Sheffield Manor Lodge
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Sheffield
What it’s like
Tudor ruins, a lavender labyrinth and a sandpit to dig in, with school holiday trails and free tram links from Sheffield.
This is the ruined hunting lodge where Mary Queen of Scots was kept under guard, and the Tudor grounds are the main event: a lavender labyrinth, an apothecary garden and the Pictorial Meadows gardens to wander through. Kids get a sandpit and outdoor games, and school holidays bring a children's trail with crafts for a fiver, plus battle reenactments if the timing works out. You can't climb on the 450 year old ruins, which is fair enough given their age, but it does mean the appeal is more explore-and-imagine than clamber-about.
Entry itself looks to be free most of the time, with the £5 charge just for the holiday trail and crafts. Sunday guided tours are a tenner for adults and free for kids, which is decent value if you fancy someone else doing the explaining. Opening is limited though: school holidays Tuesday to Friday, plus selected Sundays, 10am to 4pm, so this isn't a turn-up-any-Saturday sort of place.
The ground is uneven in spots because of buried archaeology, and the Turret House upper floors only reach via a stone spiral staircase, so a buggy stays downstairs. The apothecary garden has a narrow 16th century doorway with ledges too, which is charming right up until you're wrestling a pushchair through it. There's a wheelchair to borrow for the grounds and accessible toilets at both the Discovery Centre and Manor Oaks, though the apothecary garden toilet itself isn't wheelchair accessible.
The Rhubarb Shed Café does home cooked lunches, cakes, burgers and Sunday roasts, with vegan and gluten-free options, running 9am to 3pm. Parking's free at both sites, and it's an easy tram or bus ride from Sheffield Interchange if you'd rather leave the car. Dogs aren't allowed in the Tudor grounds except on monthly Doggy Days, but they're welcome at the café's outside tables.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Free on site at both locations (Discovery Centre and Manor Oaks)
- Food
- Rhubarb Shed Café serves home cooked lunches, cakes, burgers, ciabattas, salads and Sunday roasts with vegan and gluten-free options
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair available to borrow on request for grounds
- Dogs
- Not allowed in Tudor grounds except monthly Doggy Days
- Getting there by bus or train
- Blue or yellow tram or bus from Sheffield Interchange (5 minutes' walk from train station)
- No climbing on the ruins, so it is more look-and-explore than clamber-about
- Opening is limited to school holiday weekdays and selected Sundays, not a regular weekend option
- The apothecary garden doorway is narrow with ledges, tricky with a pushchair
- Doggy Days happen monthly if you want to bring the dog into the grounds
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Entry looks to be free most of the time. The school holiday children's trail and crafts is £5, and Sunday guided tours are £10 for an adult with kids going free.
What are the opening hours?
10am to 4pm during school holidays (Tuesday to Friday) and on selected Sundays. The Rhubarb Shed Café runs 9am to 3pm.
Do we need to book?
There's no booking link listed, so it looks like you can just turn up during opening hours.
Is it OK for a buggy?
Ground is uneven in places due to buried archaeology, and the Turret House upper floors are only reached by a stone spiral staircase. The apothecary garden also has a narrow old doorway with ledges.
Is there parking?
Free parking on site at both the Discovery Centre and Manor Oaks, with disabled bays available.
What food is there?
The Rhubarb Shed Café does home cooked lunches, cakes, burgers, ciabattas, salads and Sunday roasts, with vegan and gluten-free options. The Discovery Centre also has drinks and refreshments.
Can we bring the dog?
Not into the Tudor grounds, except on monthly Doggy Days when they're allowed on a short lead. They can sit with you at the café's outside tables.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs?
There's a wheelchair to borrow for the grounds and accessible toilets at both sites. Upper floors of Turret House are limited access due to a spiral staircase, and the apothecary garden toilet isn't wheelchair accessible.
How do we get there without a car?
Blue or yellow tram or bus from Sheffield Interchange, which is about five minutes' walk from the train station.
What do kids actually do there?
Explore the Tudor ruins and gardens, dig in the sandpit, wander the lavender labyrinth, and join the trail and crafts during school holidays. Battle reenactments happen too.
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