Join

Designed in line with the ideals of Palladio, a country mansion with literary connections.

Barnard Castle, Co Durham, DL12 9RZ

Rokeby Park in County Durham

Experience this house

Visit

Free admission to members of Historic Houses when you show a valid membership card.
Free admission to members of Historic Houses when you show a valid membership card.
Facilities
  • Accessible loos
  • Accessible parking
  • Free parking
Accessibility
  • Wheelchair access is to the ground floor only (main rooms are upstairs)
  • Accessible toilets
  • Accessible parking
Does our information need updating?
Let us know here

Completed in 1735 by its owner, Sir Thomas Robinson, a leading amateur architect of his day, Rokeby Park represents the heyday of the Palladian-style country house.

A unique collection of 18th century needlework pictures by Anne Morritt (1726 – 1797) are on display as well as a very rare surviving print room. Velásquez’s ‘Toilet of Venus’ hung at Rokeby for almost a century until it was bought by public subscription in 1905 and now hangs in the National Gallery. A copy of the ‘Rokeby Venus’, painted by W.A. Menzies, can be seen in The Saloon at Rokeby.

There are strong connections with Sir Walter Scott, whose epic ballad Rokeby is set in the “beautiful demesne” of Rokeby Park, which visitors to the house can discover for themselves. A recently restored painting, now on display in the dining room, is the only known contemporary painting of the Coronation of Louis XIV.

Opening Times

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.

View website

Welcome to Rokeby Park! Here is all the information you need to plan your visit:

Opening Times

Rokeby Park is currently closed to visitors but will reopen in 2025 on the following dates:

  • Monday 5th May (Early May bank holiday)
  • Monday 26th May (Spring bank holiday)
  • Tuesday 27th May
  • Every Monday and Tuesday from Monday 2nd June to Tuesday 2nd September

Opening hours are from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, with the last admission at 4:30 PM. There is no need to pre-book your visit.

2025 Ticket Prices

  • Adults: £12.00
  • Students: £5.00
  • Art Fund members: 25% discount
  • Historic Houses members: Free
  • Children under 16: Free

Group Visits

Group visits of up to 60 people are available by appointment on any weekday afternoon during the open months. Pre-booked guided tours, typically in groups of 15, last approximately 1.5 hours.

How to Find Us

Rokeby Park is located 3 miles southeast of Barnard Castle on the north side of the A66 between Al(M) and Bowes in Teesdale, County Durham. The postcode is DL12 9RZ, and the OS reference is NZ 080 142.

Parking

Please follow the signs to the car park at the stables. Less able visitors can park at the front of the house.

Access

The house is a short walk from the stable car park. Wheelchair access is available to the ground floor only, where there is also a toilet.

Photography

Photography is not allowed inside the house.

Dogs

Dogs, except for Assistance Dogs, are not permitted in the house or grounds.

Contact Us

For enquiries, you can contact us by:

Admission

Historic Houses members visit for free.

Adult £12.00
Over 65 £8.00
Students £5.00
Under 16s Free

Art Fund Members 25% discount

Group Visits

Group visits of up to 60 are available by appointment on any weekday afternoon during the open months.

Pre-booked guided tours, usually in groups of 15, take around 1.5 hours.

Please contact on [email protected]

Accessibility
  • Wheelchair access is to the ground floor only (main rooms are upstairs)
  • Accessible toilets
  • Accessible parking
Does our information need updating?
Let us know here

Getting here

Barnard Castle, Co Durham, DL12 9RZ

Rokeby Park is located 3 miles south east of Barnard Castle on the north side of A66 between Al(M) and Bowes in Teesdale, County Durham.

Buses stop at end of the driveway, the nearest bus terminal is Barnard Castle, the nearest train station is Darlington.

Numerous cycle routes nearby.

Become a Historic Houses member

Explore the nation’s heritage from just £68 per year.

Hundreds of the most beautiful historic houses, castles, and gardens across Britain offer our members free entry.

Also: receive a quarterly magazine, enjoy monthly online lectures, get exclusive invitations to buy tickets for behind-the-scenes tours, and take up a range of special offers on holidays, books, and other products you might like.

Join now
Rokeby Park Toilet of Venus

Sign up for our newsletter

Read more of our stories, receive exclusive content, and find out what’s on.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our privacy policy.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.