Ordsall Hall
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Salford
What it’s like
A free Tudor manor where kids can try climbing a replica string and hay bed and lay the table in the Great Hall.
It's a proper old Tudor hall, and getting in costs nothing, which is the sort of thing worth building a whole afternoon around. Kids get to poke about a genuine manor house, have a go at the replica string and hay bed climbing setup, and set the table with replica food in the Great Hall. There's a Bookmark Trail too, so smaller ones have a reason to walk every room rather than flag halfway round.
Ground floor is step-free and there are two lifts up to the higher levels, which makes a buggy or a wheelchair fairly easy work. The one snag is the Coat of Arms room, which has eleven steps and no lift, so that bit's a miss if stairs are a problem for you.
The café does coffee and cakes, though seating's on the tight side if you're a big group, so a picnic on the grounds is the better bet if you're more than a couple of families. Parking is £2.50 for up to three hours, rising to £9 if you're there past six, and blue badge holders get in free.
Worth knowing before you plan the day: it's shut Fridays and Saturdays, open Monday to Thursday and Sunday afternoons, so a weekend visit really means Sunday. There's no booking system, you just turn up during opening hours.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- 48-space pay and display car park
- Food
- Café with locally sourced coffee, cakes and light bites
- Wheelchairs
- Step-free ground floor and 2 lifts to upper levels
- Getting there by bus or train
- Exchange Quay tram stop, Media City UK/Eccles to Ashton line, 2-3 minute walk
- Closed Fridays and Saturdays, so plan for a weekday or Sunday visit
- The Coat of Arms room has eleven steps and no lift, so it's not accessible if stairs are an issue
- Blue badge holders park free in the on-site car park
- Picnic area on site is a good backup if the café's busy with groups
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Nothing, entry to the Hall is free.
Do we need to book?
There's no booking link, you just turn up when it's open.
What days is it open?
Monday to Thursday 10am to 4pm, and Sunday 11.30am to 4pm. It's closed Fridays and Saturdays.
Is it OK for a pushchair or wheelchair?
Ground floor is step-free and two lifts get you to the upper floors. The Coat of Arms room only has stairs, eleven of them, with no lift.
Is there parking?
Yes, a 48-space pay and display car park. It's £2.50 up to three hours, £5.50 up to six, £9 beyond that, and blue badge holders park free.
What about food?
There's a café doing coffee, cakes and light bites, though seating gets tight if you've got a big group with you.
Can we get there by tram?
Exchange Quay tram stop on the Media City UK to Ashton line is about a 2-3 minute walk away.
What do kids actually do there?
They can climb the replica string and hay bed, lay out replica food in the Great Hall, and follow the Bookmark Trail around the building.
Can we bring a picnic?
There's a picnic area on site, handy if the café seating's full.
Featured in 2 Huddlepin lists
See all Castles, Historic Houses & Heritage in Manchester · Things to do in Manchester
MAKE A DAY OF IT
