*** Special Offer: For a £5 discount onHistoric Houses membership use code STEW05 ***
Membership of Historic Houses gives free entry to over 300 heritage sites in the UK, including some of the finest stately homes in the country and most impressive gardens. However the majority of these are closed during the winter period from November through to February.
Highcliffe Castle
The good news for hardy winter travellers is that about 60 sites are fully or partly open during this time. But which ones are they?
I’ve researched region by region which sites are normally open during the winter period and below are the results.
However, before travelling, please check with the Historic Houses website, or better still directly with the website of the property you intend to visit, as opening times can change at short notice and sometimes only the gardens and grounds are open.
Also please check whether you need to book a time slot before visiting.
South West
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
The gardens/grounds are open at a several sites including Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Castle Hill Gardens, Cirencester Park Grounds, Lydiard House, Sezincote, and Sudeley Castle.
A couple of castles are also open during much of the winter period: Highcliffe Castle and Lulworth Castle.
London and South East
Several exceptional gardens are open in this region during the winter period, including Blenheim Palace Park & Gardens,Englefield House Gardens, Painshill, Waddesdon Manor Gardens and West Dean Gardens.
A few houses can be visited including Chawton House, Limnerlease and Michelham Priory. For something a bit different, try the Hook Norton Brewery and the Cowper & Newton Museum.
East Midlands
Belvoir Castle
The house and grounds at Kelham Hall and Holme Pierrepont Hall are open throughout the winter period, as are the gardens at Elsham Hall. The dramatic hill-top Belvoir Castle and the gardens at Renishaw Hall are open some days in November and December.
Eastern
There are just a couple of sites with winter openings in this region: Hedingham Castle and its gardens open two days a week and the Manor Gardens, Hemingford Grey open every day.
West Midlands
Not much open in this region other than the impressive Stoneleigh Abbey and its grounds by the River Avon. The Arts & Crafts style Winterbourne House and Garden in Birmingham are well worth visiting.
Yorkshire
Burton Constable Hall
The gardens/grounds are open during the winter period at Burton Agnes Hall, Norton Conyers and Ripley Castle. The houses are also open on some days at Burton Constable Hall and Sewerby Hall (plus the zoo).
For something a bit different, then the massive ruins of Lowther Castle and its gardens are worth a visit.
North East
Raby Castle
Visitors to this region during the winter period are spoiled by having two magnificent castles to visit, Bamburgh Castle and Raby Castle. There are also two fascinating gardens to explore, Wynyard Hall Gardens and Ushaw. Additionally Preston Tower house and gardens are open.
Wales
Four gardens are open for some or all of the winter period: Golden Grove, Plas Brondanw Gardens, Gregynog Gardens and Picton Castle Gardens.
Scotland
The gardens/grounds are open at a few sites including Dumfries House, Gordon Castle Walled Garden, Scone Palace and Abbortsford. For something a bit different, then the spectacular, ruined cliff-top Dunnottar Castle might appeal.
Northern Ireland
Sorry, none of the three sites is open during the winter period.
In Conclusion
Lulworth Castle
If visiting gardens and grounds, rather than houses, is your forte, then there are plenty of Historic Houses sites still open during the winter period. There are not that many houses open, but those that are open include some of the finest properties in the country.
If you intend to visit one of these properties, then it is worth thinking about taking out membership of Historic Houses. Your year long membership will of course also cover you for the spring/summer/autumn period when all the sites should be open.
Individual membership is £65 a year, joint membership is £103 a year and child membership (3-16 years) is £30 a year. However if you click on Historic Houses and then enter our unique code STEW05 at ‘Add discount code’, then new members will receive a £5 discount. This also applies if you wish to give annual membership as a gift.
Once again, it is stressed that before travelling you should check directly with the website of the property you intend to visit about their current opening times and whether you need to book in advance.
To access these special rates, Under 'Rate Preference' select 'Senior Discount'Click on 'Special Rates' select 'Senior Rate'.• See discounts also at Best Western, Marriott, Radisson, Ramada andAccor
Please note that we use cookies to enhance this website. X
• For a £5 discount on new membership, use code STEW05 on the Historic Houses website.
• To get a £15 National Trust gift card with membership by direct debit, click on National Trust.
Historic Houses – Winter Openings
*** Special Offer: For a £5 discount on Historic Houses membership use code STEW05 ***
Membership of Historic Houses gives free entry to over 300 heritage sites in the UK, including some of the finest stately homes in the country and most impressive gardens. However the majority of these are closed during the winter period from November through to February.
The good news for hardy winter travellers is that about 60 sites are fully or partly open during this time. But which ones are they?
I’ve researched region by region which sites are normally open during the winter period and below are the results.
However, before travelling, please check with the Historic Houses website, or better still directly with the website of the property you intend to visit, as opening times can change at short notice and sometimes only the gardens and grounds are open.
Also please check whether you need to book a time slot before visiting.
South West
The gardens/grounds are open at a several sites including Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Castle Hill Gardens, Cirencester Park Grounds, Lydiard House, Sezincote, and Sudeley Castle.
A couple of castles are also open during much of the winter period: Highcliffe Castle and Lulworth Castle.
London and South East
Several exceptional gardens are open in this region during the winter period, including Blenheim Palace Park & Gardens, Englefield House Gardens, Painshill, Waddesdon Manor Gardens and West Dean Gardens.
A few houses can be visited including Chawton House, Limnerlease and Michelham Priory. For something a bit different, try the Hook Norton Brewery and the Cowper & Newton Museum.
East Midlands
The house and grounds at Kelham Hall and Holme Pierrepont Hall are open throughout the winter period, as are the gardens at Elsham Hall. The dramatic hill-top Belvoir Castle and the gardens at Renishaw Hall are open some days in November and December.
Eastern
There are just a couple of sites with winter openings in this region: Hedingham Castle and its gardens open two days a week and the Manor Gardens, Hemingford Grey open every day.
West Midlands
Not much open in this region other than the impressive Stoneleigh Abbey and its grounds by the River Avon. The Arts & Crafts style Winterbourne House and Garden in Birmingham are well worth visiting.
Yorkshire
The gardens/grounds are open during the winter period at Burton Agnes Hall, Norton Conyers and Ripley Castle. The houses are also open on some days at Burton Constable Hall and Sewerby Hall (plus the zoo).
North West and Isle of Man
There are plenty of gardens open in the region including Askham Hall Gardens and Morland House Gardens, and Miltown Gardens on the Isle of Man.
Some houses are also open including Bramall Hall, Holker Hall, Lytham Hall and Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester.
For something a bit different, then the massive ruins of Lowther Castle and its gardens are worth a visit.
North East
Visitors to this region during the winter period are spoiled by having two magnificent castles to visit, Bamburgh Castle and Raby Castle. There are also two fascinating gardens to explore, Wynyard Hall Gardens and Ushaw. Additionally Preston Tower house and gardens are open.
Wales
Four gardens are open for some or all of the winter period: Golden Grove, Plas Brondanw Gardens, Gregynog Gardens and Picton Castle Gardens.
Scotland
The gardens/grounds are open at a few sites including Dumfries House, Gordon Castle Walled Garden, Scone Palace and Abbortsford. For something a bit different, then the spectacular, ruined cliff-top Dunnottar Castle might appeal.
Northern Ireland
Sorry, none of the three sites is open during the winter period.
In Conclusion
If visiting gardens and grounds, rather than houses, is your forte, then there are plenty of Historic Houses sites still open during the winter period. There are not that many houses open, but those that are open include some of the finest properties in the country.
If you intend to visit one of these properties, then it is worth thinking about taking out membership of Historic Houses. Your year long membership will of course also cover you for the spring/summer/autumn period when all the sites should be open.
Individual membership is £65 a year, joint membership is £103 a year and child membership (3-16 years) is £30 a year. However if you click on Historic Houses and then enter our unique code STEW05 at ‘Add discount code’, then new members will receive a £5 discount. This also applies if you wish to give annual membership as a gift.
Once again, it is stressed that before travelling you should check directly with the website of the property you intend to visit about their current opening times and whether you need to book in advance.
A similar pattern of reduced winter openings also applies to English Heritage and the National Trust, see: English Heritage and National Trust – Winter Openings.
UPDATED NOVEMBER 7th, 2024 by STEVE HANSON. The photographs were taken by BARBARA HANSON.