Heaton Hall & Park Tour: Glorious interiors and glorious landscape
Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor
Heaton Hall is one of Manchester’s architectural masterworks. It has previously been described as ‘the finest house of its period in Lancashire and one of the finest in the country’. You can now take a tour of the house and its surrounding gardens in which you’ll get a rare glimpse inside the house, where you can see stunning interiors that exude elegance, opulence and drama. A particular highlight is the circular Cupola Room.
Outside the main house you can also visit the Dower House, Stables, Tramway and Boating Lake. This small part of the city is so well preserved and offers a look into Manchester’s past, from a perspective we don’t often see. In an era where growth and development seems to be taking over, it’s good to remind ourselves how far we’ve already come. During the tour you’ll also have chance to take in the superb views from the highest point in the city, the Temple. The park is 640 acres in size so tours will vary depending on a particular group’s needs.
Heaton Hall was the manor of Lord and Lady Grey and their history of war, societal change and the lifestyle of the elites is littered with fascinating tales. Some of which you’ll hear as you make your way through the park.
Since 1902 the park has been preserved, used and loved by everyday people. There are plenty of stories from the public’s time with the park that will have you developing a fondness for green wonderland yourself.
The guides are professional, fully qualified Blue Badge or Green Badge guides led by Jonathan Schofield.
