Levens Hall

Over het museum

Levens Hall stands at the gateway to the Lake District National Park, about five miles south of Kendal. It grew out of a pele tower, a fortified tower house built in the late 13th century, which was gradually extended into a comfortable Elizabethan family home. Visitors approach it by a stone staircase on the north front and enter a house known for its oak panelling, decorated plaster ceilings and collections of furniture, clocks and paintings.

The de Redman family owned the property from 1170 and sold it in the 16th century to the Bellingham family, who enlarged and remodelled it. According to the story told at the house, it was then lost in a card game before Colonel James Grahme acquired it in 1688. In the 18th century it passed through the female line to the Howard family, and in the late 19th century to the Bagot family, who still own and live in it.

The gardens are known for their topiary, which the house presents as the oldest in the world, and the hall is the centre of an agricultural estate of about 9,500 acres whose produce supplies the Levens Kitchen café. One part of the house is devoted to objects linked to the Duke of Wellington and to Napoleon, tied to the battle of 1815.

Hoogtepunten

• Elizabethan house built around a medieval pele tower
• Oak panelling, plaster ceilings and period furniture
• Topiary gardens described as the oldest in the world
• Display of items linked to Wellington and Napoleon
• Levens Kitchen café using produce from the estate
• Playground and deer park opposite the entrance

Vaste collectie

• The house and its collections – Elizabethan rooms with oak panelling, plasterwork, furniture, clocks and paintings, including the Great Hall and Drawing Room.
• Wellington and Napoleon – Objects connecting the hall and its occupants with the Duke of Wellington and the battle of 1815.

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Reduced autumn rates apply from 5 October to 8 November 2026: house and gardens £15 for adults, £5 for children and £35.50 for a family; gardens only £9, £3 and £21.50. Earlier in the season the rates were £17.30, £5.75 and £42.75 for the house and gardens, and £13, £4.75 and £32.35 for gardens only. Under-5s are free. Tickets can be bought online or at the entrance kiosk. Gardens-only ticket holders can upgrade to the house on arrival for a small extra charge. Members of Historic Houses enter free on showing their card (not for groups or special events).

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The gardens, Levens Kitchen and the gift shop are accessible, with gravel and grass paths, and most garden paths suit electric buggies. The house has narrow doorways and several steps and is not accessible to wheelchair users or visitors using mobility aids. Accessible toilets with low-level alarms are in the courtyard between the kiosk and the gift shop and at the entrance to Levens Kitchen. There are no toilets in the house or gardens. Assistance dogs are allowed in the house and gardens.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Speeltuin / speelhoek

A playground for children under 12 has climbing equipment and slides, with picnic benches nearby. In the house children can follow a quiz, hunt for hidden mice and birds, or dress up in Elizabethan costume; there is also a garden quiz. The gardens suit buggies and prams, but the house does not. Levens Kitchen offers half portions and a children's menu. Schools can arrange visits.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Less than five miles from junction 36 of the M6: take the A590 towards Barrow-in-Furness, then the A6 south towards Milnthorpe and follow the brown signs. Coaches should approach from junction 36 rather than from Milnthorpe because the main gates are narrow. Satnav postcode LA8 0PD.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museumwinkel

Levens Kitchen is a licensed café and restaurant open daily, with children's menu, high chairs and dietary options marked; Levens Bakery sells takeaway bread, cakes and sandwiches. The Potting Shed gift shop and a plant centre are at the courtyard. No admission ticket is needed for the café, shop or plant centre.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur

Levens Kitchen is described as a restaurant and event space; enquiries are made through the website.

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