Crook Hall Gardens

The historic stone buildings of Crook Hall behind a sunny garden of lush colourful plants and flowers.

We are pleased to announce that we will be opening Crook Hall Gardens, Durham, from 1pm on Wednesday 13 July.

Pale stone medieval buildings of Crook Hall overlook a lush garden with colourful blooming shrubs and flowers in the foreground

Visiting Crook Hall Gardens: What you need to know 

Plan your visit to Crook Hall Gardens.

Plan your visit

The National Trust took ownership of the Grade I listed medieval hall and gardens on 28 March 2022, following a period of closure since July 2020.

The medieval hall merges into a Jacobean manor house, which in turn merges into a Georgian town house, reflecting its development over the centuries. The Hall provides a spectacular backdrop to the stunning 10-acre gardens, paddock and fields, alongside magnificent views over Durham city.

" We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors - old and new - back to Crook Hall Gardens very soon. It’s a historically important and locally cherished place, which the National Trust is delighted to be taking into our care. The hall, café and beautiful gardens have been closed to the public for over 18 months, so we’ve spent the last few weeks carrying out the necessary work required to open the doors again."
- Eric Wilton, General Manager for Crook Hall Gardens

Eric continued:

"It’s a wonderful opportunity for the National Trust here, so close to the city centre. We look forward to playing our part in bringing visitors to this globally renowned city and the surrounding area. The site is also close to National Trust owned Moorhouse Woods, just to the north of the city. We hope to develop a longer-term project that will help to improve access to this green space stretching from Crook Hall, creating a nature-rich green corridor between the two sites and beyond."

A sunlit gravel path between flower filled garden borders leads to a wooden gate in an old stone wall almost hidden by climbing plants.

Explore Crook Hall Gardens 

Intriguing paths lead you through a series of interlinked gardens, each with its own character.

Discover Crook Hall Gardens

A significant number of families have lived in the medieval manor house of Crook Hall over the centuries, including original owner Peter Del Croke, who gave the hall its name. The building has a very rich history and its timeline is littered with amazing characters, from medieval knights and romantic poets to infamous ghosts and ale merchants.

A sunlit aerial view of Crook Hall Gardens shows a tall, smart Georgian red brick manor house adjoining a Jacobean and medieval hall built in cream stone. The buildings are surrounded by lush green gardens.

The history of Crook Hall Gardens 

The house and gardens have played a part in Durham’s story since the medieval period.

It was more recently owned by the Bell family, from 1995. They opened their home and gardens to visitors, expanding the offer to create a new entrance welcome area, café, and maze. They had to close following the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdowns, meaning the site has been closed since July 2020.

" We are delighted that the National Trust are becoming the custodians of Crook Hall Gardens. We are happy in the knowledge that the property's future is secure. Our links with the property will not be broken. As National Trust members we look forward to regular visits to this beautiful place. "
- Maggie and Keith Bell, previous owners of Crook Hall Gardens
A volunteer talks to visitors in a sunny garden with flower filled borders.

Volunteering at Crook Hall Gardens 

We are currently recruiting new volunteers.

Volunteer with us