Temple Newsam House and Gardens

Mr Bingley and I have not been the best bloggers recently – with the spell of good weather the blogging has fallen by the way side although I hasten to add the visiting and days out have not!

A few weeks ago it seemed we got our first dose of sunshine all year and Mr Bingley was keen to get out and about; Temple Newsam House and Gardens was our destination.

By the time we arrived Mr Bingley was chomping at the bit. We have visited the gardens and farm a number of times and I love it every single time. If you have children and live anywhere near Leeds you must make the effort to visit; you feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

There are stables, barns, pens and paddocks housing all kinds of farm animals from donkeys and goats to turkeys and rare breed pigs.

Mr Bingley came across a particularly endearing pig which he said looked like me on a Monday morning before work. Photographed here is the said pig; I laughed but was not laughing when I realised he had photographed it and tagged me in it on Facebook.

I got my own back by dragging him away from the farm and into Temple Newsam house. I’ve lived in Leeds for three years now and have never been inside this magnificent Tudor mansion so this was well overdue.

I was astonished; Temple Newsam was incredible.

I will admit to being a bit of a snob as I assumed that as a council run property they would not have lavished it with the same attention as English Heritage or The National Trust. I could not have been more wrong. I was also completely unaware that the house was the birthplace of Lord Darnley – father of James I. 

Getting There:

Unfortunately you do really need to drive unless you fancy a 1.5 mile walk from the nearest bus stop.

With Temple Newsam it's best to check out the Leeds City Council page to see what your options are; it's not the easiest place to find!

Information:

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday

Prices for the House and Farm:

Adult: £6

Child: £3.70

Family Ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children): £15.50

Plus FREE Audio Tour of the house

House Tours (a chance for a tour with a knowledgeable guide) – Thursdays at 11-11.45am

Hidden Temple Newsam Tour (a tour through the history and hidden passage ways of the house) – Tuesdays and Saturdays 11-11.45am

Best Bits:

The plush interiors remained original or had been very tastefully reconstructed and re-decorated. Those damned velvet ropes you find so often in country houses were barely present which meant it was actually possible to walk into the rooms; being able to get up close to the portraits and furniture was a real treat.

The range of activities and exhibitions available is exceptional; the farm, the Capability Brown landscaped gardens and 4 floors of delightful Jacobean house and Ibbetson art exhibit all in one location – there is something for everyone here.

The price is also seriously competitive and a welcome surprise – house, gardens and farm entry for a family of 5 for £15.50. It’s definitely an educational and fairly inexpensive family day out when so many properties charge extortionate costs for the same or fewer activities.

Worst Bits:

Sadly one of the best aspects (the lack of NT or EH velvet ropes and hawk-eyed supervisors) was also one of its downfalls. 

The people who work there don’t actually know much about the property. Yes there is plenty of information available BUT for those extra questions and great little hidden gems there was no one to ask. 

This was a real shame as I was dying to find out more about the Knights Templar and their connection with the lands.

Also the main House Tours only run on a Thursday with Hidden Temple Newsam Tours on Tuesday and Thursday. Ideally it would be good to have a tour every day and be aware that if there is a wedding taking place in the house that the bottom floor will be off limits!! 

Definitely worth making a phone call in advance if you wish to see the entire property.

Interesting Fact:

Well more of a feeling than a fact but Temple Newsam is allegedly the most haunted house in Leeds.

With a plethora of ghosts to choose from The Blue Lady seems to be the one everyone’s talking about.  Apparently the ghost of Mary Ingram who lived in the property, the Blue Lady is said to be heard shrieking from the South Wing and dragging something heavy across the floor.

Mary Ingram was riding home one night when she was robbed and assaulted by highwaymen; this led her to become somewhat derailed and obsessive in character. People have seen her hunting for her belongings within the house and even walking past them on the stair.

There is also the story of the maid, strangled in the cellar whilst trying to resist the amorous advances of one of the footman. If you are brave enough to face a tour of the cellars (especially during Halloween) then the retelling of this tale is enough to terrorise even the bravest of ghost-hunters. Oooh spooky!

Kids:

I don’t think any children could help but be entertained by Home Farm. There are animals to feed, old farm machinery for novelty photos, lamb and calf pens and a huge array of other rooms filled with information about agriculture through the ages.

Mr Bingley and I spent over 2 hours walking around the farm and paddocks and that’s not including the extensive landscaped gardens which are great for kids to let off some steam. The garden paths and walks make great hiding places for hide and seek whilst adults can enjoy strolling through the stunning blooms of azaleas and rhododendrons at this time of year.

The house was perhaps slightly lacking in child friendly activities although there were 2-3 rooms dedicated to children throughout the house with miniature dressing tables, curtained beds and fancy dress for playing lord and lady. 

The house spreads across 4 floors and if your children aren’t 100% angelic they may be getting restless by the third but what’s to say you can’t take a break in the walled garden and grab an ice-cream in between floors.

Facilities:

There is a pleasant tea room, gift shop and the farm and lower floor of the house are completely wheelchair friendly. Temple Newsam also offers a number of corporate hospitality packages including weddings and conferences.

There is some parking on site however this costs £4 so your best option is parking further down the road for free parking and a 5 minute stroll to the estate. Keep an eye on the website as there are plenty of summer activities for both kids and adults including a number of live music performances. 

Overall:

We both loved Temple Newsam. Mr Bingley and I have been considering getting some ducks for our back garden and I think after our visit we may have to find room for pigs, guinea fowl and goats as well.

At this time of year the gardens are spectacular and the rolling lawns are a fantastic spot to settle down with a book and a picnic on a lazy summer Sunday. Or why not go with the dog for a bracing walk followed by some tea and scones in the cafe?

Temple Newsam surprised both of us and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone. If you were an English Heritage snob like me you will soon eat your words and be looking forward to your next visit.

Mr Bingley’s Rating:

Gardens and Farm 9.5/10

House 9.5/10