Brodsworth Hall and Gardens

Anusuya Mukherjee
Jan 25, 2022 By Anusuya Mukherjee
Originally Published on Oct 07, 2021
The huge, Victorian Brodsworth Hall and Gardens on a sunny day.
Age: 2+
Read time: 5.3 Min

  • The 'conserved as found' Brodsworth Hall and Gardens is one of the most preserved Victorian country houses in Britain.
  • This Doncaster estate has remained virtually unchanged since being built in the 1860s and is now a protected English Heritage site in South Yorkshire.
  • Discover the glorious Victorian home, splendid pleasure gardens full of intriguing marbled statues, and enjoy a traditional afternoon tea at the Brodsworth Doncaster Tearoom.
  • Your family can also take a unique guided tour of the hall and stop by for live brass bands on the lawn during Summer.

Step back in time to the 1860s with a visit to this perfectly preserved house and garden, offering a fascinating window into affluent Victorian life.

Brodsworth Hall and Gardens was built for the wealthy Thellusson family in the 1860s and has since survived almost perfectly for over 150 years. It is curiously one of the most well preserved 19th-century houses in England and provides visitors and historians with a near-complete example of a Victorian country estate. The regal house and its perfectly cultivated pleasure gardens have been under English Heritage care since 1990, who now maintain its gentle conservation and tell the rare story of this historic house through guided tours and open visits of the Brodsworth Hall and Gardens.

If you are a family of horticulture and landscape enthusiasts, then an exploration of the Gardens Brodsworth is one of the best days out in South Yorkshire. These glorious 18-acres of garden have been perfectly restored to their pristine Victorian design and are now full of colourful flower displays, seasonal shrubbery, delicate hedge-work and tons of open green spaces surrounding the hall. Kids will love exploring the charming marbled statue walks, the natural fern grotto and its weaving bridges, and even discovering a Victorian outdoor toilet, whilst adults can revel in romantic views from the summerhouse and the gorgeous varieties of the Flower Garden. During the summer months and school holidays, you can enjoy a perfect picnic in these formal Yorkshire gardens as well as open-air, live brass band concerts on sunny Sundays.
 

Beyond the gardens, visitors can step into Brodsworth Hall itself with an awe-inspiring tour of the stately house. With some areas retaining their grandeur and others starting to show signs of their age, this historic Yorkshire hall offers a fascinating and unique building to explore. Take in the original, fading furnishings of the library and Charles Thellusson's workroom clutter, spot the rare stuffed passenger pigeon and see if you can find the baby's 'cradle gas mark' dating back to World War Two. Afterwards, make sure you stop off for a delicious afternoon tea at The Garden Tearooms, which serves quality Yorkshire produce and fabulous children's options in its indoor and outdoor terraces, which offer the most tranquil cream tea setting on a sunny afternoon.

If you're wondering what to do in Doncaster during the seasonal and school holidays, then don't miss the wonderful array of family events taking place at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens throughout the year such as spooky woodland walks, Halloween ghost tours and the great Brodsworth Hall Christmas Adventure Quest. For even more parks and gardens for your family to explore around Doncaster and the south of Yorkshire, you can head to the expansive Hillsborough Park and Garden or stunning Sheffield Botanical Gardens.

What to know before you go

  • The Brodsworth Hall opening times are from 10am to 5pm daily.
  • English Heritage members can enter for free, and there are varying tickets prices for all other adults, children and concessions. Family tickets are also available, as well as Overseas Visitor Passes for those attending from outside the United Kingdom.
  • We recommend allowing at least an hour and a half for your visit.
  • The Garden Tearooms at Brodsworth Hall Doncaster serve tradition afternoon teas and children's menus using high quality, local Yorkshire ingredients. Cafe staff will be happy to heat baby food and bottles for you too, and high chairs are available.
  • You are also welcome to bring your own picnic to enjoy in the expansive gardens.
  • There is a great gift shop at the house and gardens selling heritage gifts, Yorkshire produce, souvenirs, books, gardening products and more.
  • Brodsworth Hall and Gardens is largely accessible for wheelchair users with level and lift access to most areas of the house, tarmac paths around the garden and ramped access into the Tearoom and shop. Please note that some areas may remain inaccessible for wheelchair users without an assistant.
  • Seated rest points are located throughout the gardens, and handrails are situated within the house.
  • Wheelchairs can be borrowed during your visit, and golf buggies are available for easier travel around the venue.
  • There are accessible toilets located 50 metres from the hall.
  • Assistance dogs are welcome at the venue.
  • Buggies are allowed on-site but please note that they will not be permitted into certain fragile areas of the hall.
  • Male and female toilets can be found near to the house, as well as baby changing facilities.
  • Unfortunately, dogs are not permitted on-site at Brodsworth Doncaster as it is a preserved area.
  • There is a play area located near to the gardens, but visitors are asked not to bring bikes or balls onto the grounds.
  • Photography is allowed in the gardens but not in the hall itself.
  • Look out for the range of Brodsworth Hall events taking place throughout the year such as Christmas quests and haunted Halloween tours of the house and gardens.

Getting there

  • Brodsworth Hall and Gardens is located five miles north-west of Doncaster in the South Yorkshire region.
  • If you are travelling by car, you can follow the brown tourist signs to the venue and take the A635 Barnsley Road route via the A1 and junction 37.
  • There is free parking at the location as well as a nearby overflow car park for busy days. There are five accessible parking spots just outside of the hall, or a golf buggy service can take visitors with limited mobility to the venue entrance from the main car park.
  • Brodsworth Hall and Gardens can be accessed via the Tates Travel 203 bus service.
  • There are multiple train station around the area of Yorkshire that facilitate the venue; South Elmsall is a four-mile car or taxi ride away, Moorthorpe is four and a half miles away, Adwick Le Street is just three miles away, and Doncaster Station is five and a half miles from the site.
  • Cycling is encouraged around the area and Brodsworth Hall and Gardens can be accessed via the National Cycle Network.

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Written by Anusuya Mukherjee

Bachelor of Arts and Law specializing in Political Science and Intellectual Property Rights

Anusuya Mukherjee picture

Anusuya MukherjeeBachelor of Arts and Law specializing in Political Science and Intellectual Property Rights

With a wealth of international experience spanning Europe, Africa, North America, and the Middle East, Anusuya brings a unique perspective to her work as a Content Assistant and Content Updating Coordinator. She holds a law degree from India and has practiced law in India and Kuwait. Anusuya is a fan of rap music and enjoys a good cup of coffee in her free time. Currently, she is working on her novel, "Mr. Ivory Merchant".

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The huge, Victorian Brodsworth Hall and Gardens on a sunny day.

Brodsworth Hall and Gardens

From5.25£