Levens Hall
Levens Hall
4.5
Historic SitesArchitectural Buildings
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Levens Hall is a stunning family home with exceptional Elizabethan interiors and the finest furniture, clocks and paintings. Explore the fascinating artefacts linking the Hall to the Duke of Wellington, marvel at the world's largest and oldest topiary gardens before visiting the gift shop and Levens Kitchen for refreshments. House & Gardens open Sunday to Thursday (Closed Fridays and Saturdays) from 3 April - 6 October 2022. Levens Kitchen open 7 days a week, 1000-1600 (1700 when House and Gardens open) from 17 January - 22 December 2022 (closed 1-16 January 2022).
Duration: More than 3 hours
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  • Sally G
    102 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Delightful house and gardens
    We went around the gardens first and they met our expectations. It was a cold but sunny day and we enjoyed the topiary and appreciated the spring borders. We all said we would have liked some signs especially as we didn't have Grandma with us to tell us what all the plants were! The house on the other hand was very well labelled with both informative signage and people to ask. My husband found the military/naval connections of interest and my designer daughter was fascinated by the leather wall paper. Having not visited for over 50 years, I'm very glad we came back.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 21 April 2023
  • Veronica H
    116 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Colourful, interesting and elegant
    With less than 2 hours available, what turned out to be sunny weather and preferring to be outside anyway, we just visited the gardens (also visited in '96). Had a lovely stroll round, past the amazing and varied topiary, beautiful rose gardens (many types with great perfume) and (possibly my favourite) the bee-friendly borders. These were a gorgeous splash of all sorts of colours, shapes and sizes - and plenty of bees. We even saw a game of croquet being played. Always fancied having a go myself, inspired by 'Alice in Wonderland'! On to the cafe afterwards. Sat outside in the continuing sunny weather. An amazing choice of home-made cakes, most with unusual flavours.
    Visited July 2023
    Written 4 July 2023
  • Naomi S
    Fareham, United Kingdom31 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth a visit! Lots to discover!
    Really interesting, lovely gardens and wonderfully historical house. The staff were knowledgeable and informative, very happy to help with questions. We spent a good few hours exploring, definitely worth a visit and value for money.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 15 July 2023
  • Kathleen P
    14 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    GO FOR THE GARDENS, MAGNIFICENT TOPIARY.
    Not really about the house although it is quite interesting, well presented and with interesting collections and connections. However, could do with a bit more information about what you are seeing. No photos allowed inside the house and no guidebook either. It is really all about the gardens which is magnificent. The topiary is truly amazing, the size and designs. The rest of the garden is beautifully laid out with large borders, wild areas and fountains. Cleverly they have mixed their vegetable beds with flower beds. Restaurant serves good food and cakes but does get very busy.
    Visited June 2023
    Written 21 July 2023
  • Michael C
    London, United Kingdom402 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely garden, interesting house.
    We very much enjoyed our visit. The house is relatively small but holds much of interest. The garden is lovely with much variety and interest being made up of a number of different areas. The shop and cafe are also very good. Good parking available
    Visited July 2023
    Written 23 July 2023
  • MisInformed
    Keswick, United Kingdom316 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    House & Garden 5*, crossing the road - dangerous
    Amazing topiary gardens, interesting house, lovely cafe selling fresh and delicious  food.  We had our two dogs with us and walked them first in the deer park. Lovely walk following the river. One issue:  to get to the deer park from the car park involves crossing a very busy road with high speed traffic just before it becomes a dual carriageway.  Even walking out of the gates is dangerous as there is no footpath.  Take your life in your hands.  I really don't know why some effort has not been made to provide a footbridge or pedestrian crossing.  How people cope who are not able to sprint, I don't know.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 30 July 2023
  • Travelsmart
    9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Great Day Out!
    A wonderful day spent at this beautiful venue ... The Hall is full of historical interest and very well looked after / maintained. Staff were very friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. The gardens were a delight to stroll through with amazing topiary and lovingly planted flower borders/flower beds. A nice play area for children with fun maze. Croquet too! A modern café, light and airy with an additional charming outside seating area. Liked the bakery as well with tasty fresh produce / take away sandwiches' / hot drinks etc. Excellent customer service. Plenty of seating available in the gardens. Recommend you buy the little guides for house and gardens on arrival (inexpensive). And the sun shone on the day of my visit!!!!
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 5 August 2023
  • Bilje29
    North East England, United Kingdom481 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An enjoyable few hours
    We’d visited years ago but saw an item on the Gardeners World programme a while ago and decided we would visit next time we were in Cumbria. Managed to go on a lovely sunny hot day. Arrived at about 10.30 am, car park busy but still plenty of spaces, parking free. £10.50 gardens only, I had a Gardeners World 2 4 1 card so the £10.50 covered both of us. Our first stop was the cafe/bakery …you can go there without paying garden entry. Anyway..you find a table, quote the number as you order and pay and one of the pleasant waiting staff brings it to your table, a great array of cakes scones etc. Toilets are adjacent, very clean, also a plant sales area and a shop. Plants were excellent quality. I only bought two. So refreshed we went into the gardens..wow..very colourful and interesting plant combinations plus the wonderful topiary. Wandered, and occasionally rested for a good while. We decided after lunch to make our way into the deer park just across the main road. Yes we did see deer and a flock of rare goats. Dogs aren’t allowed in the actual gardens but can be taken into the deer park on leads. All in all a very enjoyable visit.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 August 2023
  • Olivia
    13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Brilliant day out
    Fantastic history within the house. Lovely walk around the gardens. Prices equivalent to national trust prices but I feel it has a nicer atmosphere than many national trust houses I've visited. Lovely modern restaurant there and a fantastic bakery. Highly recommend the chocolate and beetroot cake! There was a bit of a wasp problem when we went but they weren't too bad if you weren't eating outside
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 August 2023
  • Helen S
    25 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Surprising Sunday brunch
    Saturday brunch Bank Holiday Saturday and headed to the house and gardens only to find it shut! Baffling business model!? Decided to have brunch in the restaurant/cafe and we were not disappointed. We ordered refried beans, feta, poached eggs, harissa and sourdough. The flavours complemented each other so well and it was a really great dish. Definitely go back again to eat this again! Downside was the service as my sister’s coffee was totally forgotten about and I had nearly finished my meal before hers came. The toilets (bar the disabled) are also out of the cafe and in the courtyard which could inconvenience some families/groups.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 28 August 2023
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles704 reviews
Excellent
480
Very good
166
Average
35
Poor
11
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12

David S
Otley, UK61 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
Left feeling ripped off. So we’ve been here a few times before but never again. Pizza and chips a drink and a cake for 2 was nearly £60 but worse still my partner said please could I have capers on my pizza (probably because capers were on my pizza) and yes added £1.95 and honestly couldn’t even see a caper. It’s a cafe not the Savoury! If the management are reading this ask yourself if we asked for a pizza with no capers would you knock £1.95 from the bill? NO! Also do the maths if you rip a loyal customer off for a £1.95 hit when they spend £60 on pizza and chips but lose the customer its bad business. Oh serve was poor offered 1 knife and 1 fork HELLO 2 customers both eating a meal… wake up!!!
Written 28 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tourist776248
13 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
Sadly leaving one star in the hope that the kitchen or SOMEONE might take note of my comments. We are local ( Levens) and visit the cafe regularly.
The food on the whole is fine but PLEASE PLEASE could you make your sandwiches with decent sandwich bread. I brought my 90 year old mother. We were served a sandwich made with sourbread at least half an inch thick. Couldn’t even get the thing in my mouth let alone bit it. My mother gave up and just drank coffee - and eat half a cake. Why on earth do you think that serving a massive chunk of tough bread with a meagre filling looks generous?
If you go to anywhere in the lakes for afternoon tea, sandwiches are produced using thinly sliced fresh fresh bread.
And pickled cucumber is not a salad item. If you’re not sure how to make a decent salad just google good food salads - they have lots of ideas using fresh produce. We previously owned and operated a 40 bed hotel in the mid lakes so I do know what I’m talking about.
And by the way, what are our grandchildren aged 2 to 5 supposed to eat? I m not looking for chicken dippers but just something small and child friendly. Come on team, you can do better than this.
Written 1 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PeteLucy434
Uxbridge, UK2,073 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
Much to see at this Historic House property. There is also a walk along the river which worth an explore.
Written 20 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Laura T
Middlesbrough, UK7,002 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
We enjoyed exploring the beautiful gardens, particularly the world’s oldest topiary garden, which was very impressive - I took sooo many photos! We were surprised that there were still so many flowers in September, even the rose garden still had several blooms.

We read that it is recommended to walk up the river and back down the other side to see the deer and Bagot goats, but we didn't have time on this visit.

We spent around 3 hours here, over 2 hours in the gardens and 40 minutes in the house. We were visiting with a small child though who woke up as we entered house so only managed a hasty look around the family home with Elizabethan interiors, fine furniture, clocks and paintings.

There is a bakery for take away sandwiches and pastries, and a cafe with outside and indoor seating, both looked busy when we visited. The toilet block is near the carpark and was clean and tidy.

Open Sunday to Friday, from 10am to 5pm. Tickets to House & Gardens are £14.50 each or Gardens alone are £10.50. Luckily we were able to use our 2-4-1 Gardening World voucher for the gardens, then pay a little extra to visit the house. Photographs are not allowed inside the house.

Highly recommended for a half day visit.
Written 25 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kaushal
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
The gardens are beautiful and to make the whole experience better make sure you get the free audio commentary device which will tell you about the different places in the garden and its history.
The house was also good with lots to learn and see. There were tour guides in most of the rooms who would answer any questions that we had.
The cafe had some lovely cakes and food.
Written 18 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lynette
Lancaster District, UK77 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
Wonderful topiary with flower beds between, very tastefully planted. Orchard area with bee hives and wilder plantings. Den like areas for young children which ours loved. They really enjoyed the well hidden playground area too. Very good cafe/ restaurant. A good half day out though rather expensive. No OAP concessions. Only visited the garden but have been in the wonderful house previously.
Written 5 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alison F
10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
Lovely first time visit with historic houses membership. Great lunch in cafe , cakes were sizeable and delicious and pastrami sandwich was tasty. Hall is very interesting, brought to life by enthusiastic friendly staff in various rooms along with info screens. It was different to national trust properties that you could wonder around all of rooms . Gardens are fairly small but very ornate and still lovely colours despite late summer. Overall a lovely half day visit
Written 1 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Helen S
25 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
Saturday brunch

Bank Holiday Saturday and headed to the house and gardens only to find it shut!
Baffling business model!?
Decided to have brunch in the restaurant/cafe and we were not disappointed. We ordered refried beans, feta, poached eggs, harissa and sourdough. The flavours complemented each other so well and it was a really great dish. Definitely go back again to eat this again!
Downside was the service as my sister’s coffee was totally forgotten about and I had nearly finished my meal before hers came.
The toilets (bar the disabled) are also out of the cafe and in the courtyard which could inconvenience some families/groups.
Written 29 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Olivia
13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
Fantastic history within the house. Lovely walk around the gardens. Prices equivalent to national trust prices but I feel it has a nicer atmosphere than many national trust houses I've visited. Lovely modern restaurant there and a fantastic bakery. Highly recommend the chocolate and beetroot cake! There was a bit of a wasp problem when we went but they weren't too bad if you weren't eating outside
Written 19 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bilje29
North East England, UK481 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
We’d visited years ago but saw an item on the Gardeners World programme a while ago and decided we would visit next time we were in Cumbria. Managed to go on a lovely sunny hot day. Arrived at about 10.30 am, car park busy but still plenty of spaces, parking free. £10.50 gardens only, I had a Gardeners World 2 4 1 card so the £10.50 covered both of us.
Our first stop was the cafe/bakery …you can go there without paying garden entry. Anyway..you find a table, quote the number as you order and pay and one of the pleasant waiting staff brings it to your table, a great array of cakes scones etc. Toilets are adjacent, very clean, also a plant sales area and a shop. Plants were excellent quality. I only bought two.
So refreshed we went into the gardens..wow..very colourful and interesting plant combinations plus the wonderful topiary. Wandered, and occasionally rested for a good while.
We decided after lunch to make our way into the deer park just across the main road. Yes we did see deer and a flock of rare goats. Dogs aren’t allowed in the actual gardens but can be taken into the deer park on leads. All in all a very enjoyable visit.
Written 11 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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LEVENS HALL: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Levens Hall

Levens Hall is open:
  • Sun - Thu 10:30 - 16:00


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