Planning your visit

The gardens, restaurant, play area, shop and toilets are open. The hall and galleries are currently closed for a 2.3 million infrastructure project. The historic rooms are due to re-open in summer 2023 with a new exhibition from September. Visit the website for the most up to date information ahead of your visit.

New for winter 2022

Sharing some never before told stories, head outside to uncover the Comings and Goings of Beningbrough. From a holiday dream to a family home with flushing toilets and changing fortunes in between. Wrap up warm, grab your calling cards and visit on winter weekends or selected bank holidays this season.

The garden

Relax in the walled garden or stroll among glorious borders with over 8 acres to explore, a beautiful garden cared for by the National Trust.

The year starts with the arrival of a carpet of colour along the ha-ha walk with over 300 thousand spring bulbs, quickly followed by blossom from over 90 different varieties of fruit trees and stunning tulips among the borders and west formal. Take a seat in the Pergola complete with white wisteria, the first complete garden designed by award winning landscape designer Andy Sturgeon as part of a long-term vision.

Come high summer, the borders are bursting with colour right into autumn with dahlias looking striking through to the first frosts. Harvest time is worth returning for to see how the produce has grown, we don't like to boast but are pretty sure we grow some of York's biggest pumpkins. Wintertime lets the structure shine through with mature trees including Yorkshire champions, formally trained fruit long the brick walls and pops of colour from berries...equally welcomed by visitors and wildlife.

For families

The wilderness play area and den zone are popular with families. The gardens are perfect for your own adventure and if you're looking for inspiration you can tick off many of the '50 things to do before you're 11 3/4' play list. Otherwise take your ball or kites to the large south lawn and literally kick back with a picnic and enjoy time together. In the school holidays look out for family trails or led activities on selected days.

Eating and shopping

The walled garden restaurant and brew house (open on our busiest days) offer a range of hot, home-cooked meals, light lunches, snacks and refreshments. The shop in the stables has a large selection of local items from regionally suppliers and craftspeople. Many other lines are unique to the National Trust and their designs are inspired by some of the places the charity looks after.

Stretch your legs in the parkland

If you want a longer walk, the gardens are surrounded by 380 acres of parkland where the tenant farmer's cattle graze. There are three walks available from 20 minutes to two hours taking in secluded woodlands, carpeted with bluebells in late spring, and along the riverside with the chance of spotting a kingfisher darting past.

Good to know

Free entry for National Trust and RHS members, under-fives and valid Visit York Pass holders.

Visiting, volunteering and spending supports the charitable work of the National Trust - thank you!

See where else to explore with the National Trust in York and North Yorkshire.