Become a member
Join today and help protect nature, beauty and history – for everyone, for ever. Enjoy access to more than 500 places with National Trust membership.
Gawthorpe Hall
Liverpool & LancashireAn Elizabethan gem in the heart of industrial Lancashire with extensive grounds to explore and a hidden Walled Garden - open on selected days.
Burnley Road, Padiham, near Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 8UA
Important notice
Due to important works taking place on Stockbridge Drive, the site will be closed Mon 29 June to Tue 7 July. Mooch Gawthorpe will open their short-term pop-up café from 15 July 2026, Wed to Sun, 8.30am-5.30pm. A full launch will take place early 2027
M T W T F S S Open
Closed
Opening times for 10 July 2026
Asset Opening time Hall 12:00 - 17:00 Garden and woodland 08:00 - 19:00 Café Closed Toilets 12:00 - 17:00 Last entry into the Hall is 4.15pm
Adult
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £7.00 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Adventure playground/play area
Natural play area located in the Woodland.
- Assistance dogs only
Only assistance dogs are allowed in the Hall.
- Car park
A number of designated mobility parking spaces are located in the car park.
- Dogs allowed
Dogs on leads and under close control are allowed in the grounds.
- Family friendly
Gawthorpe Hall is great for families. Wander the beautiful Hall, discover the dedicated area for nature play, explore the Hidden Walled Garden and venture into the Woodland.
Family friendly - more information- Guided tour
Guided National Trust Ranger walks are carried out at certain times throughout the year. Look out for scheduled walks under the 'Upcoming Events' section on the website.
- Picnic area
There are several picnic areas, including tables, located within the grounds.
- Toilet
Toilets are available in the cobbled Courtyard, including an accessible toilet and baby-changing facilities. Please note these are closed during winter and are only available to use when the Hall is open from 2 April to the 2 November, 12-5pm.
Mobility drop-off point. External steps to entrance. Internal stairs to all floors.
- Accessible toilet
An accessible toilet can be found in the cobbled Courtyard.
- Braille (guide or menu)
- Designated parking
Several designated parking spaces are located in the main car park.
- Drop-off point
- Large print (guide or menu)
- Steps/uneven terrain
Several steps to Hall entrance/exit with no ramp.
- On foot
- The Gawthorpe Estate is a short 10-15 minute walk from Padiham Town Centre, which is served by lots of busy bus routes (see below). Walk into the estate along Stockbridge Drive. A popular car-free walk (12 minutes) into the estate follows the old Habergham Drive from the Kiddrow Lane bus stops on Padiham Road, next to All Saints’ Church. To turn the journey to Gawthorpe into an adventure follow the Padiham Greenway an old railway line as explained in this video. – leave the Greenway at Spenser Street and cross Burnley Road to enter the estate.
- Cycling
- Burnley is celebrated as an outdoor town with a network of car free trails along old railway lines and canal towpaths. National Cycle Route 685. follows the Padiham Greenway and connects to Burnley Town Centre and the Pennine Cycle Way. beyond. Plan your cycle route from home here.
- By bus
- Visit by bus for just £3 each way. Most buses in England are offering £3 single fares until March 2027. There are frequent buses from around Lancashire which travel along Burnley Road past the Gawthorpe estate on their way into Burnley including buses from Accrington ( bus M1.), Clitheroe ( bus M2. and bus 64.), Preston ( bus 152.) and Blackburn ( bus 152.). You can find the latest bus timetable. and walk into the estate following the advice above.
- By train
- The closest train station is Rose Grove station which is a 10 minute bike ride or 35 minute walk (1.5 miles). Regular trains also go to Burnley Barracks and Burnley Manchester Road – both of which are connected to all the bus services listed above. Visit Trainline. to plan your journey and book cheap tickets. There are lots of local taxi companies that can help with the last 1.5 mile journey or the Uber taxi platform.
- By road
- From M65 exit 8 towards Clitheroe then Padiham following the A671. Turn into the estate off Burnley Road (A671) to enter Stockbridge Drive between the two historic gateposts. Please note this drive is a narrow access road with passing places. A car park for National Trust members and visitors to the Hall, Gardens and Great Barn is situated at the end of the drive, which includes disabled parking. Sat Nav: BB12 8SD
Burnley Road, Padiham, near Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 8UA
Planning your visit
Article
Family-friendly things to do at Gawthorpe Hall
From discovering the majestic woods where children can enjoy the natural play area and views across Pendle Hill, to exploring inside the Hall’s stunning historic rooms that show what life was like in the Victorian period for the Kay-Shuttleworth family who once resided there.
Article
Explore Gawthorpe Hall's estate
With over 50 acres to discover, Gawthorpe Hall estate is a great place to explore. From woodland walks and a hidden walled garden to beautiful formal gardens and a natural play area perfect for little explorers there’s plenty to see and do.
Article
Visiting Gawthorpe Hall with your dog
Gawthorpe Hall is a one pawprint rated place. Dogs on leads are more than welcome in most areas of the grounds, but there are a few things you need to know.
School and group visits to Gawthorpe Hall
The day-to-day running of Gawthorpe Hall is managed by Lancashire County Council. To find out about group visits or school trips please contact gawthorpehall@lancashire.gov.uk.
PDF
Highlights
House
An Elizabethan gem in the heart of industrial Lancashire, remodelled by Sir Charles Barry.
Garden
Landscaped gardens surrounding the hall, with an ornamental terraced garden overlooking the River Calder.
Woodland
Over 40 acres of woodland, with views across to Pendle Hill.
Play area
Natural play area with plenty of materials for den building.
Spotlight events
Gawthorpe Textiles Collection exhibition
A fantastic display of beautiful historic textiles from the collection of Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth, across five rooms of the Hall.
Things to see and do
Article
Family-friendly things to do at Gawthorpe Hall
From discovering the majestic woods where children can enjoy the natural play area and views across Pendle Hill, to exploring inside the Hall’s stunning historic rooms that show what life was like in the Victorian period for the Kay-Shuttleworth family who once resided there.
Article
Explore Gawthorpe Hall's estate
With over 50 acres to discover, Gawthorpe Hall estate is a great place to explore. From woodland walks and a hidden walled garden to beautiful formal gardens and a natural play area perfect for little explorers there’s plenty to see and do.
Article
Things to do at Gawthorpe Hall
Get up close to the Elizabethan architecture and period interiors inside Gawthorpe Hall, then enjoy a stroll through its formal garden.
Area
Visit more places near Gawthorpe Hall
Discover what Liverpool and Lancashire have to offer, from Tudor halls to the childhood homes of the Beatles, plus parks, gardens, moorland and coasts.
Top trails
Trail
Gawthorpe Hall Circular Walk
This circular walk takes you through the historic parkland of Gawthorpe Hall. You'll travel along the Bronte Way, past ancient an woodland, beside the River Calder and down a pathway that used to be the track of an old coal ginny tramway that brought coal across the valley.
Trail
Peel Tower Circular Walk
There are great views to enjoy on this glorious trail from Holcombe to Peel Tower.
Trail
Pilgrims Cross and Peel Tower Circular Walk
A circular route across stunning moorland, stopping to admire the well-known Pilgrims Cross and Peel Tower.
Trail
Holcombe and Bull Hill Circular Walk
An eight-mile circular trail with stunning views over Bull Hill and Holcombe Moor.
Trail
Stubbins Estate Circular Walk
This circular trail around Stubbins Estate takes you through beautiful Buckden Wood.
Upcoming events
Event
Gawthorpe Textiles Collection exhibition
A fantastic display of beautiful historic textiles from the collection of Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth, across five rooms of the Hall.
Event
SPACES FULL - Great Barn Reopening Celebration Event
Join us on Wednesday 15 July for the Great Barn reopening celebration event.
Event
George Fox and The Friends Movement in the North
A talk looking at the origins of the Society of Friends, also known as The Quakers, and the influence of George Fox in the north of England.
Event
Outdoor Theatre - Twelfth Night
Off the Ground Theatre bring one of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays, Twelfth Night, to Gawthorpe Hall this July.
Event
The Invention of Charlotte Bronte - talk and book signing
Author Graham Watson will talk about his book "The Invention of Charlotte Bronte", in which he examines the creation of the Brontë legend through the lens of Elizabeth Gaskell's controversial biography.
Event
Family fun afternoon - Garden Games and Giant Bubbles
Come on down for an afternoon of family fun activities in the garden of Gawthorpe Hall.
Event
Discover Spinning and Weaving
Meet our expert heritage crafters Cate and Janet to discover how to spin wool and weave thread, you can even get hands on and have a go at it yourself.
Event
Great Gawthorpe Gnome Hunt
The Great Gawthorpe Gnomes have run off and hidden around the garden – see how many you can spot on this fun trail.
About Gawthorpe Hall
Gawthorpe Hall was redesigned in the 1850s by the architect Sir Charles Barry, designer of the Houses of Parliament. Barry collaborated with the architect and designer A.W.N. Pugin and the decorative firm of J.G. Crace to magnificent decorative schemes.
The modest Hall houses the North West’s largest collection of portraits on loan from the National Portrait Gallery as well as The Gawthorpe Textiles Collection, a wonderful collection of textiles founded by Miss Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth.
Gawthorpe Hall is the final stop on ‘The Brontë Way’, a long distance route with strong associations with the writings of Charlotte Brontë and the family.
With over 40 acres of woodland to discover, beautiful formal gardens, a hidden Walled Garden and a natural play area, there's plenty of places to enjoy some quality time outdoors with your family at Gawthorpe Hall.
Run in partnership with Lancashire County Council, Gawthorpe Hall is a great family day out.
Our work
Project
Repairing the Great Barn roof at Gawthorpe Hall
Discover more about the work we're doing to look after the 420-year-old, Grade I listed Great Barn at Gawthorpe Hall in Padiham.
Project
Donate to Gawthorpe Hall
Help the preservation and conservation of the beautiful grounds by donating today.
OR
£
Art and collections
Gawthorpe Hall’s objects and collections
Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Gawthorpe Hall on the National Trust Collections website.
Support us
Volunteer with us
Search for live volunteering opportunities, or register your interest with Gawthorpe Hall.
Supporter Groups in the North-West
Find out about the supporter groups you can join in Liverpool and Lancashire including the Bolton Association, Ormskirk and District Association and the Southport and Formby Association.