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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
Opening times for 21 September 2025
Asset Opening time House 11:00 - 16:30 Garden 10:30 - 16:30 Tea-room 10:30 - 16:30 MTWTFSS12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293012345OpenPartially openClosed14 Feb - 28 Oct
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £13.20 £12.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £6.60 £6.00 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £33.00 £30.00 Family (one adult) £19.80 £18.00 Group (Adult 18+) £11.40 Group (Child 5-17) £5.70 29 Oct - 31 Dec
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £6.60 £6.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £3.30 £3.00 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £16.50 £15.00 Family (one adult) £9.90 £9.00 Group (Adult 18+) £5.70 Group (Child 5-17) £2.85 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
Scarecrow Festival 2025
17 Oct - 2 Nov I Join us for Rufford's annual Scarecrow Festival, where the theme for 2025 is ‘Legends and Monsters’.
Article
Christmas at Rufford Old Hall
Join Father Christmas as he reads you a magical story and enjoy a hearty Christmas breakfast in our cosy Victorian tearoom.
Article
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.
Article
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.
Article
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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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
Scarecrow Festival 2025
17 Oct - 2 Nov I Join us for Rufford's annual Scarecrow Festival, where the theme for 2025 is ‘Legends and Monsters’.
Article
Christmas at Rufford Old Hall
Join Father Christmas as he reads you a magical story and enjoy a hearty Christmas breakfast in our cosy Victorian tearoom.
Things to see and do
Article
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.
Article
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.
Article
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.
Area
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
Article
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
Scarecrow Festival 2025 - How to get involved!
This October get involved and create your very own scarecrow for display here in Rufford's grounds during our annual scarecrow festival.
Event
SOLD OUT - Autumn Wreath Making Workshop
In this relaxed hands-on class, you will be guided through the steps to craft your own unique autumnal wreath using dried plant materials and seasonal accessories. All materials and equipment will be provided.
Event
Classic Christmas Breakfast
Join us for a delicious breakfast in Rufford's Victorian tea-room on Fridays throughout December.
Event
Christmas Concert Performances in Rufford's Great Hall
Join us for a special programme of festive performances in Rufford's Great Hall throughout December.
Event
Festive Breakfast with Father Christmas
Join us for a delicious breakfast and a visit from Father Christmas on selected dates this December in the Victorian tea-room.
Event
SOLD OUT - Story time with Father Christmas at Rufford
Meet Father Christmas as you gather round with a drink and a homemade cookie to listen to a magical winter story. After the storytelling, children will have a special moment to share wishes with Father Christmas and take a memorable photo.
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
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.
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.
Project
Article
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.
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.
