National Trust - Speke Hall, Garden and Estate — Attraction in Liverpool

Speke Hall is a national treasure. A well-preserved piece of history plonked in the middle of a modernised environment. There’s something a bit eye-opening when you see and hear the airplanes of the nearby airport in contrast to the quaint, relaxing feeling you get within the grounds of the hall.

The house itself is a splendid example of Tudor architecture in Britain. There aren’t that many buildings of this quality that remain, so having the opportunity to visit Speke Hall is something not to be missed. View a real-life priest hole, a Tudor kitchen, an elegant Great Hall decorated with paintings and suits of armour, Victorian renovations and more. Thankfully I live within 30 minutes of the place, so it is somewhere we frequent with our children as they love history and getting some fresh air.

It is a lovely place to visit regardless of the time of year, however, you will definitely enjoy it more in the late spring/early summer months when it’s a lot warmer. You can then get involved in various events they hold at the hall such as the recent Tudor day (May 2024) where there were a collection of people dressed in Tudor attire, dancing displays and even a court jester keeping the crowds amused. When you’re not engrossed by the history of the building or taking part in the events of the day, there are lots of places you can explore and relax.

There is a good wooden play park for children of various ages. Depending on the time of year (please check before going) there is a maize maze, vegetable & herb gardens, a tea room, food restaurant and more. On days with sunshine you can grab a free deck chair on the North Lawn and catch some sun; having been there a few times I can say that it’s a little sun trap and provides a nice relaxing area to view the house from a distance.

Overall this is a place that will not disappoint. If you like Speke Hall, I’d definitely recommend Rufford Old Hall and Little Moreton Hall for similar examples of...

I was very excited before attending but it however it upset me a little.

I am in Liverpool only for three days and carefully planned my trip. In these three days I planned to visit Speke hall even though I had to rely on public transport. Of course I could use a taxi but you will see that it wasn't really an option. I headed on to the bus station and took the bus to the airport. The bus driver was so nice and explained to me where I shall get out.

I haven't found any information about how far the walk from public transport would be. I love walking but unfortunately I have back, hip and leg problems so I never realised that the walk will take me approx 35 minutes. Then there were no footpaths so I had to walk on the road but what was even more disappointing was that I could not approach the house straight on. I had to walk an extra 15 mins to the car park, which was absolutely pointless. As I have health issues by this time I really needed a rest room but just when I got onto the grounds I was explained to that the closest loo is closed. Plus, I was so excited to see the actual house inside....only it wasn't open to the public at this time. So I decided to make the most of the trip and walk through the path but there are no signs what path leads to where.

So all this and I decided to take Uber back to the city only....there was no coverage. Fair enough the girl at the reception suggested connecting to their WiFi but at that point I suppose I got so disappointed that I didn't want to leave my email to their system.

I would love to return when the house is open to the public again. Watching planes landing was amusing even in a cold and drizzle day like that. Luckily there were plenty of dogs running around which made the day a little better and robins kept landing nearby and saying hello.

I loved the place, suppose in different circumstances I would be able to give full five stars but...

I really enjoyed my visit to Speke Hall. I have some mobility issues, so took things at a steady pace. I arrived in the morning and went on the Victorian tour where a very knowledgeable volunteer guide called Peter took us through Speke Hall explaining the history and the people who had lived there. There was a chair in every room that I can sit on if needed. The antique furniture you couldn't sit on had a thistle on it. The tour was at a good pace and was very interesting. There is a shop and a lovely cafe selling delicious soup. But there is also a designated picnic area within the ground with picnic table and benches provided. Looking at the pamphlet there appears to be a lot of grounds that you can walk your dog, obviously dogs are not allowed within the historic house. There is a formal garden area I didn't feel able to tackle due to my walking problems, but I did visit the kitchen garden where there is a small shed housing a second hand book shop. I did see a golf cart which might have been available for those who needed assistance to get to and from the house, but I wasn't aware and my disability is not too obvious. But the house wasn't too far down the level path and there were benches along the way. I believe that the house is free flow from midday, but I was pleased that I got there earlier and had a guide who gave the group the history and could answer questions. There was also a play park close to the shop , cafe and toilets. A lovely day out that would suit all ages. Something...