12 of the finest stately homes in Yorkshire

Stunning architecture, fascinating history and precious antiquities, set in glorious surroundings – where can you find all this? In the stately homes of Yorkshire, of course.

A visit to a Yorkshire stately home makes for a fantastic day out, whatever the weather, as you can explore the parklands and gardens during sunny spells and head indoors to admire the interiors if it starts to drizzle. We’ve picked our 12 favourites that combine intriguing histories with plenty of things to keep the kids amused during school holidays and weekend breaks.

For even more inspiration, read our guide to the best castles in Yorkshire and browse our range of holiday cottages to find your perfect base for adventures.

Skip to: 

• Castle Howard
• Harewood House
• Nunnington Hall
• Fairfax House
• Newby Hall and Gardens
• Wentworth Woodhouse
• Burton Agnes Hall
• Burton Constable Hall
• Sewerby Hall
• Sledmere House
• Nostell
• Temple Newsam

Castle Howard

Period drama fans will recognise Castle Howard, as not only was it featured in Brideshead Revisited, it also pops up in the more recent TV series Bridgerton, Victoria and Anne Boleyn. Find out more about stately homes that have been used in film and TV. This stunning Baroque mansion took over 100 years to complete, with eminent architects Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicolas Hawksmoor as the guiding forces. The magnificent central cupola or dome was the first of its kind in a domestic dwelling – previously only gracing such buildings as St Paul’s Cathedral.

Three hundred years on, it’s still the private residence of the Howard family, but you’re free to roam around the majority of the spectacular rooms with their incredible collection of artworks and furniture. The gardens are jam-packed with follies, lakes and sculptures, plus there’s an adventure playground, making it a lovely day out for young and old alike.

Harewood House

Harewood House has also graced our screens – this time as a location in the film version of Downton Abbey. Inside its spectacular honey-coloured stone walls is a treasure trove of the finest collections of furniture and artworks, including Chippendale, El Greco and Turner. The owners, the Lascelles family, financed the building of the house from the sugar trade, which used enslaved people on Caribbean plantations, and instead of hiding this fact away, it is acknowledged in a sensitive, informed way, ensuring transparency about the history and the family’s subsequent reparations.

This enlightened, modern thinking has also been applied to the beautiful grounds – the original landscaping by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown has been enhanced with new approaches to encourage biodiversity, such as the addition of an exquisite treehouse made from woven larch strips. There’s also an adventure playground and boating lake so the whole family will have fun.

Nunnington Hall

On the banks of the meandering River Rye sits Nunnington Hall, a gorgeous manor house dating back to Tudor times. There’s a wealth of fascinating things to explore, from the attic with its magnificent collection of ‘miniature rooms’ (like open-plan dolls’ houses) to the grounds with its flamboyant peacocks. In the gallery spaces, there are changing exhibits by contemporary artists. 

The gardens have been organic for over 20 years, and provide a riot of year-round colour, including a joyful spring-flowering meadow, an orchard of traditional varieties of fruit and a newly renovated iris garden. Why not treat yourself to a book from the second-hand bookshop and relax in a deckchair in the rose garden to read it?

Fairfax House

There’s one striking difference to Fairfax House that sets it apart from other North Yorkshire stately homes, and that is that it’s located in the heart of a city – York. But it makes up for the absence of grounds and gardens with an interior that has to be seen to be believed. From floor to ceiling, this exquisite Georgian townhouse is positively encrusted with exceptional decoration. Each room provides a glimpse of the luxurious lifestyle of Georgian aristocracy.

Although it appears to be untouched since it was first built, Fairfax House has gone through many incarnations, including a gentleman’s club in the 19^th century and a cinema and dancehall in the early 20^th century, when it was known as St George’s Hall (luckily its stunning stucco-work was boxed in rather than destroyed). By 1980 it was struggling and was rescued and restored to its former glory as a museum. Now it’s home to the magnificent collection of antique furniture by Noel Terry (of Terry’s Chocolate fame).

Newby Hall and Gardens

Both inside and out, Newby Hall and Gardens provides a fun-filled day of exploration. The opulent interior makes you feel as if you’re in a Jane Austen drama – so it’s unsurprising that several have been filmed here, including the film version of Mansfield Park. Make sure to check out the Tapestry Room with its huge wall hangings and the Circular Room with its richly decorated ceilings.

Outside, there are several entertaining ways to discover the grounds. You can take the miniature Newby Hall Railway train that travels by the River Ure in its journey around the Hall, or there are boat trips to gain a waterside perspective of this superb 18^th-century residence. Don’t forget to visit The Teddy Bear House with its ample collection of cuddly toys donated by Gyles Brandreth.

Wentworth Woodhouse

Wentworth Woodhouse does nothing by halves. It has the longest façade in the UK and is bigger than Buckingham Palace, with 365 rooms and an estate of 15,000 acres. Keeping up such an enormous property presents a challenge, and for 40 years the solution was to lease a section to create a college for PE teachers. Fast forward to the current day, where the house has been returned to its former glory and is open to the public as one of West Yorkshire’s finest stately homes. There is a year-round series of imaginative events and festivals and the opportunity to take high tea in the Long Gallery if you fancy playing ‘Lord of the Manor’ for an afternoon.

Outside, you can picnic in the 50 acres of gardens and meadows and let kids run free in the Forest of Bewilderment natural play area.

Burton Agnes Hall

Burton Agnes Hall has remained a home for the same family for 15 generations, ever since it was built during the reign of Elizabeth I, and glimpses of this are in evidence around the hall, with the current family’s photos included in the portrait gallery. The interiors reflect the evolution of this East Yorkshire stately home through the centuries, with original ornate carvings sitting alongside Renaissance paintings and contemporary furniture.

The grounds are a delight for all with giant-sized board games to play in the walled garden, a maze and a woodland walk. The spectacular variety of plants includes an impressive collection of campanulas, making it a horticulturalists’ paradise.

Burton Constable Hall

Just 9 miles outside Hull sits Burton Constable Hall, a terrific Elizabethan pile with 18^th and 19^th-century interiors. Inside, you can discover a ‘cabinet of curiosities’, or room full of interesting artefacts that we’d now describe as a mini museum but was once all the rage for aristocratic collectors.

This fascination with the unusual and quirky side of life continues outside, where the Stables, once home to an impressive collection of horses, now displays a whale skeleton that was washed up locally and pieced together by eminent Victorian surgeon James Alderson. You can also stroll around the gardens, beautifully designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown.

Sewerby Hall

The best way to arrive at Sewerby Hall is via the land train from Bridlington that affords you a fantastic first peek at this sumptuous Georgian house after an uplifting clifftop journey. Learn all about the history of the house and life in the 18^th century from the costumed guides or imagine a life ‘in service’ by dressing up as a servant. 

The grounds provide a wonderful mix of lively events and shows, woodland walks, formal gardens and even a zoo with penguins and lemurs among the attractions. The garden centre has a great selection of plants if you’re inspired by the expert gardeners here, and is a supported working opportunity for people with learning disabilities.

Sledmere House

Neighbouring Castle Howard may be grander, but Sledmere House still holds its own as a stately home well worth visiting. The Sykes family have been in residence since its construction 250 years ago, financed by the wool trade – a boom industry in the Yorkshire Wolds which provides perfect grazing for sheep.

The Historic Stable Block has not been relegated to a dusty museum piece but is home to two shire horses who produce foals every year, making Sledmere one of the most historically important studs in Yorkshire. Once you’ve admired the house and grounds, let the kids burn off steam in the Spotty Pig Adventure Playground and squeal with delight in the Rare Breeds Farm Park. 

Nostell

It’s hard to believe that this gorgeous Palladian mansion had anything but a charmed start in life, but it took 150 years for it to be fully completed due to dashed ambitions and freak deaths in the Winn family. Now owned by the National Trust, Nostell is a carefully preserved celebration of 18^th-century art, furniture and interior design, including a very rare Georgian dolls’ house. 

More energetic members of the family will want to whizz around the surrounding parkland's bike trails and explore the woodland adventure playground while others will enjoy the beautifully kept kitchen garden and Plant Conservation Centre.

Temple Newsam

At over 500 years old, Temple Newsam has had a turbulent and eventful past, including being gifted by King Henry VIII to his niece and having parts of its grounds given over to sewage works, hospitals and golf courses. Its Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown-designed landscaping was ripped out to make way for a coal mine, but happily has been restored. The house is now more peacefully run by Leeds City Council and offers a wonderful day out. Make sure to check out the beautiful Chinese drawing room and stunning picture gallery.

In the exquisite grounds, you’ll find a gorgeous rhododendron walk and stunning formal planting within the 18^th-century walled gardens as well as Home Farm, which has some adorable rare-breed farm animals. 

Map of Yorkshire stately homes

Plan your visit to some of the finest stately homes in Yorkshire with this handy map: 

Plan your Yorkshire getaway

With such an array of grand and imposing properties to visit, you’ll be wanting a memorable base during your stay, so why not take a look at our ample selection of characterful properties around Yorkshire?

We have everything from cosy Victorian cottages to grand Georgian townhouses with plenty of period details. Browse our collection of holiday homes to find your perfect place to stay in lovely locations like the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales.