm 
  • Admission fee: £14 for the hall and gardens, £9 for the gardens
  • Is it dog-friendly? Dogs on leads allowed in some parts of the grounds



Burton Constable Hall

Burton constable Hall - Yorkshire stately house

Another Elizabethan stately home in the Yorkshire Wolds is the magnificent Burton Constable Hall & Grounds. A Grade I listed building set in a 300-acre park, it is known for its 18th and 19th-century interiors and its fine 18th-century cabinet of curiosities. There are grand rooms filled with art and architecture as well as a restored stable block with exhibitions telling the history of the stables through the years.

Home to the Constable family for over 700 years, Burton Constable is one of the most interesting country houses to survive complete with its historic collections, making it a fascinating historical day out for all the family. If the house isn't enough, there are a variety of events on throughout the year including mindful yoga, willow weaving and the fun Muddy March. Behind the scenes tours lets you delve into the nooks and crannies of Burton Constable and there is lots of historic parkland to discover which was designed by Capability Brown.

Need to know:

  • Postcode of the stately home: HU11 4LN 
  • Opening times: 10am - 5pm
  • Admission fee: £13 for house and grounds, £8.60 for grounds only
  • Is it dog-friendly? Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds and an on-site cafe



Sledmere House

This partly Georgian and partly Edwardian country house is surrounded by the East Yorkshire Wolds with the seaside towns of Filey and Flamborough close by. It’s been owned and lived in by the Sykes family since the 18th century and the majestic rooms are filled with treasures that have been collected through the years.

It’s up to you whether you take a guided tour of the house or wander round in your own time but either way there’s lots to see in this wonderful Yorkshire stately home. Outside Sledmere House are beautiful gardens with a variety of different colour palettes that have featured in BBC Gardeners World. There’s also an adventure playground and a rare breed conservation farm where kids can enjoy a cuddle with lambs and baby goats.    

Need to know:

  • Postcode of the stately home: YO25 3XG 
  • Opening times: 10am - 5pm
  • Admission fee: £11 for the grounds and garden, £17.50 for the house and garden
  • Is it dog-friendly? Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds and garden



Sewerby Hall

Sewerby Hall - Yorkshire stately home

This historic country house is nestled in 50 acres of glorious parkland and has a dramatic cliff top location that looks out over Bridlington and the Yorkshire Coast. The Grade I listed Georgian stately home has been restored to its former glory and contains items from the Victoria and Albert Museum. There’s lots of interactive things to see and do including a working kitchen, authentic clothes to dress up in and a nursery where kids can play with Edwardian toys.

The grounds of Sewerby Hall include woodland walks, beautiful rose gardens, wooden carvings and flower trails to follow. There’s also an on-site zoo with animals ranging from llamas and micro pigs to Capuchin monkeys and Humboldt penguins. One of the best ways to get to the stately home is on a Land Train which runs along the cliff tops from the promenade at Bridlington to Sewerby Hall.

Need to know: 

  • Postcode of the stately home is: YO15 1EA
  • Opening times: 9.30am - 5.00pm
  • Admission fee: £9
  • Is it dog-friendly? Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds 



Map of stately homes in East Yorkshire

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Stately homes in West Yorkshire

Harewood House

Harewood House is a stately home in Yorkshire

Harewood House is a magnificent stately home between Harrogate and Leeds. Built in the 18th century by Edwin Lascelle, Harewood House is known as one of England’s treasure houses. No expense was spared on its creation and you’ll find family portraits by Gainsborough, furniture by Thomas Chippendale and gardens designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown.

There is lots to do in the grounds of Harewood House too, with boat trips, giant games in the walled garden, an open-air cinema and an adventure playground that kids will love. The impressive Yorkshire stately home was featured in ITV’s Victoria and in the Downton Abbey film and you can explore rooms such as Princess Mary’s Dressing Room and the State Dining Room to be transported back in time. It's also well worth visiting the Harewood Bird Garden which is home to 40 species of birds including Chilean Flamingos and Humboldt Penguins, which you may even get to feed!

Need to know:

  • Postcode of the stately home: LS17 9LG 
  • Opening times: 11am - 4pm for the house, 10am - 6pm for the grounds
  • Admission fee: £17.50Is it dog-friendly? 
  • Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds



Bramham Park

Bramham Park is a country house near Leeds

This Grade I listed stately home is located between Leeds and Wetherby and the extensive grounds, which cover around 900 acres, are the setting for the popular Leeds Festival where music performers from around the world gather at the site during the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Follow a 6.5 mile walk from the village of Bramham to take in some of the woodland and lakes of this grand estate using permissive footpaths. Bramham Park was designed during the late 17th century with a neoclassical style and you can seek out follies, chapels and temples as you explore the gorgeous gardens.

Need to know:

  • Postcode of the stately home: LS23 6ND
  • Opening times: The House is open all year, by appointment, on weekdays
  • Admission fee: £15 for the house, £8 for the gardens for groups of 10+ people
  • Is it dog-friendly? Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds and gardens  

Temple Newsam

Temple Newsam - Yorkshire historic house

Located on the outskirts of Leeds, Temple Newsam is a Tudor-Jacobean House whose former inhabitants include Lord Darnley, the murdered husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. The stately home was restored during the 20th-century and is now a fascinating museum telling stories of the past. There are 40 different rooms to explore and 1500 acres of parkland that was designed by Capability Brown. The grounds include a trio of ‘Menagerie Pond’ lakes, nature trails and a beautiful walled garden. Also at Temple Newsam is Home Farm which is one of the largest rare breed centres in Europe. Children especially will love paying a visit and getting up close to the animals.

Need to know:

  • Postcode of the stately home: LS15 0AE
  • Opening times: 10.30am - 5pm (last entry is 4.15pm)
  • Admission fee: £8 for the house and gardens, £4.30 for the farm
  • Is it dog-friendly? Dogs are welcome in the grounds and gardens  

Nostell

Nostell is a grand Georgian mansion in Yorkshire

This grand Georgian palladian-style mansion was built by two generations of the Winn family between the 1720s and 1780s to show off their wealth. Set on the original site of a sprawling medieval monastery, there are 300 acres of grounds to explore at this National Trust site with meadows and woodland that are teeming with nature and filled with seasonal blooms.

Children can have fun at the Nostell adventure playground which has a magical woodland setting and everyone will love exploring gorgeous gardens which feature exotic banana palms and a fairytale house.

Need to know:

  • Postcode of the stately home: WF4 1QE 
  • Opening times: 11am - 4pm for the house, 11am - 5pm for the gardens
  • Admission fee: £7.50 for house or gardens, £12 for house and gardens
  • Is it dog-friendly? Dogs are welcome in the grounds but not the gardens or play area.

Map of stately homes in West Yorkshire

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Stately homes in South Yorkshire

Wentworth Woodhouse

Wentworth Woodhouse - Yorkshire stately home

This magnificent mansion is one of the largest historic houses in Europe with the longest facade of any English stately homes. A project is currently underway to restore the 365 rooms of Wentworth Woodhouse but visitors are able to wander around grand state rooms including the ballroom featured in the Downton Abbey movie.  

The house is surrounded by 50-acres of gardens with wildflower meadows, ancient meadows and 18th-century follies. Visitors can enjoy views over the landscape from the Ha-Ha, relax with a picnic on a deckchair and challenge the family to a garden game on the sweeping lawn. 

Need to know:

  • Postcode of the stately home: S62 7TQ
  • Opening times: 10.00am–5.00pm Tuesday to Sunday
  • Admission fee: £11 for the house and garden, £7 for garden only.
  • Is it dog-friendly? Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds and gardens.

Cusworth Hall Museum Park

Cusworth Hall is a Yorkshire country house

Cusworth Hall is a Georgian Grade I listed stately home that’s located a couple of miles from Doncaster in South Yorkshire. The historic house is now a fascinating museum with collections of items and displays showing different aspects of Doncaster life from the 18th-century onwards. 

Visitors can take a look at the Hall’s Great Kitchen and see where feasts would have been prepared for the visiting gentry then explore the acres of historic parkland that surround Cusworth Hall. There are walking trails around glistening lakes, nature-rich woodlands, plenty of places for a picnic and large fields where you can play ball games with the family. You can even enjoy a pint at an on-site microbrewery which is located in the old Cusworth Hall brewhouse.   

Need to know:

  • Postcode of the stately home: DN5 7TU 
  • Opening times: The grounds are open between 7.30am and 9pm everyday, the museum is open 10am - 4pm on Friday and Sunday.
  • Admission fee: Free
  • Is it dog-friendly? Dogs are welcome to explore the grounds with you.

Brodsworth Hall and Gardens

Brodsworth Hall - Yorkshire stately home

Originally built in the 1860s by the wealthy Thellusson family, Brodsworth Hall is a grand historic home which started to fall into disrepair as the family’s fortunes diminished. The country house was ‘conserved as seen’ by English Heritage and shows life how it would have been for its Victorian inhabitants with fully furnished interiors and the sense of faded grandeur on full display.

Wandering around the glorious ‘grand gardens in miniature’ is a highlight of any visit to Brodsworth. You’ll find statue walks, colourful borders, hidden dells and Victorian pleasure grounds with a fountain centrepiece dotted around the Italian-style gardens and if you visit during school holidays there are lots of family-friendly activities for kids.

Need to know:

  • Postcode of the stately home: DN5 7XJ
  • Opening times: 11am - 4pm for the house, 10am - 5pm for the gardens
  • Admission fee: £12.90
  • Is it dog-friendly? Unfortunately dogs are not permitted at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens  



Map of Yorkshire stately homes

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Plan your getaway to Yorkshire

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If you’re looking for more holiday inspiration, read our comprehensive things to do in Yorkshire guide which includes National Trust sites, Yorkshire walks and dog-friendly days out. If these beautiful houses have you craving your own luxury Yorkshire trip, we have the self-catering cottage for you. Whether you are looking for a cosy retreat for two or a dog-friendly holiday home that will sleep the whole extended family, browse our full range of Yorkshire cottages to find your perfect base.



Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing, please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.

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