Harewood House Trust

My family and I visited Harewood House in Leeds while the Christmas decorations were still on, and it was a truly lovely experience from start to finish. The approach through the beautiful parkland immediately sets the scene, and on arrival we received a warm welcome, a free map, and access to a very handy shuttle bus which made getting around easy. The courtyard area is well organised, with an information centre, gift shop, second-hand book shop, clean toilets, and a café. We had a delicious lunch there before visiting the house. For a family of four we paid £70, which felt reasonable for a full day out with so much to see and do. The house itself was magical at Christmas. The state rooms looked stunning, decorated around a Regency ball theme, with music, lighting effects, beautiful Christmas trees and festive details throughout. Highlights for us were the grand dining table set for a feast, the gallery with the gowns, and the impressive finale in the servants’ hall. It was great being able to walk around at our own pace and chat with the friendly, knowledgeable staff. There were lots of activities around the estate, making it perfect for families. The grounds are vast and peaceful, and the lake was frozen when we visited, which made the environment feel extra special and wintry. Overall, Harewood House is a very nice place and quite perfect for a day out. We all really enjoyed it and would happily visit again. Highly recommended!

Came to Harewood House on a coach excursion to see the Christmas displays, and it was an enjoyable experience from start to finish! The approach to the house is through acres of beautiful parkland. On arrival we were given a very warm welcome and a free map of the gardens, and there was a handy shuttle bus to help us get around. The cobbled courtyard has an information centre, a gift shop and second-hand book shop, clean toilets, and a café where I enjoyed a delicious lunch before I visited the house. The state rooms with their detailed plasterwork, elegant furniture and art treasures look magnificent at any time of year, but in their Christmas finery they were magical! This year's theme was a Regency ball, and the glittering occasion unfolded as we ambled through rooms filled with music, light effects, gorgeous trees and decorations. I loved the dining table set for a lavish meal, the collection of gowns in the gallery, and the big finale in the servants' hall! I also appreciated being able to go round the house at my own pace, and talk to the friendly and very knowledgeable staff. After a stroll among the topiary and fountains of the terrace garden, I treated myself to a mince pie and mulled wine in the terrace café. Some nice books, toys, toiletries, and festive treats and decorations in the two gift shops (card payment only both here and in the cafes). All in all, this was a day out to remember! Would definitely do it all again next year!

We live in Leeds and ended up paying for the family membership for Harewood House. We have been a number of times and have enjoyed our days out there. Personally I think to pay for a one off family entry is very expensive here. And with certain bits closed on some days like the boat trip, which has been closed everytime I've visited since having the membership, I would say it's not worth the cost. We have national trust membership and Harewood House is similar to some national trust places but considerably more expensive. The house is impressive, especially at Christmas time at the moment as it has been fully decorated. The grounds are on a par with national trust, in fact I prefer places like Fountains Abbey for actual walks. The adventure playground for kids is really good. The food options in the cafe are quite limited but there is a very nice, if expensive, gift shop in the house. I think for a day out with young kids I wouldn't necessarily recommend it over national trust as it's a lot more expensive and has very similar facilities for kids. Though the house is impressive, it's not going to be as entertaining for younger kids. For adults or families with older kids it may be better value. The membership if you are local and commit to visiting fairly often, is much better value.

From the warm greeting at the front gate and the sight of that big red bow on the entry arch, I knew I was in for a special treat at Harewood House for their Christmas display. I started with a walk around the grounds and loved the spectacular view of the house from the field near the bottom cafe. I enjoyed a walk around the lake and was enthralled by the walled garden and its sheer size, even if the gardens were mostly fallow. The Stupa is something to see and behold, as is the story behind the erection of it. Finally, it was time to enter the house and to see the Christmas decorations and room displays in all their unadulterated glory! No detail was left untold and the sights and sounds were truly wonderful. Sumptuous is one word that comes to mind when trying to describe the depth and beauty of each and every room. But just as wonderful as the displays was the warmth and enthusiasm of the volunteers who were there. They helped explain many of the details and were experts at taking photos for me! Be sure to step out on the lovely terrace garden beside the cafe in the house for beautiful views of the grounds. I had the most wonderful time at Harewood House and would strongly recommend visiting it not only at Christmas, but any time of the year.

From sparkling trees to magical room displays, Harewood House truly brings Christmas to life. If you’re planning a visit, take your time wandering through the beautifully decorated halls, enjoy the festive markets, and soak in the holiday charm all around. It’s the perfect place to make memories, big and small. ❤️🎁

We didn't get too much time to explore everywhere, but what I did see I liked very much. Breathtaking views from the garden of the house. Had a lovely cream tea with sandwiches, cakes and scones. Very substantial and part of an organised coach holiday. Not sure how much it would have been had we gone there on our own. The house was interesting and we were lucky to visit on a day where the weather was great.

The place was very good But let down by food, We got the slow cooked beef stew that was £12.00 each It was a small bowl and the meat was tough my wife left it all bit of a let down luckily we had a bowl of chips to fill up! But apart from that we will still go back but have fish and chips on way home.

Lovely venue and grounds. Good for a Christmas market but some bits were too muddy. The house itself is beautiful and it's great to see all the historical items. The cafe area is roomy and plenty of seating was available. Lots of parking and a very handy shuttle bus was in operation.