Nunnington Hall

About the museum

A dwelling is recorded at Nunnington from 1249, when the hall belonged to St Mary's Abbey in York. In the fourteenth century it passed to the Grene family, and in 1499 it came to Sir Thomas Parr, whose daughter Catherine became the last queen of Henry VIII. The estate was later forfeited to the Crown, and in 1655 the London cloth merchant Ranald Graham bought it. The Grahams shaped much of what visitors see today, including the main south front facing the garden. A later family member, Richard Graham, later Viscount Preston, served as ambassador to Versailles and brought back tapestries that are still displayed in the house, but was sentenced to death for treason after the Glorious Revolution and lived out his life in retirement here.

In later centuries the hall passed to other families, including the Rutsons, whose wealth came partly from transatlantic slavery, a history the National Trust explains on its website. In 1920 the neglected and empty house was inherited by Margaret Fife, who sold her own home to pay for its restoration and made Nunnington her family home with her husband Ronald. The house is now a combination of renovation and re-purposing over some 450 years, with the Oak Hall, Stone Hall, Smoking Room and Drawing Room among the rooms to see.

The National Trust cares for the house, its five-acre garden beside the River Rye and the surrounding estate. The garden has been managed organically since 2002 and includes an orchard planted with wildflowers and peacocks that roam freely. A changing programme of art exhibitions fills the gallery spaces on the top floor.

Highlights

• Manor house with Tudor origins, remodelled in the 17th century
• Oak Hall, Stone Hall and Drawing Room with 17th-century tapestries
• Changing art exhibitions in the top-floor gallery
• Organic riverside garden with orchard and roaming peacocks
• Tea room, tea garden and Lion's Den play area

Permanent exhibitions

• The hall and its rooms – Period rooms including the Oak Hall, Stone Hall, Smoking Room and Drawing Room show how the house changed over 450 years.
• Organic garden – Five acres beside the River Rye with borders, orchard, iris garden and wildflower meadow, managed organically since 2002.

Operated by

National Trust

Admission & discounts

Prices for 2026 are shown without Gift Aid; paying with Gift Aid adds about 10 percent (adult 14.30, child 7.20, family 35.80). Entry is free for National Trust members and under-5s, and the property also accepts some other passes, including RHS membership and Yorkshire's Great Houses, Castles and Gardens cards.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The garden is fully accessible on gravel, grass and flagstone paths, and the ground floor of the hall, the tea room and the accessible toilet are reached by ramps. The first and upper floors of the hall can only be reached by steps. Mobility parking spaces are in the visitor car park, and access from the car park to the house is over a sloped bridge. Two wheelchairs can be borrowed (call to book), induction loops are fitted at all till points and a virtual reality headset tour of the showrooms and garden is available on request. Pushchairs are not allowed inside the house; storage is available in the rear courtyard. An AccessAble guide is available online.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

The Lion's Den play area, craft activities, games and school-holiday trails are offered, and picnics are welcome in the garden. Baby changing is on the first floor of the hall. Pushchairs cannot go inside the house.

Getting there & parking

By road, Nunnington is reached from the A170 Helmsley to Pickering road, 11.5 miles north of Malton and 21 miles north of York via the B1363. Follow the brown signs near the village because the postcode can be inaccurate for sat nav.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The Tea Room is in the house and the walled Tea Garden is on the riverbank. The second-hand bookshop on the ground floor supports the property. There are picnic benches around the garden and four electric vehicle charging points in the main car park. Dogs on short leads are welcome in the garden, courtyards and tea garden; only assistance dogs may enter the house and cafe.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit