Description
Harewood House is a grand 18th-century historic estate near Leeds, offering a rich blend of heritage, art and outdoor beauty. Set within over 140 acres of gardens and parkland, it provides a perfect mix of cultural exploration and family-friendly activities. It’s an ideal destination for history lovers, nature enthusiasts and families alike.
Inside the house, visitors can explore beautifully designed rooms such as the Music Room, State Dining Room, Gallery and Library, along with impressive collections including Renaissance paintings, British portraits and Chippendale furniture. Outside, the estate features stunning gardens like the Himalayan Garden, Terrace and Lakeside Gardens, as well as attractions such as the Sylvascope treehouse, Woodland Wonderland and Adventure Playscape with climbing areas and zip wires.
Ticket prices start from £22.50 for adults (online), £10 for children and £64.80 for a family ticket, with free entry for children under 3. Birthday parties are also available, including a private party room for 2 hours, catering with pizza, snacks and drinks, and full access to the Adventure Playscape and gardens for a fun-filled celebration.
With its combination of historic interiors, beautiful landscapes and engaging activities, Harewood House offers a complete day out. Whether you’re exploring the house, enjoying the gardens or celebrating a special occasion, it’s a memorable experience for all ages.
Features
- Paid
- Host birthday parties: Yes
Features
Explore Harewood House
Harewood House was built in the 18th century by Edwin Lascelles, one of the wealthiest men in England. Edwin, as well as his father, and subsequent generations of his family, were Caribbean sugar merchants and actively exploited thousands of enslaved African people to make their business profitable.
- Entrance Hall: The Entrance Hall is designed to look like the inside of a Greco-Roman temple, with twelve painted half-columns lining the walls.
- Music Room: This room is the most complete Robert Adam interior in the House. It is decorated to reflect a theme of music.
- State Dining Room: This room was designed for entertaining in style. It's original Robert Adam interior was entirely redeveloped by Sir Charles Barry, the architect of the Houses of Parliament, in the Victorian period to make it a more stylish and practical space for dining.
- Gallery: The Gallery is the largest room in the House and was originally used for hosting grand banquets and balls.
- Cinnamon Drawing Room: This room is called the Cinnamon Drawing Room because of the colour of the damask on its walls.
- Yellow Drawing Room: The Yellow Drawing Room is the first in a suite of rooms on the West side of the House that would have been used for entertaining guests. It is named after the colour of damask on its walls - a colour chosen by Edwin Lascelles, the builder of Harewood House, himself.
- Library: This room sits at the heart of the House. It was originally called the 'Saloon' and was historically where the Lascelles family would have greeted guests.
- Spanish Library: This room is named the 'Spanish' library after the 17th-century Spanish leather decorating its frieze. 'Spanish leather' is a generic term given to all embossed and gilded leathers. This leather actually came from the Netherlands.
- State Bedroom: State Bedrooms were designed for use by royal guests only. This room was therefore created to dazzle and impress, and furnished with a suite of 'parade' furniture.
- Lord and Lady Harewood's Sitting Room: This room was originally a bedroom but was transformed into a sitting room in the 20th century. In the 1990s, it became a place to showcase the 7th Earl's collection of 20th century art, 'with no other scheme in mind other than personal preference'.
- East Bedroom: This room is decorated with hand-painted, 18th century Chinese wallpaper. It creates a single mural around the entire room and depicts idealised scenes of industry in China, specifically the production of rice, tea, silk and porcelain.
- Princess Mary's Dressing Room: This room was specially designed for HRH Princess Mary by the British architect Sir Herbert Baker in 1930. He utilised the Adam-revival style to compliment the 18th century design of the rest of the House.
- China Room: This small, elegant room was originally conceived as a study, designed to accompany the library next door. Today, the room is often used to display porcelain.
- Old Library: Harewood House is home to three libraries. This one is the oldest and is decorated to convey a theme of learning and knowledge, reflecting its function as a library.
Harewood Collections
For over 250 years, the Lascelles family have worked with contemporary artists and craftspeople, shaping Harewood House into a true reflection of their personal style.
- Italian Old Masters: Harewood House is home to one of the greatest 20th-century collections of Italian Renaissance paintings in Britain.
- British Furniture: Thomas Chippendale is Britain’s most famous eighteenth-century furniture maker. Located just a few miles away from his birthplace in Otley, Harewood House contains one of the largest collections of his furniture anywhere in the world, and is today renowned as his most magnificent commission.
- British Portraiture: Harewood House is home to over 300 portraits. From Sir Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough to Sir Alfred Munnings and John Singer Sargent, the Lascelles family have been painted by some of Britain’s leading portrait artists since the 18th century.
- Sino-Himalayan Plants: Harewood is renowned for its beautiful gardens and inspiring planting schemes. The Himalayan Garden contains many rare and unusual plants, many of which were introduced by intrepid plant explorers, and include Blue Poppies, Cobra Lilies, Primulas and Orchids.
Gardens and Grounds
With over 140 acres of stunning gardens, woodlands, and parkland, Harewood offers a rich outdoor experience like no other.
- West Garden: To the west of the Terrace lies the West Garden, a beautiful arboretum of majestic trees and choice shrubs planted in the 19th century.
- Archery Border: With 100 metres of vibrant Mediterranean and sub-tropical plants, this south-facing border creates an unforgettable autumnal display.
- The Terrace: Harewood's magnificent Terrace is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful Victorian gardens in England.
- Woodland Wonderland: With winding willow mazes, twisting and turning between the trees, there is plenty to discover in this natural outdoor play space.
- All Saints Church: Nestled in the woodlands of the North Front, All Saints' Church spans all of Harewood's known history, from Norman times to the present day.
- Sylvascope: Take a stroll across the North Front and you will find a one-of-a-kind treehouse tucked away in the enchanting woodland, just waiting to be explored.
- Adventure Playscape: Follow the winding path through the woods and you'll discover an enchanting experience, featuring climbing towers, bridges, slides and a zipwire, offering a mixture of physical and sensory play for all ages of children.
- Lakeside Gardens: Towering oaks, chestnuts, yews, beeches, and hornbeams create a majestic backdrop, while open glades burst into life each spring.
- Himalayan Garden: Find yourself immersed in the landscapes of Asia. Here, plants from Japan, China, and the Himalayas thrive, carefully cultivated to create a lush and authentic experience.
- Walled Garden: A vibrant haven of fruits, veggies and wildflowers, nestled by Capability Brown's stunning lake.
- South Garden: We're pleased to reopen this historic pathway through the South Garden, creating a more accessible route between the Courtyard and the Lakeside Gardens, with all terrain mobility vehicle access.
- Gawthorpe Hall Ruins: Step back in time and discover the ruins of Gawthorpe Hall, a 13th century manor that was home to the Gascoigne family from the Norman period to the Georgian era.
5.19 miles
