Harewood House Trust — Attraction in Leeds

A Mesmerising Journey Through Harewood House but with Hefty Price Tag

When one contemplates a visit to Harewood House, it's crucial to approach the experience with a keen eye for beauty and a heart open to history. This magnificent stately home, nestled in the Yorkshire countryside, promises an enchanting vista of impeccably kept grounds and architectural splendour that harkens back to an era of grandeur and refinement.

The grounds of Harewood are a feast for the senses, meticulously landscaped to showcase a dizzying array of flora that changes with the seasons. As you wander through its expansive gardens, you'll encounter serene lakes, woodlands that whisper secrets of the ages, and panoramic views that stretch across the Yorkshire countryside, framing views that are as breathtaking as they are humbling. The estate is a testament to the art of horticulture, where nature and human design coalesce into a harmonious symphony of visual pleasure.

The walks around the estate are equally delightful, offering visitors a chance to embark on peaceful strolls that wind through lush greenery and past ancient trees, each carrying its own tale of the land's storied past. It's here that one can truly embrace the tranquillity of the English countryside, finding solitude and contemplation in the natural world that surrounds you.

The quaint cafe, nestled amidst the lush greenery, offers a welcome respite. Its menu is a culinary reflection of its surroundings, featuring fresh, locally-sourced delights that cater to both the hungry explorer and the casual visitor seeking a moment of repose. The charm of the cafe adds a layer of comfort to the Harewood experience, grounding the grandeur of the estate with a touch of the ordinary.

However, there remains a shadow over Harewood's brilliance, and that is the closure of the beloved bird garden. This was once a captivating feature, where visitors could observe exotic and native birds interact in a setting designed to imitate their natural habitats. Its absence leaves a void in the visitor experience, one that the estate is yet to fill fully.

Considering the £20.00 per person adult entry fee, some might feel that the closure of the bird garden has skewed the value proposition of a visit to Harewood House. While the magnificence of the grounds, the opulent stately home, and the general ambiance are undeniable, the estate may need to consider introducing new attractions or enhancements to justify the cost. Perhaps engaging additional features, such as immersive historical tours or interactive workshops, could enhance the allure of the estate and provide a more compelling reason for...

Agh. So. Let’s start by saying we are members of Harewood. We’ve usually had good experiences, and we thought the Christmas Experience might be good. Let’s be honest. It poured down. Really wet.

Started good though. Even though there were no lights on at the entrance at 3.00pm, or down to the house, (not working as they weren’t on when it was dark either) the lady in her box who lets the cars through was lovely. Sadly after that. Down.....hill. Eek.

The toilets were horrendously muddy. Looked like someone had wiped their wellies Along the sinks and had half dried. Yuk. The Xmas market in the courtyard was very dark inside, lighting terrible, and the folks selling their wares were very miserable (it was wet and cold to be fair)

Went for a nice soup in the cafe, no soup, then got told to step away from a member of my party. To be fair she may have assumed we shouldn’t have been a good together due to Covid, as there were us 3 adults and then my friends hubby came to join us (we all live together at the mo cause we lost our house due to Covid - but I guess they weren’t to know that? Felt awkward though) staff, extremely miserable, they were young though, and did t look like they’d had much customer care training.

Chips - good!! Tick! Though we were quite rudely told to leave to eat the chips...rules are rules. But manners are manners (we were just putting salt on)

Went to the light trail. Was wet. The lights were sweet, at the end after a half hour walk was apparently a huge fire pit. Nope. We have a bigger one in the back garden at the moment. Had a latte, offered us one of those small milk carton things, asked for real milk, said no as the real milk is for the hot chocolate. Great.

Last 5/6 minutes of the light trail is in pitch black.... literally. huge huge fail. And also very dangerous.

Went up to the gardens by the house. Beautiful!!! Inside the downstairs house but, some nice trees, but half decorated bits, very strange, like they half wanted it Christmassy, and half wanted you to not stay very long.

All In all. Pretty poor I’m afraid. Went to stockeld straight after, sadly, which was actually,...

Fantastic visit here yesterday. The grounds are amazing for all ages to explore. The lakeside walk is easy to navigate and very pretty too.

We liked the fact that there is an accessibility bus/train/vehicle which can take you around the site. Although we didn't use this ourselves, this is well worth looking in to for those with accessibility requirements as I think it allowed access around most of the grounds.

There is also a large play area here and a truly massive lawn area before the main house. Both look perfect for those with children to use and enjoy, although again we didn't use them.

The house is fab to walk around and you're given plenty of time to wander between rooms. Tickets aren't timed so there doesn't feel like a rush to be in there at a certain time. Each room has a QR code to get more information about what you're seeing.

Nearly each room also has a more modern exhibit in, currently based on doing something radical! A very interesting and enjoyable way of adding something new to an old space. Also quite thought provoking.

The entrance board acknowledging how slavery built the house was also important and helps to explain some of the links to other exhibit pieces.

Altogether this was a fab visit and very enjoyable. Our one low point was we decided to get a drink at the terrace area. We hadn't pre booked but lots of others were sat eating and drinking. Unsure whether we had order at the counter on not, we checked the menu, heard someone else ask and then found a table. After waiting 10 minutes and being ignored by staff who took other orders, cleared tables and even immediately gave menus to a newly seated (older) couple, we left. Not sure what the issue was here, but even if this is the fancier place to grab a snack, staff shouldn't let preconceptions about age, buying power or class let their standards slip.

On the other hand, the other two places we ordered food and drinks were fab with great,...