Top Historic Houses to Visit in Bolton Abbey, North Yorkshire

Bolton Abbey is surrounded by local history, including stately homes in North Yorkshire and historic houses near Harrogate. If you are planning a stay in or around the Yorkshire Dales and are looking for things to do in Bolton Abbey, here are some of the top historic houses to visit in Yorkshire. 

Historic Houses Yorkshire – A Short Drive from Bolton Abbey 

Skipton Castle, Castle – 10 minutes 

At the top of Skipton’s cobbled high street is Skipton Castle, one of the best known historic houses in Yorkshire. Built over 900 years ago and once a Norman stronghold, it later withstood the three year Civil War siege. Its banqueting hall, watchtower, kitchens and dungeon are open to explore. 

The castle is open daily, with shorter tours during the winter. Admission is £10.70 for adults, £6.90 for children (ages 5-17), and free for infants under 5. There are also senior and family tickets available. Dogs on leads are welcome in most areas.  

Harewood House, Stately Home – 50 minutes 

With 100 acres of landscaped grounds, Harewood House is one of England’s finest houses with close connections to the Royal Family. Visitors can explore this 18th century house, wander the grounds and gardens, or enjoy The Terrace Gallery and its changing programme of exhibitions. 

The house is open daily, with admission varying between £22.95 and £27.45 for adults, £9.95 – £14.25 for children aged 3-17, and free for under 3’s. There are family tickets available and discounted tickets for seniors over 60. Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds but not inside the house or bird garden.

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Tithe Barn, Historic Venue – 5 minutes 

Within the grounds of the Bolton Abbey Estate stands Tithe Barn, a restored 16th century grade II listed building. Its ancient beams, stone floors, and views over the Priory ruins create a striking setting that reflects centuries of estate history. 

Available only for private bookings and weddings. Parking is provided for guests, and the venue is fully accessible. Check availability and book your stay at Tithe Barn – The Devonshire Arms is the only accommodation within a short walking distance of the barn, offering country charm and first-class hospitality.  

East Riddlesden Hall, Manor House (NT) – 30 minutes 

East Riddlesden Hall is a 17th century manor house in North Yorkshire. Built in 1642, the hall boasts a rich history, including royalist symbols and carvings on and in the building. Explore the well restored living spaces, medieval tithe barn, and the walled garden against the backdrop of the River Aire.  

Open daily, admission is £7 for adults and £3.50 for children, with slightly increased prices on Saturdays. Children under 5s and National Trust members go free. Dogs on leads are welcome in the gardens and lower fields but not inside the house or tearoom. 

The Priest’s House, Historic House – 15 minutes 

The Priest’s House sits next to Barden Tower, with views across the valley. The Chapel itself maintains many original features, including spectacular paned windows. Both the Priest’s House and Barden Tower can be seen from walks around Barden and along the River Wharfe.  

This Grade I listed house and chapel is available on an exclusive use basis for weddings and private events, including its medieval nights.  

Historic Houses Yorkshire – Within an Hour’s Drive from Bolton Abbey 

Castle Howard, Stately Home – 1 hour 20 mins 

Home to the Howard family for over 300 years, Castle Howard is open to the public from spring to October, with festive displays from November to January. The castle includes a 70-foot Great Hall, the recently restored Tapestry Drawing Room, and other grand architecture and interiors.  

The Gardens are open daily, full of lakes, temples, woodland, and statues. Tickets, opening times, and current event details can be found on the Castle Howard website.  

Newby Hall, Historic House – 1 hour  

Shaped by the Georgian ‘Age of Elegance’, Newby Hall is one of the country’s most renowned Adam houses, redesigned by Robert Adam in the 1760s. The house and gardens cover 25 acres, with long herbaceous borders and rare plant collections.  

Tickets are £28 for adults and from £24 for children, with under 2s free. The gardens typically open 11am to 5.30pm on non event days. 

Beningbrough Hall, Historic House – 1 hour 10 minutes 

A country house shaped by more than 300 years of changing lives and uses, Beningbrough Hall includes the Reddihough Galleries that host a rotating programme of exhibitions. The 8 acre formal garden includes a walled kitchen garden, the Pergola, a Mediterranean Garden, and herbaceous borders, with dogs welcome in most areas.  

Families can find a wilderness play area and seasonal trails and activities during the school holidays. Standard admission ranges from £15 for adults and £7.50 for children, with the option to pay a little more with gift aid. National Trust members and under 5s go free.  

Nunnington Hall, Historic House – 1 hour 20 minutes 

Starting out as a Tutor Hall, Nunnington Hall has evolved over the last 450 years with the changing lives of its inhabitants. Highlights include the Oak Hall and Stone Hall, alongside more intimate rooms that reveal how the house was lived in across generations.  

Prices are £6 for children and £12 for adults, with the option to add gift aid. There are also family tickets available and National Trust members and under 5s go free. Dogs on short leads are welcome in the gardens, courtyards and wider estate. 

Kiplin Hall, Historic House – 1 hour 15 minutes 

Kiplin Hall is a Jacobean country house built in the 1620s for George Calvert, founder of Maryland, USA. The hall is presented as a comfortable Victorian home, with layered interiors, historic collections, and traces of its wartime use during RAF requisition with surviving WW2 Kitchen and Bathroom. 

Kiplin Hall’s 2026 season runs from 6 February to 26 November. The Hall opens every day except for Thursdays and day tickets are £11.80 for adults and £6.30 for children, with family tickets and annual passes available. 

Historic Houses Yorkshire – Worth a Day Trip from Bolton Abbey 

Barnard Castle, Castle – 2 hours  

Barnard Castle is a historic market town built around the remains of a powerful medieval fortress overlooking the River Tees. The vast stronghold was first built in the 12th century by Bernard de Balliol, and later owned by Richard III, whose white boar emblem can still be found carved into the stone.  

Adult tickets are £7.20 and child tickets are £4.50 when you book in advance, with prices a little higher on the day. The castle is typically open daily in warmer months (April to October) and weekends in winter (November to March). 

Bowes Museum, Museum & Historic House – 2 hours  

Founded by Joséphine and John Bowes, the Bowes Museum reflects a shared belief that great art should be accessible to all. Built in the style of a French château it brings together Joséphine’s deep involvement in the Paris art world with John’s commitment to the local community.  

The museum is open daily, and standard day tickets are £19.50 with free entry for under 18s, students, and carers. Annual and local memberships are available and National Art Pass holders receive free entry. 

Brodsworth Hall, Historic House – 1 hour 30 minutes 

Brodsworth Hall is a Victorian country house preserved as it was found in 1988, giving a glimpse into life at the end of the 19th century. The hall’s history is brought to life with regular exhibitions and expert volunteers, with restored gardens and a welcoming tearoom in the servants’ wing. 

Tickets are 15% cheaper with online advance booking at £13.10 or £14.50 with donation, but ticket prices can vary depending on the season.

Wentworth Castle, Stately Home – 1 hour 45 minutes 

Wentworth Castle itself is closed to visitors, but you can access the gardens or join one of a small number of volunteer-led tours which grant rare access to the grand house. Wentworth Castle Gardens include 60 acres of exploration with formal gardens, informal wilderness areas, and historic monuments. 

Tickets to the gardens are £6.50 for adults or £7.20 with Gift Aid, with child tickets half those prices and under 5s going free. Castle tours are £8 plus normal garden admission. The tours last around 90 minutes and the route can vary. 

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Scampston Hall, Stately Home – 1 hour 30 minutes 

Home to Christopher and Miranda Legard and their family, Scampston Hall is one of North Yorkshire’s finest Regency country houses. Visitors are welcome to join tours of the house where there are no ropes or barriers.  

Scampston Hall is open to the public for a limited time throughout the season from 1 April to 1 November 2026, 10am to 5pm Wednesdays to Sundays and Bank Holidays. Hall, Gardens & Grounds admission is £19.50 for adults or £8 for children. 

Ormesby Hall, Historic House – 2 hours  

Home to the Pennyman family for over 400 years, Ormesby Hall is a classic Georgian mansion with 240 acres of parkland and farmland and a colourful Victorian formal garden. The house’s paintings and furniture reveal the many stories of the Pennyman family, and visitors can also explore the life of a Victorian servant through the Laundry and Kitchen. 

Adult tickets are £7 and child tickets are £3.50, with family tickets available. The Hall hosts annual events and includes a cafe, second hand bookshop, and volunteer opportunities. 

Burton Constable Hall, Historic House – 2 hours  

Burton Constable Hall has been the home of the Constable family for over 7 centuries. One of England’s most complete historic country houses, the hall is filled with fine art, furniture, and 700 years of history, with more than 30 rooms to explore. The estate includes over 300 acres of parkland. 

Without Gift Aid, tickets to the House, Parkland & Stables are £14.50 for adults and £7.95 for children. Under 5s go free and there are annual passes and family tickets available.  

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Mount Grace Priory, Historic House – 1 hour 45 minutes 

Founded in 1398, Mount Grace Priory was the last of Yorkshire’s great monasteries. Sir Lowthian Bell, a devotee of the Victorian Arts and Crafts movement, restored a 17th century mansion on the site and built the terraced gardens. Explore the priory, gardens, and manor house, or discover how a Carthusian monk lived and worked in the recreated monks’ cells.  

On the day tickets are £12.70 for adults and £7.70 for children, and advance online tickets are 15% cheaper. Under 5s go free and there are family tickets available, with the option to add donations to your ticket price.  

Explore Stays Near Historic Houses in Bolton Abbey  

Experience the charm of Bolton Abbey with a stay on the estate in one of our hotels, cottages, or unique stays.