CATEGORY · A HUDDLEPIN LIST
Castles, Historic Houses & Heritage in Manchester
Manchester keeps its history close to the centre. Elizabeth Gaskell's House is barely out of town at £8 a ticket, though under-16s go free, and kids can follow Cranford the Cat's trail room to room. Ordsall Hall in Salford costs nothing and lets children climb a replica string bed, while Clayton Hall, also free, has Victorian dress-up and witch marks scratched into the walls to hunt down. The Monastery Manchester adds a free Gothic building with a zen garden if you fancy something quieter. For a bigger day out, Turton Tower in Lancashire has a woodland adventure playground and grounds you can roam free all year, and Norton Priory in Runcorn, a longer trip out, pairs woodland walks with a Georgian walled garden. Astley Hall in Chorley is another longer trip but free, with outdoor play and a café for afterwards. Toddlers do best at Ordsall Hall or Astley Hall, both outdoors with space to wander, while Hoghton Tower near Preston suits ages five and up given its steep drive and guided format.
11 places 1 upcoming event 6 free to visit
What's on: castles, historic houses & heritage
Places for castles, historic houses & heritage
FreeAstley Hall
Chorley
Free entry to a 400 year old hall with a play area, a walled garden and a café for cake afterwards.
CaféGift shopFood on siteOutdoor play+2 more
from £0.70Castle Hill
Huddersfield
Climb Victoria Tower on top of Castle Hill for the view over Huddersfield, and change for coins at the door.
Public transport nearbySchool visits
FreeClayton Hall
Manchester
Dress up in Victorian costume and hunt for witch marks scratched into the walls of a moated manor house, free of charge.
Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféGift shop+4 more
from £8Elizabeth Gaskell's House
Manchester
A Victorian house museum where kids follow Cranford the Cat's trail and try on period costume, with under-16s free.
Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBlue badge parking+11 more
Hoghton Tower
Preston · ages 5+
A guided tramp through a genuine Tudor house, with a steep half-mile drive up and a dollhouse room that steals the show.
Accessible toiletAllergy awareBaby changeBlue badge parking+11 more
Norton Priory Museum & Gardens
Runcorn · ages 0-16
A medieval priory museum with woodland walks, a Georgian walled garden and a St Christopher statue that starred in a children's novel.
Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingCafé+7 more
FreeOrdsall Hall
Salford
A free Tudor manor where kids can try climbing a replica string and hay bed and lay the table in the Great Hall.
Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingCaféGift shop+8 more
FreePigeon Tower
Bolton
Free grounds to wander around a Victorian tower, an Italian-style lake and gardens on the edge of Lever Park.
CaféDog friendlyFree parkingGift shop+2 more
FreeSamlesbury Hall
Preston
Historic black-and-white hall near Preston - Soft Play N.
ToiletsCaféGift shopParking+1 more
FreeThe Monastery Manchester
Manchester
A free Gothic Revival building to wander with a zen garden, a café and a nave that looks nothing like a normal day out.
Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféFree parking+6 more
from £6Turton Tower
Lancashire
A part-timbered manor house with a woodland adventure playground and a walled Victorian kitchen garden to explore, free to roam grounds all year.
Accessible toiletCaféDog friendlyFree parking+7 more
Good to know: castles, historic houses & heritage in Manchester
Are any of them free?
Yes, Astley Hall, Clayton Hall, Ordsall Hall, Pigeon Tower and 2 more are free to visit.
What does a paid visit cost?
Paid entry starts from £0.70 at Castle Hill. Prices, ages and facilities are listed on every place page, taken from each venue's own published price list.
Which ones are indoor?
Clayton Hall, Elizabeth Gaskell's House, Samlesbury Hall and The Monastery Manchester are indoor, good to keep up your sleeve for a rainy day.
Whereabouts are they?
You'll find castles, historic houses & heritage in Chorley, Huddersfield, Manchester, Preston, Runcorn and 3 more. Every place we list is in or around Manchester, and each listing has the full address and directions.
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