Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Home to Mrs Gaskell, an English novelist, biographer and short story writer.
84 Plymouth Grove, Manchester, M13 9LW
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Accessible parking
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Bike storage facilities
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Cafe / restaurant
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Easily accessible without car
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Facilities for children
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Mostly wheelchair accessible
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No parking
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Picnic area
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Shop
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House welcomes visitors with physical, sensory and learning disabilities. The team will do all they can to ensure that your visit is both comfortable and enjoyable.
If you have questions regarding your visit or would like more specific information please email [email protected]
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House and Garden are 100% physically accessible to visitors
There are lift to all floors
Access ramp at the side of the House to avoid the front stepped entrance
Wheelchairs, mobility scooters and other walking aids can be used within the building and in the garden
Accessible toilets on the ground and first floor
Limited parking for blue badge holders on site. Please phone us 0161 273 2215 to reserve or to make general enquiries about access
Registered careers may visit free of charged with a paying visitor
Assistance Dogs welcome throughout the House including the Tea Room (Drinking water for assistant dogs isn’t supplied as standard so please ask if any is required)
Braille copy of the House guide book is available on request at the welcome desk and we can also provide large print copies of most of the reading material – please ask.
Recommended quiet times to visit are Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, outside of school holidays.
The majority of the collection and furnishing in the house can be touched and chairs sat on – our volunteers will advise
Volunteers provide verbal interpretation in most of the rooms. Please let them know if you need any special accommodations ( E.g. If would like them to speak louder/quieter, more slowly or if you would like to visually describe objects.)
The House’s Accessibility statement provides detailed information on the physical layout of the House. This can be found on the Elizabeth Gaskell’s House website under the accessibility section.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester is the former home of the famous author and her family.
Her novels include Mary Barton, Cranford, North and South and Wives and Daughters and are enjoyed on television, stage and radio.
This beautifully restored family home has spectacular period rooms and re-imagined garden for visitors to enjoy. The House, combined with the story of Elizabeth Gaskell as a writer, public figure and private person, provides a unique and engaging experience.
Take the opportunity to browse the books in William Gaskell’s study and sit where Elizabeth sat to write, overlooking her beloved garden. The majority of the furniture and objects can be touched and used, providing a very rare and hands-on experience.
Ring the doorbell and stand on the same doorstep as many of Elizabeth’s famous friends. ask one of our friendly volunteers for a Cranford the Cat exploration trail and discover what life was like in a Victorian House.
Go down into the Servants’ Hall where you can dress up as Charles Dickens, Hearn the Housekeeper or even Elizabeth herself.
Located in what was originally the kitchen and Servants’ Hall, the Tea Room and shop are in the light and airy basement of the House. Join us for freshly brewed tea and coffee and delicious cake served in style on vintage china.
Browse our collection of new and second-hand books, or pick up a literary themed souvenir of your visit.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House offers private and bespoke group tours (10-50 people) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays – this must be booked in advance.
£14 per person which includes a guided tour, a hot drink and slice of cake in the tearoom.
Contact [email protected] or call 0161 273 2215
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.
Opening Times
Elizabeth Gaskell's House is open to visitors on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Timed entry begins at 11am, with last admission at 3pm. The house closes at 4.30pm.
Please note that on days when volunteer numbers are low, entry may be by guided tour only.
Group Visits
Groups are welcome on all public open days (Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays) between 11am and 4.30pm, with last entry at 3pm.
Digital Guide
A digital guide is available through Bloomberg Connects at any time — you can access it before your arrival and during your visit, with no time restrictions.
Family Activities
A children's trail and family activities are available on all regular open days (Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday). Additional family-friendly activities are offered during school holidays — please check the What's On page for details.
Quiet Visiting Times
If you prefer a quieter experience, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons are the least busy times, outside of school holiday periods.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House offers private and bespoke group tours (10-50 people) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays – this must be booked in advance.
£14 per person which includes a guided tour, a hot drink and slice of cake in the tearoom.
Contact [email protected] or call 0161 273 2215
Schools visits and tours available on Mondays, Tuesday and Fridays and must be pre-booked.
Primary School Visits
£4.50 per child (£3.75+VAT). Visit lasts 1.5 – 2 hours.
KS1/KS2: Victorians / Then & now
Who lived in a Victorian house like this? Through a variety of playful and hands-on activities, we will discover more about Elizabeth Gaskell’s Victorian home. Pupils will compare life in Victorian times to life today through three activities during their visit. These are usually;
A tour and exploration of the four Victorian rooms (can include a focus on the role of Victorian women)
Handling and talking about Victorian household objects and a chance to dress up
A craft activity making a Victorian toy (KS1) or a literacy activity (KS2) using chalks and ink
Curriculum areas: History, Literacy, Drama and Science.
Secondary, Higher and Further Education groups
From £10 per student. Refreshments also available for additional cost. 2 hours maximum.
We offer:
A private tour with our experienced guides (typically these last an hour).
A range of specialist talks/discussions on topics including:
– An introduction to Elizabeth Gaskell: writer and woman
– The Gaskells: a Victorian Manchester family
– Elizabeth Gaskell’s Novels
– Mary Barton and Manchester
Other bespoke talks can also be arranged with sufficient notice.
Email [email protected]
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House welcomes visitors with physical, sensory and learning disabilities. The team will do all they can to ensure that your visit is both comfortable and enjoyable.
If you have questions regarding your visit or would like more specific information please email [email protected]
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House and Garden are 100% physically accessible to visitors
There are lift to all floors
Access ramp at the side of the House to avoid the front stepped entrance
Wheelchairs, mobility scooters and other walking aids can be used within the building and in the garden
Accessible toilets on the ground and first floor
Limited parking for blue badge holders on site. Please phone us 0161 273 2215 to reserve or to make general enquiries about access
Registered careers may visit free of charged with a paying visitor
Assistance Dogs welcome throughout the House including the Tea Room (Drinking water for assistant dogs isn’t supplied as standard so please ask if any is required)
Braille copy of the House guide book is available on request at the welcome desk and we can also provide large print copies of most of the reading material – please ask.
Recommended quiet times to visit are Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, outside of school holidays.
The majority of the collection and furnishing in the house can be touched and chairs sat on – our volunteers will advise
Volunteers provide verbal interpretation in most of the rooms. Please let them know if you need any special accommodations ( E.g. If would like them to speak louder/quieter, more slowly or if you would like to visually describe objects.)
The House’s Accessibility statement provides detailed information on the physical layout of the House. This can be found on the Elizabeth Gaskell’s House website under the accessibility section.
Getting here
84 Plymouth Grove, Manchester, M13 9LW
Situated 1.5 miles from Manchester City Centre.
Several buses pass by the House (197, 191), or within a short walk. Oxford Road and Piccadilly Railway stations are both 1.5 miles away. Direct buses run from each.
Forthcoming events
Online Talk: ‘I wish I were a girl again, half-savage and hardy, and free’ – Emily and Anne Brontë
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Online Reading Course – The Gothic – Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Online Talk: South and North Rather than North and South: Ellen Wilkinson, Elizabeth Gaskell and the ‘Big Strike’ novel
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Online Talk: Cranford – A TV Classic
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Online Talk: Step into the Garden – The Language of Flowers in Cranford and other novels
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Shared Reading Taster Sessions
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Online Talk: Cranford For Beginners
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Online Talk – Elizabeth Gaskell’s Gothic Fiction: An Introduction
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Online Talk: Mothers of the Gothic – Writing the Supernatural
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Online Talk: Mary Shelley Beyond Frankenstein
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Online Talk: The Shadows of Salem – Myth V Reality in Lois the Witch and Other Tales
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Online Event: Elizabeth Gaskell V Anne Brontë – Monsters and Madmen
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Online Talk: Victorian Gothic – Haunted Houses and Night-time Terrors
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Online Event: Elizabeth Gaskell V George Eliot – The Moorland Cottage V The Mill on the Floss
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
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