Kelmarsh Hall
Brick-built elegant, eighteenth-century country house.
Main Road, Kelmarsh, Northampton, NN6 9LY
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Accessible parking
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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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Free parking
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Mostly wheelchair accessible
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Parkland / open spaces
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Pet friendly
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Picnic area
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Shop
We work hard to ensure that all visitors to Kelmarsh can access as much of the site, with as few restrictions as possible. We reserve space for blue badge parking in front of the visitor centre, and access to the visitor centre is ramped.
We offer a useful orientation map which shows where the location of the assisted access points to the hall and gardens, as well as the disabled toilets and baby changing. It also shows the accessibility of the garden pathways, showing any steps or steep gradients. Many paths in the garden are loose gravel so we recommend that wheelchair users bring a companion to assist them.
Ramps and platform lifts are in place in the Hall to provide almost complete access to the site. We have two platform lifts, one for the main hall and one to provide access to the laundry block and the Learning & Activity Centre. Please ask a member of staff for assistance using the lifts.
Unfortunately, the first floor rooms can only be accessed via a staircase. The laundry tunnel has two steps which may restrict access, but each end can be easily accessed by using the platform lifts.
Built in 1732, Kelmarsh Hall is an elegant Palladian country house, shaped over the centuries by the people who have lived here and the influences they have brought with them.
From noted antiquarian William Hanbury to banker and horse-racing enthusiast Richard Naylor, each owner has left their mark on Kelmarsh. Perhaps none more so than Nancy Lancaster, the renowned ‘doyenne of Country House style’, whose distinctive approach to interiors and design continues to influence the character and atmosphere of Kelmarsh today.
Step below stairs and discover the fascinating world of the Victorian servants who lived and worked at Kelmarsh. Visitors can explore the old servants’ quarters, follow the historic laundry tunnel and discover both the wet and dry laundry rooms.
It is a particularly fun area for younger visitors, who can try their hand at polishing silver, explore the servants’ spaces and keep an eye out for Kelmarsh’s resident ghost!
Upstairs, visitors can explore Nancy Lancaster’s bedroom and the Gentleman’s Suite, as well as the ‘Story of Kelmarsh’ exhibition.
The exhibition brings the history of Kelmarsh to life through a timeline of the Hall’s past, alongside fascinating objects and items from the Kelmarsh archive.
Kelmarsh Hall sits within a beautiful working estate, surrounded by grazing parkland and its Grade II listed gardens.
The gardens feature a distinctive Walled Garden, Sunken Garden, topiary and rose gardens, woodland, lake and herbaceous borders. Much of the garden design was shaped by Nancy Lancaster, alongside influential garden designer Norah Lindsay and landscape architect Geoffrey Jellicoe.
Nancy’s informal and feminine style creates a relaxed and welcoming garden experience throughout the year, with the gardens particularly renowned for their spectacular display of dahlias in late summer.
There is plenty for younger visitors to discover around the estate. Children can follow the Fairy Walk through the woodland or take part in the Moo Trail around the Hall.
The Visitor Centre is home to the Stableyard Gift Shop, where visitors can browse a selection of gifts and locally inspired products.
For refreshments, Sweet Pea’s Tearoom serves lunches, hot drinks and delicious cakes, with pre-bookable afternoon teas also available.
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.
Historic Houses members visit for free.
Adult Admission
House and Gardens: £17 Gardens Only: £8
Concession Admission
House and Gardens: £16 Gardens Only: £7
Children Admission
House and Gardens: £9.50 Gardens Only: £4.50
Family – £52.50
Accessible ticket – £14
Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens welcomes pre-arranged group visits throughout the season. Whether you’re interested in exploring the Hall and its fascinating history or enjoying the beauty of the historic gardens, there is plenty to discover during a day at Kelmarsh.
Group visits must be booked in advance, with usual admission prices applying. To arrange a visit or discuss your requirements, please contact our Visitor Team at [email protected].
We offer a choice of group visit experiences, including:
Hall & Gardens – Unguided Visit: Explore the Hall and Gardens at your own pace.
Hall Tour: Discover the history of Kelmarsh and its former occupants with a guided tour of the Hall. Tours are available on selected weekdays.
Gardens Visit: Enjoy the historic gardens at your leisure.
Guided Garden Tour: Discover the stories, design and planting of the gardens with our Head Gardener.
Our knowledgeable volunteer Hall guides bring the history of Kelmarsh to life as they take you from room to room, sharing stories about the Hall, its former occupants and its collections.
For garden enthusiasts, our Head Gardener can provide an engaging guided tour, offering an insight into the history and development of the gardens.
Groups must consist of a minimum of 15 people. We kindly ask that all groups, regardless of size, contact us in advance so that we can help plan your visit and ensure you have the best possible experience.
We can also create bespoke group packages, including refreshments with Sweet Pea’s Tearoom, to suit your requirements.
We look forward to welcoming your group to Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens.
Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens is delighted to welcome school groups to explore the Hall, Victorian Servants’ Quarters and Gardens.
Our dedicated team of learning staff and volunteers can create bespoke programmes tailored to suit the needs and interests of each school group. Whether your pupils are discovering what life was like for Victorian servants or exploring plant biodiversity and the natural environment, our team can create an engaging and educational visit.
With a range of activities and experiences available across the Hall and Gardens, school visits can be designed to complement classroom learning while bringing history, nature and the past to life.
We work hard to ensure that all visitors to Kelmarsh can access as much of the site, with as few restrictions as possible. We reserve space for blue badge parking in front of the visitor centre, and access to the visitor centre is ramped.
We offer a useful orientation map which shows where the location of the assisted access points to the hall and gardens, as well as the disabled toilets and baby changing. It also shows the accessibility of the garden pathways, showing any steps or steep gradients. Many paths in the garden are loose gravel so we recommend that wheelchair users bring a companion to assist them.
Ramps and platform lifts are in place in the Hall to provide almost complete access to the site. We have two platform lifts, one for the main hall and one to provide access to the laundry block and the Learning & Activity Centre. Please ask a member of staff for assistance using the lifts.
Unfortunately, the first floor rooms can only be accessed via a staircase. The laundry tunnel has two steps which may restrict access, but each end can be easily accessed by using the platform lifts.
Getting here
Main Road, Kelmarsh, Northampton, NN6 9LY
Arriving by road:
FROM THE A14 (FOR THE M1 AND M6)
Take the exit at Junction 2, and head north towards Market Harborough. Kelmarsh is 500m north from the A14, taking the left turn from the crossroads.
FROM THE A508
The entrance to the hall is located on the main A508 road, 5 miles south of Market Harborough and 11 miles north of Northampton.
Arriving by Public Transport:
Kelmarsh is easily accessible by public transport, with two nearby train stations. Northampton Station has regular trains to London Euston and Birmingham New Street and Market Harborough Station has regular trains to London St Pancras and Nottingham.
There is a regular bus service (Stagecoach X7) which runs from Leicester to Milton Keynes, via Market Harborough and Northampton, which stops outside the entrance.
Why our members love visiting Kelmarsh Hall
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