Skip to content

Visiting the hall at Kedleston

A decorated Christmas tree can be seen in the doorway from a marble hall
Christmas at Kedleston Hall | © National Trust/Steve Franklin

Kedleston Hall is one of the finest and most complete examples of an 18th-century show-palace and parkland in Britain. Step inside and discover the Curzon family's collection of fine art, furniture, and Asian objects. Here’s what to look out for when you visit the hall.

Planning your visit to the Hall

The House at Kedleston Hall will re-open for Christmas from Friday 1 December to Saturday 23 December, everyday, 11am - 3pm (last entry 2.15pm.)

Winter in the Hall

From 20-30 November the Hall at Kedleston is closed to the public as we get ready for Christmas. You can expect to see the Hall 'festive-ready' from Friday 1 December till Saturday 23 December. For more information on our Christmas offer, visit our Kedleston Hall Christmas page.

After Christmas, the Hall will be closed till February 2024 so the House team can carry out essential winter conservation work.

Christmas tree inside the Saloon at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire
The Hall will be open and decorated for Christmas from 1-23 December | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

The state rooms at Kedleston Hall

Rooms on the State floor (first floor) when open to visitors, are accessible by stairs only. The rooms open include the Marble Hall, Saloon, Library, Drawing Room, and Dressing Room (the Music Room, Family Corridor, Dining Room, Wardrobe, State Bedroom, and Ante Room are closed this November.)

From the moment you ascend to the State Floor you're transported back to 18th-century opulence. These rooms were designed to showcase the family's wealth and power, and to display their collection of art and furniture. Restored over 30 years, the state floor reflects architect Robert Adam's original vision for Kedleston.

Alongside the family portraits and gilded furniture, make sure to take in the architecture when you're exploring the hall at Kedleston. Even the ceilings are meticulously designed, from the dome of the saloon to the intricately patterned alcove of the dining room.

The Museum at Kedleston

Why are these objects here?

Kedleston Hall has over 1,000 objects from across the Asian continent. This collection was brought together by George Nathanial Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston (1859-1925) who inherited the Hall in 1916. Curzon travelled extensively across Asia and in 1899 became the Viceroy of India, making him the highest British representative in colonial India.

Where are they from?

Once known as the ‘Indian Museum’ and later the ‘Eastern Museum’, the collection includes objects from countries as diverse as Japan and Turkey, Korea and Nepal. The largest group of objects originate from India, and reflect the period when Curzon was Viceroy (1899-1905). The collection ranges from tourist souvenirs to diplomatic gifts, commissioned pieces and personal items.

What is happening now?

The museum at Kedleston was established in 1927 in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The mode of display and the labelling reflect the period in which it was created.

Research is now underway to conserve and inform a re-presentation of the objects. There are many things we do not know about this collection, numerous questions to be answered and stories to unravel. How and where Curzon acquired the objects is one important question. So too, is their cultural, religious, and artistic significance.

Over the coming months, different partners will help us re-present objects selected from the museum. By shining a light on small groups of objects we hope to explore different stories, spark conversations, and uncover new connections.

A view of a glass display cabinet which contains a variety of objects in the Eastern Museum at Kedleston Hall
The Eastern Museum at Kedleston Hall | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Access to the Hall

The main entrance to the Hall is through a tall gateway and down a slightly sloping path. Visitors who require step free access can get to the hall by using a signposted gate at the rear side of the restaurant. The step free route into the hall will take you through Trophy Corridor and past the entrance to the shop.

Manual wheelchairs are available for use on the first floor.

Highlights of the collection

  • A collection of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century books, which form at least part of Lord Curzon’s working library
  • A magnificent collection of furniture, including pieces designed by Robert Adam and John Linnell
  • Family portraits, and Old Master pictures, including works by Luca Giordano, Benedetto Lutti and Aelbert Cuyp
  • An extensive collection of original architectural drawings for Kedleston by Robert Adam (not currently on display).
  • Lady Mary Curzon's stunning peacock dress, produced by Indian craftsmen and made into a gown by the Parisian House of Worth and worn at the 1903 Delhi Durbar (please note, the dress is currently 'resting' and won't be on display).
Cows in the parkland with Kedleston Hall in the background

Discover more at Kedleston Hall

Find out when Kedleston Hall is open, how to get here, things to see and do and more.

Our partners

Surtal Arts

For the Diwali dance performance we've collaborated with Surtal Arts, a contemporary arts organisation specialising in South Asian arts and culture.

Visit website 

You might also be interested in

Portrait of Sir Nathaniel Curzon, Lady Curzon and toddler Nathaniel Curzon, with deceased John Curzon as an angel in top left
Article
Article

History of Kedleston Hall 

Discover more about Kedleston’s vibrant story and how it’s entangled with global histories, from Rome to India.

Looking up at the state bed at Kedleston, where a member of the conservation team stands on a ladder to add the finished touches to the state bed display
Article
Article

Our work at Kedleston Hall 

Find out how the team at Kedleston Hall have been working to protect and conserve Kedleston Hall’s objects and collections, from books to the 18th-century floor.

A close-up view of the bodice of Lady Mary Curzon's peacock dress
Article
Article

Our work caring for Lady Mary Curzon's peacock dress 

Lady Mary Curzon captivated the room in a custom-made peacock dress at the Delhi Durbar ball in 1903. Learn about our work caring for the dress to ensure it continues to demand the limelight.

Visitors on the Short Walk through woodland at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire
Article
Article

Visiting the Parkland and Pleasure Grounds at Kedleston 

The grounds at Kedleston are home to a landscaped garden and pleasure grounds designed by Robert Adam. Explore the parkland and discover seasonal wildlife and wildflowers.

A finished rangoli piece in a Diya lamp pattern
Article
Article

How to make a rangoli craft 

Many people create rangoli to symbolise prosperity as part of Diwali celebrations, which is an annual Hindu festival of light. Create your own rangoli with this guide.

Sun over the Hall, Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire

Houses and buildings 

Historic buildings are a treasure trove of stories, art and collections. Learn more about what makes these places so special and plan your visit.

The Elizabethan Hall at Hardwick framed by wintry trees against blue winter sky

Houses and buildings in the Peak District and Derbyshire 

Discover the array of houses and buildings to visit around the Peak District and Derbyshire, from historic mills to ornate Elizabethan wonders.