Cragside Heritage Open Day: Friday 12 September
As part of Heritage Open Days we are opening our doors for free for one day only on Friday 12 September.
- Booking not needed
- Free event
Cragside is a place where function and efficiency meet beauty and grandeur. Engineered lakes were sculpted into the rocky hillside to harness the power of water, while the Rock Garden and Pinetum were designed to create a fantasy mountain landscape.
A stroll around the flowering beds of the Formal Garden is a must. Experience some of the tallest trees of their kind in the country in the Pinetum and visit the Gorge, a dynamited ravine on the way to the Powerhouse.
Discover more about Britain’s original smart home and William Armstrong’s imaginative and innovative technologies. The House is filled with Victorian gadgets for efficient modern living. Witness the spinning water-powered spit and see the cloisonné lamps that were once lit using Joseph Swan’s incandescent lightbulbs. This large but cosy home has lots of stories to tell and some grand surprises too.
The Carriage Drive is a great way to see even more of Cragside by car. The drive provides access to a wider network of paths that weave across the estate. You can see evidence of Cragside’s pioneering past and visit Blackburn dam and Nelly’s Moss lakes; two essential parts of Armstrong’s hydroelectric power system.
Times
The basics
- Booking details
Call 01669 620 333
- What to bring and wear
It's best to wear sturdy shoes for exploring. We recommend checking the weather before setting off to ensure you have everything you need.
- Accessibility
Cragside is hilly with uneven terrain and multiple surfaces. Most of our footpaths across the architectural landscape include uneven stone steps. There is a free shuttle bus around the lower estate with stops at the House, Formal Garden and visitor centre. Full details can be found on the 'Useful information' page on the website.