Allan Bank house cloaked in snow in Grasmere — The occasional cloaking of snow can transform the grounds at Allan Bank into a winter wonderland | © National Trust Images

Houses and buildings in the Lake District

The Lake District is home to some iconic landscapes, but did you know it's home to some internationally significant buildings too? From Beatrix Potter's peaceful cottage retreat to Wordsworth's home overlooking Grasmere, you can plan your next house visit here.

Allan Bank and Sizergh will be open on selected dates throughout December. However the rest of our Lake District houses have now closed for winter maintenance and reopen in March 2026. If you're planning to visit the Lakes then, we'd love to welcome you.

Allan Bank

With rugged 19th century woodland grounds, formal lawns, exhibitions and surrounding countryside and lakes to explore, there’s plenty to see and do at Allan Bank and Grasmere.

Two people in an exhibition room leaning over a table doing a printing activity.

Sizergh

Find out what to see in the House at Sizergh, including the Strickland family’s large collection of items spanning 26 generations and the renowned Elizabethan Inlaid Chamber.

Things to do in Hill Top house

See Beatrix Potter’s house as she wanted you to see it. It’s filled with her belongings and you can match up illustrations from her books with scenes there today.

The art work from Beatrix Potter's Tale of Two Bad Mice

Things to do at Townend

Townend is a traditional Lake District farmhouse full of fascinating domestic objects and stories of the family who lived there. Step back in time and learn more about the Browne family and their lives. Visit for in December for a special Victorian style Christmas.

Warmly lit room with a Christmas tree; one person holds a candle near another seated by the tree.

Things to do at Wordsworth House and Garden

Explore Wordsworth House and Garden, the Georgian townhouse which was the birthplace and childhood home of romantic poet William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy.

Two women smile as they take a selfie while dressed in period clothing in Wordsworth House

If the Lake District houses have inspired you, there are more fantastic houses across the north of England to discover. Entry is free for National Trust members.

Houses and buildings in Cheshire and Greater Manchester

Discover a variety of houses and buildings to visit around Cheshire and Manchester, from grand mansions with opulent state rooms to a restored working mill.

Visitors outside the house at Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire

Houses and buildings in Liverpool and Lancashire

From the Elizabethan architecture of Gawthorpe Hall to the homes that were the birthplace of the Beatles, there's plenty to discover inside the buildings we look after in Liverpool and Lancashire.

The exterior of Tudor house, Speke Hall in Liverpool

Houses and buildings in Yorkshire

Discover Yorkshire's history with visits to the grand halls of Nostell and Beningbrough, and the family homes of East Riddlesden and Ormesby Hall, while the ruins of Fountains Abbey will give you a different perspective.

A frosty morning looking towards the house at Nostell

Historic houses and iconic buildings in the North East

From castles and country houses to pioneering feats of architecture, the National Trust cares for some of the North East’s most remarkable buildings. Step inside to uncover rich interiors, fascinating histories, and the lives of those who shaped these places. Whether you're drawn to dramatic design, innovation, or stories of the past, there's something to discover at every property.