Beningbrough Hall, Gallery & Gardens

About

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. Find out about the families and other people who have lived here including RAF aircrews and how they have all left their mark on the 300 year history of Beningbrough. During winter 2019/20 the hall and galleries are closed for an essential conservation project and will re-open on Tuesday 3 March 2020. The new exhibition will be In the Moment: The Art of Wellbeing, in partnership with the Arts Council Collection. 

There is still plenty to enjoy on a weekend visit over winter. The new season exhibition is Winter Wildlife in Print by York artist Gerad Hobson. Around the garden are fourteen scultural scenes, inspired by the wildlife that call Beningbrough home. Upstairs in the Hayloft* is a selling indoor print exhibition showing more of the artists works. You can also get involved on one of the special workshops led by the artist. 

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 the annual apple celebrations 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 is popular with famlies. There's a packed programme of events in the school holidays and during any visit your little ones can grab a bike or trike to venture around the gardens or pick up an explorer backpack from the hall to help them on their way. 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 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 seelction 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 chairty looks after. 

If you want a longer walk, the gardens are surrounded by 380 acres of parkland where the tanant farmers distinctive Aberdeen Angus cattle graze. There are three wwalks 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. The parkland is free to explore every day and there is no charge for the car park. However please note there might not be facilities open if it is a closed day.

*Room accessed by stairs only.