Nestled between the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the River Aire, East Riddlesden Hall in West Yorkshire offers an easy, relaxing and enjoyable family-friendly visit to an historic house, steeped in history.
East Riddlesden Hall Overview
With its rich history, stunning natural beauty, and a wealth of family-friendly activities, East Riddlesden Hall promises a memorable day out for young families.
Whether you’re on the hunt for captivating history, beautiful architecture, or simply a place to unwind amid serene surroundings, East Riddlesden Hall has something to offer every member of the family.
We visited on a Sunday during the recent September heatwave, arriving early to avoid the hottest part of the day.
The National Trust were offering free entry on the same weekend, which was a bonus for us, although it was slightly busier than usual.
- Getting There
- Parking at East Riddlesden Hall
- Accessibility
- East Riddlesden Hall Entry Prices
- Facilities and Amenities
- Things to see and do at East Riddlesden Hall
- Visit the 17th Century barn
- Explore the house
- Picnic on the banks of the River Aire
- Feed the ducks in the lake
- Children’s play area
- Buy some local honey in the gift shop
- Play boule or skittles on the lawns next to the orchard
- Enjoy the peace and quiet of the hidden vegetable garden
- Visit the bird hide
- Get Married!
- Our top tips for a trip to East Riddlesden Hall
- Our overall summary of East Riddlesden Hall
- Also nearby
- FAQs
Getting There
The site is easy to reach by car and is within an hour of Bradford, Leeds, Harrogate, Ilkley, Burnley and Clitheroe.
Nearby Keighley has a train station which runs on the Airedale line, although the walk would be around 20-30 minutes, so be sure to take prams in taking babies and toddlers.
There are several bus stops nearby, including one right outside. Check the TransDev website (or your preferred travel app) for service details.
Parking at East Riddlesden Hall
East Riddlesden Hall has plenty of free parking on site, with several parking areas around the side of the house and ancient barn, with overflow parking in the bottom field, overlooking the River Aire, which runs through the estate.
There are blue badge parking spots near to the house, and a suitable place to drop off members of your party with mobility issues.
Accessibility
Most of the estate is reasonably accessible for prams or wheelchairs, including the ground floor of the house itself, which has a wide entrance door.
The road around the car park is not tarmac, but stone and sand, with some lumps and bumps.
If you park in the overflow car park at the bottom, just be aware that you’ll need to cover the grass on the field and a short, but moderately steep, slope up the house (perhaps 50 yards).
There is an accessible toilet next to the house, with emergency pull-cord if required.
At ground level, there are a small number of steps (i.e. doorstep to enter the house). A portable access ramp is available on site – please do contact the National Trust ahead of time if you think you’ll need it.
There is plenty of space around the site to park a pram while you look inside the house.
East Riddlesden Hall Entry Prices
Although there was a free entry offer during our visit, entry prices are reasonable;
Adults: £5.50
Children: £2.75
Family ticket: £13.75
It’s a good idea to book tickets online during holidays and Bank Holidays, or you can buy tickets in person. Either way, it’s advisable to arrive as the gates open, or towards the end of the day, if you prefer quieter visits, or have children with sensory needs.
Facilities and Amenities
In common with many National Trust sites, you’ll find everything you need for a family trip.
The toilet block, set in a stone outbuilding of the house (perhaps a former ice house or stable building?), with clean, modern toilets with changing facilities.
The shop is located on the left as you pass the lake on the way to the front of the house. Inside, you’ll find lots of quality National Trust books, trinkets and souvenirs.
Outside, there’s a small plant and garden shop – we liked the metal garden ornaments in particular.
A small tea room sells hot drinks and a selection of snacks, to eat in or take away.
Finally, if you’re watching the pennies or prefer to take your own picnic, there are picnic tables in the overflow car park by the river, or next to the children’s play area and trim trail.
Things to see and do at East Riddlesden Hall
Visit the 17th Century barn
As you wander back from the house to the car park, do make a point of visiting the Great Barn – an incredibly well-preserved 17th Century barn.
Inside, give your eyes a minute to adjust to the cool, dark interior, and you’ll see original timbers along the cathedral-like roof. Inside the cattle stalls are a variety of period waggons and ploughs.
The low level mood lighting is really atmospheric and if you stand still for a moment, you can almost hear the clip-clop of a horse pulling in the hay bails from the nearby fields…
Explore the house
Stepping across the threshold of the house is almost like stepping back in time.
You’ll be directed into a large reception room to the right, where a huge fireplace stands opposite an original tapestry hung on the wall – perhaps 20 feet tall. Swords, muskets and armour hang on the wall.
An exposed timber staircase leads up to the first floor, where you’ll wander down candle-lit corridors, into several bedrooms and a nursery, all set out with original furnishings, oak panelling, soft furnishings, and needlework produced by a former resident of the house.
Back downstairs, the kitchen and dining rooms – set out with original equipment and realistic replica foods – was a hit with our children.
Numerous period features, such as stone fireplaces and intricate windows, are everywhere. In the small bedroom on the first floor is a glass cabinet with items found under the floorboards, lost or hidden over the centuries. Marbles, animal bones, silver spoons and coins are viewable with a handy magnifying glass.
The friendly staff asked our children to help track down a number of mice hidden throughout the building (don’t panic – knitted or wooden mice), which they thoroughly enjoyed.
Picnic on the banks of the River Aire
Break up your visit with a short walk down the lower car park and fields, which back onto the banks of the River Aire.
You’ll find a number of picnic tables and plenty of room to spread out a blanket and enjoy a bite to eat.
The River Aire was really important to the prosperity of Riddlesden and Keighley, and I was lucky enough to visit with my school children to help plant trees along the banks, in an effort to help reduce erosion along the course of the river.
Feed the ducks in the lake
As you make your way along the path towards the house, you’ll see a charming lake to your right, featuring plenty of hungry ducks to feed!
Children’s play area
Follow the path round to the left of the house entrance and you’ll find the new play area and trim trail. Parents can enjoy a sit down on the picnic tables and admire the views across the valley, as little ones enjoy a climb on the wooden equipment.
Buy some local honey in the gift shop
The gift shop and tea room is set inside a period building, originally part of the house.
Duck under the low threshold and inside you’ll find a wide range of books, souvenirs, National Trust merchandise, as well as locally produced goods.
Play boule or skittles on the lawns next to the orchard
On previous visits, we hadn’t spotted the gardens and lawns at the rear of the house.
This trip, we only noticed them by looking through the ornate circular windows from inside the first floor of the house. Families played with wooden garden games on the lawns and sat in the cloth deckchairs along the path. We were amazed by the number of apples on the trees in the trees along the path!
What is it with kids and toilets? Throughout the house and gardens, there are toilets featuring various levels of sophistication (think: flush, no flush). Our kids found them hilarious!
Enjoy the peace and quiet of the hidden vegetable garden
We really enjoyed discovering the vegetable garden to the rear of the house. The kids were fascinated to see beetroot, courgettes and peas growing in the ground. We sat on the bench next to the greenhouse and soaked up the relaxing sights and sounds.
Visit the bird hide
Cut through a hedge to the right of the house entrance and you’ll find a hidden bird watching area – an ideal place to enjoy the quiet.
Get Married!
We were lucky enough to enjoy a wonderful wedding at East Riddlesden Hall a few years ago.
There is an outbuilding near to site entrance which has been converted to an impressive function room, featuring ancient timbers and stone floors.
Seeing a trail of antique lights reflected in the lake all the way up to the house provided a beautifully atmospheric evening setting.
Our top tips for a trip to East Riddlesden Hall
Arrive just before the official opening time to grab a parking spot near the house and head to the house first, to enjoy a quiet explore around the fascinating interior.
Take a picnic and grab a picnic bench dotted around the site, or drop into the tea room for a drink and bite to eat.
The trim trail is not clearly signposted. Standing at the entrance to the house, turn left and cut between the shop building and the house wall.
Don’t miss venturing inside the Great Barn.
Our overall summary of East Riddlesden Hall
East Riddlesden Hall is a relatively modest (compared to others), yet thoroughly enjoyable historic country house. Visit any time of year and enjoy a low-cost family day out, with plenty to see and different areas to explore. In our view, definitely worth a visit if you are within an hour’s drive and looking for something to do.
East Riddlesden Hall Location and Contact Details
East Riddlesden Hall address:
Bradford Road, Riddlesden, Keighley, West Yorkshire, BD20 5EL
Telephone: 01535 607075
Email address: eastriddlesden@nationaltrust.org.uk
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
Also nearby
If you’re visiting the area, or live nearby, we’d also recommend checking out the following locations and attractions:
- Cliffe Castle, Keighley
- Howarth (Bronte country)
- National Science and Media Museum, Bradford
- Skipton and Skipton Castle
- Saltaire
- Ilkely
- Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway
- Billy Bobs Parlour
- Farnhill and Kildwick Moor
- Wycoller
- Pendle Hill
- Otley Chevin Country Park
- Golden Acre Park, Leeds
FAQs
What are the opening hours of East Riddlesden Hall?
East Riddlesden Hall is closed Thursday and Friday. The rest of the week, the opening hours are usually 10am to 4pm. But do check the website for partial or complete closures for private events or maintenance.
Is East Riddlesden Hall wheelchair-accessible and pram-friendly?
Generally speaking, yes, East Riddlesden Hall is wheelchair-accessible, with ramps and accessible facilities to accommodate visitors with mobility challenges. Be aware that, as an historic house, there is no lift access to the first floor of the house.
Is photography allowed inside the house?
Photography is generally allowed in most areas of East Riddlesden Hall, but it’s advisable to check with the staff for any specific restrictions or guidelines.
Is parking available, and is it free?
Yes – East Riddlesden Hall offers ample free parking across a number of car parks on the site.
Can we bring our own food and drinks?
East Riddlesden Hall generally allows visitors to bring their own food and drinks for picnics or snacks. There are also on-site dining options available.
Is East Riddlesden Hall suitable for rainy days?
Yes, East Riddlesden Hall has indoor areas and activities that are ideal for rainy days, ensuring an enjoyable visit regardless of the weather.
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