Kiplin Hall — Attraction in Kiplin

This is a beautiful, homely place. I can really imagine living here. Not echoey and cold at all like some places you visit. I can't believe that the National Trust turned it down... Their loss. I used to work for NT, I'm not a fan...

The lake outside is actually the remnants of the riches that saved this place. The land was excavated for gravel which was sold and enabled the place to be restored. It's turned into quite a pleasant nature reserve.

The hall itself feels trapped in time. The rooms downstairs are very plush, most especially the library and you feel as if you are there for a the weekend, drinking sherry and getting merry around the fire after the hunt, circa 1880. Upstairs feels more 1940s, with one room left as it was after the hall was requisitioned for the war. It gives a flavour of the state of place when the charitable trust took over. They've achieved a lot.

There are odd snippets of info about the people who lived in the hall and their personal histories which is fascinating. I really liked the place and the volunteers. They were cheery, upbeat and enthusiastic. For the Americans, there's a huge association with Maryland here which will be of interest and has an entire room dedicated to it.

It takes about an hour to an hour and a half to go around the rooms. You can spend an hour wandering in the grounds. There is a huge kitchen garden which is probably the most interesting bit. I don't have children, but I'd say that there is little for them here. There is a play area in the grounds but I'd be watching them like a hawk with that quarry / lake nearby...

There were a few options for food, including a pizza van in the yard. I think there was also a tea room but we didn't indulge. Plenty of free parking but untarmaced, unsure how it would be in the wet.

Richmond is nearby and worth a visit with the remnants...

An absolute gem of a place to visit; somewhere we have been meaning to come to for ages, and finally got round to it today. Not huge, but no worse for that.

Where to start....first of all with the volunteers in the house itself. They took the time, and had the patience, the knowledge, the skill in sharing information, and the obvious passion for the house, its history, its contents, and occupants. They really brought it alive. The house itself is beautifully curated and maintained. Nothing jarred throughout our visit. There are so many places of this type where they have a deafening deadness to them, but this place lived - not least in the WWII rooms; unashamedly left to reflect the house's use in that war where so many of those who passed through lost their lives so young.

We had a lovely light lunch in the new cafe, where the staff again were a credit. The food was good and the prices reasonable. The cafe and shop etc are in a recently developed part of the complex - and the toilets are as brilliant a set of public loos as I've ever used. Also, a nice chunky guidebook is available which I find very readable and informative, and not ridiculously priced.

There is a bit of work going on (June 2025), with part of the building encased in scaffolding and undergoing restoration. But that just means it will be an excuse to visit again once that is finished. It is quite understandable with a 400 year old building that ongoing maintenance is an absolute and continual necessity.

The grounds are simple but peaceful, with garden areas and woodland which is well accessible, a beautiful lake area, an interactive wildlife pond, and space to amble around at...

A peaceful but amazing Jacobean Country House situated in a little visited bubble of North Yorkshire. The history of the house and the four families who occupied it over 400 years or so, come to life as you wander around its floors of rooms and corridors. Most of the rooms are manned by volunteer stewards who will help you with the intricacies of the room you are, they are however, not intrusive and seem to fade into the background if they sense you'd rather just stand and look and read the readily available information sheets. They have a smashing Tea Room/Restaurant in their Great Hall, just inside the entrance door, so if you just fancy a brew or a light snack without wanting to go round the house, that's OK. Having sat in the Great Hall however, it's very difficult to walk out without venturing further in!! The walk around the walled gardens, the lake and open pastures certainly refreshes any waining elements of your mojo. Parking is good with a short 100 yard walk past the house to its entrance. Disabled parking is closer but there are no elevators. This venue is a member of The Historic Houses Association, something I'm using more and more. Lots more details on its website. Definitely somewhere not too...