Rufford Old Hall
Liverpool & LancashireA 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
M T W T F S S Open
Closed
Opening times for 20 February 2026
Asset Opening time House 11:00 - 16:30 Garden 10:30 - 16:30 Tea-room 10:30 - 16:30 1 Jan - 12 Feb
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £7.20 £6.50 Child (5-17) under 5s free £3.60 £3.25 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £17.90 £16.25 Family (1 Adult and up to 3 children) £10.95 £9.75 Group (Adult 18+) £6.18 Group (Child 5-17) £3.09 13 Feb - 20 Dec
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £14.30 £13.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £7.20 £6.50 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £35.80 £32.50 Family (1 Adult and up to 3 children) £21.50 £19.50 Group (Adult 18+) £12.35 Group (Child 5-17) £6.18 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Assistance dogs only
Only assistance dogs are allowed in the House and Orchard Paddock.
- Bookshop
Second-hand bookshop located in the Coach House.
- Car park
A number of designated mobility parking spaces are located close to the entrance.
- Dogs allowed
Dogs on leads are welcome in the North Woods, North Paddock, Garden and Cobbled Courtyard. Only assistance dogs are allowed in the House and Orchard Paddock.
- Family friendly
Rufford Old Hall is great for families. Borrow a balance bike, discover the dedicated area for nature play, dress up in the house and explore the garden and woodland.
Family friendly - more information- Guided tour
Morning guided tours are available on open days, depending on staff and volunteer availability.
- Picnic area
There are picnic tables in the Courtyard, Beech Walk Paddock and Orchard Paddock and space on the lawn for a picnic blanket.
- Tea-room
Victorian tea-room with indoor and outdoor seating serving a range of hot food, sandwiches, snacks, cakes and drinks.
- Toilet
Toilets available in the Cobbled Courtyard, including an accessible toilet and baby-changing facilities.
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.
- Braille (guide or menu)
- Designated parking
Several designated parking spaces are located close to entrance.
- Drop-off point
- Induction loop
- Large print (guide or menu)
- Level access to shop
Level access to the second-hand bookshop.
- Level access/terrain
Most areas of the garden are level access via hard standing paths with some slight slopes and cobbled courtyard.
- Narrow corridors
- 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.
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- By road
- on A59. From M6 junction 27, follow signs for Parbold then RuffordParking: 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
- Cycling
200 Liverpool Road, Rufford, near Ormskirk, Lancashire, L40 1SG
Planning your visit
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.
Spring Wreath Making Workshop
Craft your own unique spring-inspired wreath using spring bulbs and seasonal plants.
Guided Bat Walk
Join our friendly bat expert at dusk for a guided walk through the gardens and woodland to find out more about the different species of bat living here at Rufford Old Hall.
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.
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.
Visiting Rufford Old Hall with your dog
Explore the woodland, gardens, Beech Walk Paddock, North Paddock and cobbled courtyard with your dog at Rufford Old Hall at this one pawprint rated place.
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
Easter Adventures at Rufford Old Hall
This spring, treat the whole family to a world of adventure at Rufford Old Hall on our annual Easter Adventures trail. (Normal admission charges apply.)
Spring Wreath Making Workshop
Craft your own unique spring-inspired wreath using spring bulbs and seasonal plants.
Guided Bat Walk
Join our friendly bat expert at dusk for a guided walk through the gardens and woodland to find out more about the different species of bat living here at Rufford Old Hall.
Things to see and do
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.
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.
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.
The history of Rufford Old Hall
Discover the history of Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire, home to the Heskeths for over 600 years. The hall, outbuildings, cottages, gardens and 69 acres of agricultural land now in National Trust ownership, are all that remain of an estate which once covered 10,000 acres.
Visit more places near Rufford Old 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.
Eating and shopping
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
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
What's On at Rufford Old Hall
Join us throughout 2026 for free to experience events at Rufford Old Hall.
National Lottery Open Week at Rufford Old Hall
As a thank you to National Lottery players for supporting our conservation work, we’re offering free entry during National Lottery Open Week! Bring your lottery ticket or scratch card and explore Rufford Old Hall for free.
Easter Adventures at Rufford Old Hall
This spring, treat the whole family to a world of adventure at Rufford Old Hall on our annual Easter Adventures trail. (Normal admission charges apply.)
Spring Wreath Making Workshop
In this relaxed hands-on class, you will be guided through the steps to craft your own unique spring-inspired wreath using spring bulbs and seasonal plants. All materials and equipment will be provided.
Bluebell Tour and Breakfast at Rufford Old Hall
This Spring, tuck into a tasty breakfast, followed by a tour of the beautiful bluebells in the grounds of Rufford Old Hall.
Guided Bat Walk - Rufford Old Hall
Join our friendly bat expert at dusk for a guided walk through the gardens and woodland to find out more about the different species of bat living here at Rufford Old Hall.
Summer of Play at Rufford Old Hall
Come out to play with your friends and family this summer. Between 18 July - 01 September (closed Wednesdays and Thursdays) embark on your next adventure at Rufford Old Hall.
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
Creating a wet grassland habitat at Manor House Farm
Find out more about how and why we're restoring peat at Manor House Farm, Rufford Old Hall.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
