Hoghton Tower
Fortified manor house high on a hill in the heart of Lancashire.
Preston, Lancashire, PR5 0SH
Facilities
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Cafe / restaurant
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Free parking
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Shop
- Access statement available
Steeped in history and commanding breathtaking views across Lancashire, Hoghton Tower offers something for everyone at all times of year.
Plan your fairytale wedding, take a tour round the house, wander through the gardens, sample local produce at the Farmers’ Market, or just call in for coffee and cake to soak up some history!
Hoghton Tower, a Grade I listed building, is the ancestral home of the de Hoghton family. The de Hoghtons are descended directly from Harvey de Walter, one of the companions of William the Conqueror, and through the female line from Lady Godiva of Coventry, wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia.
Re-created in 1565 by Thomas Hoghton, this ancient, fortified, hilltop manor house occupies a commanding position, 650ft above sea level.
Important information: opening info is generated by artificial intelligence; check specific attraction details before travelling.
The indicator above will show ‘open’ when the public have any kind of access to any part of this property. That could be the park, a shop, or a special event, and may not reflect regular admission times to the main attraction. Always consult the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling to check that the attraction you are interested in is open.
Hoghton Tower Opening Times 2026
General Opening Season
2nd April – 23rd October 2026
Regular Guided House Tours
Guided tours are available Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 2nd April – 4th October 2026. Tours run on the hour from 11am to 3pm. Historic Houses members receive free entry during these regular tour hours.
Self-Guided House Visits
Self-guided visits are available Saturdays only, 4th April – 3rd October 2026, with the house open from 11am to 4pm (last entry 3:30pm). Please note that self-guided tours operate as normal on Saturday 29th August, despite the gardens being closed for the Last Night of the Proms event set-up.
Gardens
The gardens are open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11am – 4pm (last entry 3:30pm) from 2nd April – 4th October 2026. The following exceptions apply:
- Saturday 29th August: Gardens closed due to Last Night of the Proms event set-up
- Sunday 30th August: Gardens open 11am–4pm
- Sunday 13th September: Gardens open 11am–4pm (house closed)
- Friday 25th & Saturday 26th September: Gardens closed due to private event
Special Tours & Events
A Garden Through Time – Special guided tours exploring the garden's history, available on select dates including Sunday 5th July, Sunday 2nd August, Monday 31st August (11:30am) and Sunday 6th September (11:30am).
Historic Graffiti & Superstitious Beliefs – Special tours available on select dates including 1st May, 31st May, Thursday 2nd July, Friday 31st July, Thursday 27th August, Sunday 23rd August, and 27th November (Lancashire Day special).
Medieval Crime & Punishment Tour – 2nd – 3rd May
Dolls' House Collection – Available on selected dates only, including Thursday 9th July, Thursday 16th July, Sunday 19th July, Sunday 23rd August, Thursday 13th August, Friday 21st August and Thursday 27th August.
Frightful Folklore – Special tours available on select dates including 18th January, 9th February, 2nd March and 8th March.
Winter & Autumn Special Guided House Tours – Available on select dates including 15th March, 22nd March, 23rd March, 27th – 29th March and 6th October.
Family-Friendly Spooky Tours – Available during October and February school holidays, with dates including 15th February, 19th February and 20th February.
Ghost Tours – Friday 30th October and Saturday 31st October (Halloween Ghost Tour).
Ghost Stories For Christmas – 14th December
Christmas Through The Ages Guided Tour – Available on select dates including 28th – 30th November, 5th December and 19th December.
Reduced Schedule
On Sunday 30th August, a reduced tour schedule operates with the last tour of the day at 1pm. Gardens and Tearoom remain open 11am–4pm as usual.
Historic Houses members visit the house for free (Guided Tours & Unguided House Visit). Any special tours are not included. Pre-booking is recommended on the house’s website.
Tickets for the house include access to the gardens (subject to garden opening times)
House and Gardens
Guided Tour – Adult £14 (£12.70 without Gift Aid)
Guided Tour – Child £7.50 (£6.80 without Gift Aid)
Unguided House Visit (Saturday Only) – Adult £11 (£10 without Gift Aid)
Unguided House Visit (Saturday Only – Child £5.50 (£5 without Gift Aid)
Gardens only – Adult £4.40 (£4 without Gift Aid)
Gardens Only – Child £2.20 (£2 without Gift Aid)
We welcome groups of 20 or more to the Tower all year round. Advance booking is essential.
Private group tours start at £11 per person.
Refreshments ranging from tea and coffee on arrival to an afternoon tea or buffet lunch can also be booked in advance.
Find out more and enquire on our website.
A school visit to Hoghton Tower allows you to get up close and personal with almost 1000 years of history and experience stories from the Tower’s past come to life with our talented team of tour guides. Walk in the footsteps of some of the most famous figures from English History, and discover fun facts about this truly fascinating building, covering a range of curriculum topics from KS1, 2 and 3 during school visits.
Venture into the underground passages and journey deep down to the dungeons, explore life beyond living memory and discover a world in miniature with our incredible historic dolls’ house collection. Learn how the local area has been significantly influenced and shaped by the people that have lived and worked at Hoghton Tower, starting from 1565 when the house was rebuilt.
With our expert guides at the helm of every visit, each tour can be tailored to your specifications and pitched to the specific age group and key stage. They not only reveal secrets of Hoghton Tower’s history, but are also able to answer questions any curious pupils might have.
Our tours contain an interesting and informative look at the long history of Hoghton Tower, but leaving out the boring bits. We encourage interaction with role-play as your class are invited to recreate iconic moments in our history such as King James I knighting the loin of Beef.
Find out more and enquire on our website.
- Access statement available
Getting here
Preston, Lancashire, PR5 0SH
M65/J3. Between Preston & Blackburn on A675.
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