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Rufford Old Hall
A fine Tudor house and colourful garden, home to five centuries of Lancashire and Hesketh family history
200 Liverpool Road, Rufford, near Ormskirk, Lancashire, L40 1SG
Opening times for 5 December 2023
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Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £11.00 £10.00 Child £5.50 £5.00 Family £27.50 £25.00 One Adult Family £16.50 £15.00 Group Adult £9.50 Group Child £4.75 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Assistance dogs only
Only assistance dogs are allowed in the House and Garden.
Guided tour
Morning guided tours are available on open days, depending on staff and volunteer availability.
Book shop
Second-hand bookshop located in the Coach House.
Tea room
Victorian tea-room with indoor and outdoor seating serving a range of hot food, sandwiches, snacks, cakes and drinks.
Car park
A number of designated mobility parking spaces are located close to the entrance.
Toilet
Toilets available in the Cobbled Courtyard, including an accessible toilet and baby-changing facilities.
Dogs
Dogs on leads are welcome in the North Woods, North Paddock and Cobbled Courtyard. Only assistance dogs are allowed in the House and Garden.
Designated mobility parking spaces are located close to the entrance. Wheelchair access is restricted in the house. Self-propelled wheelchairs can access the ground floor and the Great Hall. Electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters can only access the Great Hall. Please note there are a number of stairs to the first floor. An adapted toilet can be found in the cobbled courtyard.
Accessible toilet
Adapted toilet can be located in the cobbled courtyard.
Large print (guide or menu)
Braille (guide or menu)
Level access to shop
Level access to the second-hand bookshop.
Designated parking
Several designated parking spaces are located close to entrance.
Level access/terrain
Most areas of the garden are level access via hard standing paths with some slight slopes and cobbled courtyard.
Drop-off point
Narrow corridors
Induction loop
Steps/uneven terrain
Wheelchair access is restricted in the house. Self-propelled wheelchairs can access the ground floor and the Great Hall. Electric wheelchairs can only access the Great Hall.
By road
on A59. From M6 junction 27, follow signs for Parbold then Rufford
Parking: on site included in admission. Scan membership card or pay in coach house.
On foot
on towpath of Leeds to Liverpool Canal
By train
Rufford ½ mile; Burscough Bridge 2½ miles
By bus
services from Southport to Chorley and Preston to Ormskirk
By bicycle
200 Liverpool Road, Rufford, near Ormskirk, Lancashire, L40 1SG
Planning your visit
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Visiting Rufford Old Hall with your dog
Explore the woodland, North Paddock and cobbled courtyard with your dog at Rufford Old Hall at this one pawprint rated place.
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Group visits to Rufford Old Hall
Discover everything you need to know about booking a group visit to this Tudor residence steeped in history and home to splendid gardens.
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Highlights
House
A beautiful Tudor and Jacobean house, home to five centuries of Lancashire and Hesketh family history.
Tea-room
Cosy and traditional Victorian tea-room serving delicious treats, light lunches and cream teas, with outdoor seating in the courtyard.
Second-hand Bookshop
Hidden away in the Coach House, browse the varied selection of second-hand books on sale.
Garden
Colourful borders, manicured lawns, an orchard and even squirrel-shaped topiary.
Woodland
A relaxed woodland with a winding path and space for nature play, all running alongside the Rufford branch of the Leeds and Liverpool canal.
Spotlight events
Christmas at Rufford
Meet Father Christmas in his festive grotto on selected dates during December.
Things to see and do
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Christmas at Rufford Old Hall
Meet Father Christmas in his festive grotto here at Rufford Old Hall. Admire Lancashire’s finest Tudor building as it's transformed by the sights, sounds and scents of a traditional Victorian Christmas.
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Family-friendly things to do at Rufford Old Hall
There’s so much for families to do – you can borrow a balance bike, explore the surrounding gardens and woodland, discover the dedicated area for nature play and set your imagination free inside the house.
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Explore the gardens at Rufford Old Hall
The gardens at Rufford Old Hall have lots of variety, from giant squirrel topiary and beehives, to picnic spots in the orchard and peaceful walks by the canal.
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Things to do in Rufford Old Hall's house
Discover weapons and suits of armour, the Philip Ashcroft collection of 1930s Lancashire life, a 500-year-old screen, botanical watercolours from the 1800s and much more at Rufford Old Hall.
Eating and shopping
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Eating, drinking and second-hand bookshop at Rufford Old Hall
Treat yourself to tasty treats inside or outside the cosy tea-room at Rufford or escape into the Coach House to discover our second-hand bookshop.
Top trails
Trail
Rufford Old Hall Circular Walk
A picturesque dog friendly circular walk on the outskirts of Rufford Old Hall. Enjoy the peaceful sights along the Leeds and Liverpool canal.
Upcoming events
Event
Festive Breakfast
Give your little ones an extra special treat this Christmas and join us for a delicious breakfast. On selected dates during December, enjoy breakfast in the Victorian tea-room.
Event
Meet Father Christmas (0-8 years)
Meet Father Christmas in his magical grotto and receive a special gift chosen for you.
About Rufford Old Hall
Be wowed by the Tudor Great Hall with its fantastic furniture, arms, armour, tapestries and the carved oak screen, a rare survivor from the 1500s. History springs to life in the Hesketh's dining room, its food-laden table, lit candles and 'fire in the hearth' waiting to welcome the family's dinner guests.
And did Shakespeare spend a short time here in his youth? There’s reasonable evidence to suggest that he could once have known Rufford’s Great Hall for a few months whilst still in his teens. Ask us about the evidence and decide for yourself!
Then relax as you stroll through Rufford's Victorian and Edwardian gardens - and remember you're only a few feet (or metres) above sea level - making Rufford one of the lowest lying National Trust gardens in England.
Our work
Project
Project
Conserving Rufford’s 17th century painting
A project is underway to conserve Rufford’s 17th century Extensive Landscape with Exotic Flowers painting by Gommaert van der Gracht.
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Our work at Rufford Old Hall
From careful cleaning to large-scale conservation projects, our work at Rufford Old Hall is helping to preserve this unusual Tudor residence for years to come.
Support us
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Volunteering opportunities at Rufford Old Hall
Everyone who volunteers to help us care for this special place becomes an integral part of the house’s history – discover how you could play your part.
Art and collections
Rufford Old Hall’s objects and collections
Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Rufford Old Hall on the National Trust Collections website.