Rufford Old Hall

Tudor house and garden Rufford Old Hall has all the classic features of a National Trust day out. Beautiful gardens, grand buildings, a tea room complete with homemade cakes… and as such it makes for a lovely day out in all weathers.

On fair days, explore the charming Victorian and Edwardian gardens and woodland. In spring you’ll find carpets of bluebells, and wisteria covered walls, while in summer the rhododendrons and wild flowers are in full bloom. The grounds run alongside the picturesque Leeds and Liverpool canal which you can follow on the towpath if you’re in the mood for a longer stroll.

Back inside the grounds, there’s a children’s nature play area, balance bikes to borrow, and regular events and trails for little ones, such as the autumn scarecrow festival. In the house, there’s more to entertain the family with the chance to dress up in Tudor style costumes and armour.

The house is presented to show how the wealthy Hesketh family lived when this was their home. The dining room is set ready for dinner with a food-laden table and flickering candles – a scene that brings all those BBC costume dramas to life. There’s lots of historical artefacts, some dating back to Tudor times, and curious and beautiful sights around every corner. A visit here is like stepping into another world for a while.