Beningbrough Hall is a magnificent National Trust owned stately mansion bursting with Georgian elegance and history right in the heart of North Yorkshire.
Based on our own visit, we’ll show you all the fun and interesting things you can see and do on a trip to Beningbrough Hall.
By the end of this guide you’ll not only know if this is a winning choice for your next day out, but you’ll also be armed with all the essential details to make your visit a memorable one.
Note: We do our best to keep the information on our website up to date, but if you notice anything has changed (such as admission prices, opening times, attractions/restaurants closing etc), please leave us a comment and let us know.
A Brief History of Beningbrough Hall
Step back in time to the 18th century when powdered wigs and elaborate gowns were all the rage! That’s the era when the Beningbrough Hall we see today came to life. This grand stately home combines charming English Baroque with Italian flair. On your visit you’ll see impressive columns, symmetrical facades, and elegant interiors. The whole place feels super fancy but in a very minimalist sort of way.
Prior to this, the estate was inherited by Ralph Bourchier in 1556. He built the the first house on the site, standing around 300 metres away from the current Beningbrough Hall. This was the family home for around 150 years.
In 1700 John Bourchier inherited the estate. After a tour of Europe he planned and built the current hall, which was heavily influenced by his travels. He was particularly guided by the beauty of Italy (can’t say I blame him), which can be seen as you explore the mansion.
For example, before you enter the hall, look above the doorway.
See those horses?
They were inspired by the the horses of the Trevi Fountain in Rome!
The hall was home to the Dawnays in the 1800s followed by the Chesterfields in the 1900s, before being used to house aircrews during World War Two.
Today Beningbrough Hall is owned by the National Trust and attractions over 120,000 visitors a year!
Maps of Beningbrough Hall, Gallery & Gardens
What To See And Do At Beningbrough Hall Mansion
1. Enter The Great Hall
As you step through the front doors you’ll be welcomed into the light and airy Great Hall. The entrance is beautifully minimal, apart from an oversized pineapple sculpture and a marble bust of Pope Clement XIV adorning the fireplace. This exquisite bust was a treasured souvenir from John Bourchier’s niece, who also had a taste for Italy.
As soon as we stepped in the hall we were greeted by a friendly National Trust volunteer, who gave us an overview of the layout of the mansion. I want to mention at this point that extremely knowledgeable volunteers were stationed in every room, ready to answer any questions we had about the house.
Pushchairs and buggies need to be left outside the house. However, they do offer lightweight pushchairs and child carriers that you can use inside.
2. The Smoking Room
Working your way clockwise around the ground floor, from the great hall you’ll enter the smoking room. The original purpose of the room is actually unknown, but it could have been a bustling common parlour, where everyday life unfolded. Or perhaps it served as John Bourchier’s private business chamber, where important decisions took shape.
3. Pick Up A Book In The Library
The charming small library has found a new life as a delightful second-hand bookshop. If you’re on the hunt for your next great read or have some books of your own to donate then make sure you stop by. I really liked the lucky dip books that just had a subtle clue on the cover, and who doesn’t love surprises!
Lucky dip books!- Take a seat and read a book!
4. See the fancy State Bedroom
In the state bedroom you will see an elaborate crimson state bed. These types of beds weren’t actually slept in all that often – they were for VIPs only! The upholstery of these kinds of beds were incredibly expensive, worth tens of thousands in today’s money. On the wall of the state bedroom there’s a photograph from the 1960s showing a lady balanced at the top of a tall ladder, cleaning the bed. Kudos to her for climbing that ladder in heels!
5. Discover Unearthed Treasures In The Dining Room
In the dining room you can find the Bourchier seal. This is significant because it was used by Sir John Bourchier, grandson of Ralph Bourchier, to sign the death warrant of King Charles I in 1649. It’s a direct link to a dramatic moment in history right in this very room!
There’s also a pretty cool display of old items that staff found hidden under the floorboards, such as gum wrappers, vintage cigarette packs, and even a tiny jar of very old Vaseline!
6. Meet Former Residents In The Drawing Room
The wood panelled drawing room displays portraits of members of the Chesterfield and Bourchier families. You’ll also spot several black and white photographs, documenting the brave WWII RAF crew who once stayed at Beningbrough.
This drawing room is pretty massive as it was actually originally two separate rooms, the withdrawing room and the bedchamber, which were eventually joined together.
- The grand drawing room
- Look how detailed the carvings in the wood are!
- Portrait above the fireplace
Did You Know…
In the late 1800s the income from the Beningbrough Estate was the equivalent of £760,000 in today’s money?! This mainly came from rent from the tenants and farmers, and was used to employ workers at the estate.
7. Relax in the Conservatory
Back in 1696, England and Wales introduced a window tax, which meant the more windows your buildings had the more tax you had to pay. After the Glass Tax was lifted in 1845, conservatories and greenhouses became all the rage in the UK now that these beautiful structures were more affordable (and a great way to show off your plant collection!). There’s a table and chairs in there so you can take a moment to sit and enjoy the Victorian conservatory.
8. Stop by the Blue “Bedroom”
I put bedroom in air quotes as this room was unlikely to have ever been a bedroom. The blue state bed (very similar to the red state bed we showed you earlier) was put in this room by the National Trust as it was one of the only places where the ceiling was actually high enough for it to fit (those beds really are crazily tall!). If you consider the room’s chilly, corner-of-the-house location, it is unlikely that this would have been a good location for a bedroom.
As it turns out, this room was actually used as a sociable billiard room, where people could get together, relax and play a game.
9. Look Up The Cantilever Staircase
This cantilevered staircase was crafted entirely from robust oak and reinforced with wrought-iron. The striking design creates the illusion that the staircase is actually floating or hanging from the supporting wall.
Did you know…
When the Beningbrough Estate was sold in 1916 it went for the equivalent of nearly £9million! (given the current housing market situation I shudder to think what it would go for today…)
10. Admire Art in the Upstairs Gallery
You can now see exhibitions of both contemporary and historical works of art on the first floor of Beningbrough Hall. During our visit, they were showcasing ‘Inspired by Italy,’ which features stunning black and white photos of Venice and newly commissioned images of Beningbrough by photographer Kate Somervell, as well as eighteenth-century etchings of Rome.
‘Inspired by Italy’ runs until Until 17 March 2024. Keep an eye on the Beningbrough Hall website to see what exhibitions are coming up in the future.
- Photos of Venice
- Exploring the first floor galleries
- Photos of Beningbrough by Kate Somervell
What To See And Do At Beningbrough Hall Gardens
11. Walk the Walled Gardens
Take a stroll around the pretty, organically maintained Victorian walled garden. This area is packed with produce such as apple and pear trees, including a pear arch you can walk under.
- Water pump underneath the archway
- Grapes growing along the walls
- Chilli plants growing in the walled garden
The garden has been thoughtfully designed so that it can be enjoyed all year round. While it’s no secret that gardens tend to dazzle in late spring and summer, Beningbrough gardens should still be worth visiting no matter what season you go. During our visit in mid-October, as I hope you can tell from our photos, the garden still had plenty to offer.
12. Enjoy the Colourful Flower Beds
Running along the outside of the Walled Garden are the vibrant south and double borders. Even though we visited during the autumn these mixed flower beds were still packed with a whole variety of colourful flowers and buzzing insects. It was absolutely beautiful!
- Colourful flower beds
- Butterflies and other insects loved the flower beds
- There was still plenty to see in mid-October
13. Take a Break in the Formal Gardens
Find a spot on a sun soaked bench in either the west or east formal gardens. My favorite of the two was the east formal garden, where an enclosed courtyard houses a peaceful pond. From photos I’ve seen of the west formal garden we weren’t there at the best time of year, as some of the flowerbeds were looking pretty empty.
- Papping Aaron exploring the garden! 🙂
- East formal garden (my favourite!)
- West formal garden
You can enjoy an amazing view over the open fields as you walk between the east and west gardens along the south side of the house. If you look carefully you’ll see there’s a ha-ha wall, also known as a sunk fence. This is a clever bit of landscape design where a drop or ditch is created to stop livestock getting any closer to the garden, while keeping an uninterrupted view of out over the fields.
14. Mediterranean Gardens – Coming Soon!
Okay, so it’s not open yet, but I wanted to mention the Mediterranean Gardens that are currently in the works, as they sound pretty enticing from the description and concept images they were showcasing around the estate.
Designed by Andy Sturgeon and in keeping with Beningbrough’s Italian-inspired theme, the garden will feature Mediterranean plants (no surprises there!). This garden is designed to be more sustainable, requiring less water and offering greater resilience to climate change, capable of thriving in our warmer summers and wetter winters.
The garden should be open from summer 2024, although it will take a couple of years until it looks its best.
Other Things To Do At Beningbrough Hall
15. Learn About Victorian Laundry
This one is more interesting than sounds, I promise!
Near the main house is a separate laundry building, split into a wet room and a dry room, just as it would have been back in the Victorian times. Back then, people thought that laundry dried in the fresh country air was healthier than in town. You can imagine the laundry maids, their long gruelling days beginning as early as 4 am, working tirelessly in this very space.
Did you know…
You can book a stay in the holiday home above the laundry room! This means you’ll get to see the grounds and gardens when all the day visitors have gone home.
- Inside the wet room
- Sinks in the wet room
- There are several pieces of old clothes in the dry room
- “The Glass Queen” washboard
16. Take Your Kids to The Wilderness Playground
If you’re visiting with kids, they can burn off some energy at the newly improved Wilderness Playground. This spacious area features a fort, a boat, swings, and a spot where kids can let their imaginations run wild and build their own den. Although we don’t have kids ourselves and so only briefly strolled by this area, it was obvious that the children were having a whale of a time!
17. Find the Water tower
Try and spot the old water tower and pump house. It used to be supply Beningbrough Hall with water from the River Ouse. To find it, follow the path the leads around the edge of the Wilderness Playground.
18. Grab something to Eat at the Walled Garden Restaurant or Brew House
The Walled Garden restaurant is a good, if a little expensive, spot to stop for lunch. However, many of the dishes feature ingredients sourced from Beningbrough’s very own walled gardens. Plus, the profits from the restaurant contribute to the conservation efforts and maintenance of Beningbrough Hall, so we were happy to pay a bit extra.
The lunch menu includes items like soup, savoury turnovers, one pots, loaded potato skins, frittata and a range of sweets and cakes.
The brew house, conveniently located near the children’s play area, is open on busy days. Here, you can indulge in takeaway items from hot and cold drinks to snacks, cakes, and ice creams.
Tip: Bring your reusable cup and you’ll get 25p off your hot drink
19. Pick Up a Gift At The Stables Shop
If you’re on the hunt for a souvenir or a special gift then stop by the Stables Shop, close to the Walled Gardens. Inside, you’ll find a number of options, from delectable treats like biscuits and jams to locally crafted gins and honey from the folks at Little Yorkshire Honey House. Some of their busy bees are kepy right there in Beningbrough Hall’s garden. The shop also offers a wonderful selection of homeware, toys, cards, and even a garden section out front.
20. Take Advantage of Special Events at Beningbrough Hall
Beningbrough Hall holds special events throughout the year, from Nature Trails to Story Time with Father Christmas.
During our visit it was Harvest Week where they had fruit tasting, Q&A sessions with gardeners, and displays of crops grown right there at Beningbrough. Make sure you check the Beningbrough Hall website in advance to find out what special events could coincide with your visit.
21. Take a Walk Through the Surrounding Estate
For those wanting a bit more exercise, there are several walking trails available starting at Beningbrough Hall car park.
Beningbrough Woodland Larch Walk // An easy 1 mile walk that’s good for families. This one is good in spring as you’ll see the bluebells!
For the Beningbrough Woodland Larch route, follow the blue waymarkers.
Beningbrough Newton Walk // A moderately difficult 1.9 mile walk parkland and woodland. This route is mostly flat, although can get muddy. For this walking route, follow the pink waymarkers.
For the Beningbrough Newton route, follow the pink waymarkers.
Beningbrough River and Woodland Walk // A moderately difficult 3.5 mile walk through the woods and along the river. The terrain is mostly flat, although expect some hills and uneven paths.
For the Beningbrough River and Woodland route, follow the yellow waymarkers.
Where Is Beningbrough Hall (and How To Get There)
Beningbrough Hall is located in the Vale of York, North Yorkshire. It’s around a 30 minute drive from York, 1 hour from Harrogate and 1 hour from Leeds.
Here’s how to get to Beningbrough Hall:
- By Car: If you’re traveling by car, you can use the postcode YO30 1DD for your GPS or sat nav. There’s ample free parking available on site.
- By Public Transport: You can also reach Beningbrough Hall using public transport:
- Train: The nearest train station is York Railway Station. From there, you can take a bus or taxi to the hall.
- Bus: Number 29 bus to Newton-on-Ouse (which departs from York) will drop you around a 1 mile walk away from Beningbrough Hall.
- By Bicycle: If you enjoy cycling, you can reach the hall by bike. There are designated bike racks available.
- By Foot: If you’re in the surrounding area or staying nearby, you can take a scenic walk to the hall. There are footpaths and trails that lead to the estate.
Parking at Beningbrough Hall
As mentioned above, Beningbrough Hall car park is free. Drive down the tree-lined avenue towards the hall and you will see signs to the main car park to the left. If this is full, then the grassy area in front of the mansion acts as an overflow.
Beningbrough Hall Admission
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
| Adult | £13.20 | £12.00 |
| Child | £6.60 | £6.00 |
| Under 5 years | Free | Free |
| Family | £33.00 | £30.00 |
| Family (1 adult) | £19.80 | £18.00 |
| National Trust members | Free | Free |
| RHS membership, Yorkshire’s Great Houses, Castles and Gardens Cards, Max Card and the Visit York Pass holders | Free | Free |
Beningbrough Hall does not tend to be open 7 days a week and opening hours vary throughout the year, so please do check the most up-to-date opening times before your visit.
Can I Bring My Dog To Beningbrough Hall?
Yes, your dog is welcome in most areas of Beningbrough, just make sure you bring a short lead with you.
Please note, assistance dogs are welcome to join you everywhere in Beningbrough
Places where dogs are welcome at Beningbrough:
Where dogs can’t go at Beningbrough:
