Beningbrough Hall, Gallery & Gardens

About

Coronavirus update: the gardens, restaurant for takeaway drinks, play area, parkland and toilets are open for the local community to exercise in. The hall, galleries and shop remain closed. 

You will need to book your visit in advance via the What’s On section of  the website to guarantee admission. You may be turned away if you arrive without a booking.

Please follow the latest government guidance on travel and exercise during the current lockdown in England. 

 

Inside the Italian-inspired house the grand rooms are a perfect backdrop for the rich collection of art on show through changing exhibitions in the Saloon Galleries on the first floor. Currently on display from the Arts Council Collection is the exhibition - In the moment: the art of wellbeing. Explore how art can help you to relax and disconnect from life’s daily worries and experience how the different mediums of art can aid mental wellbeing through the 14 thought provoking artworks by artists such as L.S. Lowry, Tracey Emin, Marc Chagall and Henry Moore

Relax on the sunny restaurant terrace sampling food including the harvest from the walled garden or stroll among glorious borders with over 8 acres to explore. The year starts with the arrival of a carpet of colour along the ha-ha walk with the thousands of spring bulbs planted in 2016, quickly followed by blossom from the fruit trees and stunning tulips among the borders and west formal. Take a seat in the recently installed Pergola complete with white wisteria. Come high summer, the borders are bursting with colour right into autumn with dahlias looking striking through to the first frosts. Harvest time is popular with over 50 varieties of apple grown and we don't like to boast but are pretty sure we grow some of York's biggest pumpkins. 

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.

The walled garden restaurant and brew house (open most weekends and school holidays) 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 designed are inspired by some of the places the charity looks after. 

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