Haddon Hall is a stunning stately home located near Bakewell in Derbyshire. It boasts 900 years of history and is one of the oldest houses is England. It’s also packed with original features making it a superb example of early English aristocratic life. Your visit begins on the driveway to the house, where you walk across a simple stone bridge over the River Wye. The house at this point looks more like a castle. It was built in times when defence was still an important feature for any house. You enter the main central courtyard (pictured below) through a large arched doorway and you’re instantly transported hundreds of years into the past. It’s like walking onto a film set and it’s no surprise that Haddon Hall has been used by countless TV and movie productions over recent years. They include Billions, Wolf Hall, 3 adaptations of Jayne Ayre, the Princess Bride, Pride & Prejudice and the Other Boleyn Girl.
The tour of the house includes many significant rooms. The kitchen remains an authentic example of how food was prepared in Tudor times and the Medieval Banqueting Hall still has a tapestry which was gifted to the family by visiting Henry VIII. The small chapel is incorporated into a corner of the house and is absolutely beautiful with original 15th century frescoes on the walls. Many of the rooms have original oak panelling and make sure you look up in the Parlour to see the striking painted ceiling of Tudor roses. Perhaps the most stunning room though is a more ‘modern’ addition from Elizabethan times. It’s the Long Gallery which is flooded with light from the huge latticed windows. On our most recent visit, we were lucky enough to see the house at Christmas with decorations galore and a huge tree in the banqueting hall.
Outside, wander around the Tudor gardens, packed with colour in the summer and moody drama in winter. Just like the house, the gardens are surrounded by walls, but there’s a set of viewing steps in one corner on the lower level offering a view of the river, another ancient bridge and the surrounding countryside. What strikes you about every part of this house are the numerous original details. The main reason they still exist is that this house was not lived in for around 200 years. Instead the family preferred to make Belvoir Castle their primary residence. Whilst many other Tudor houses were updated in Victorian times, Haddon Hall was not.
Haddon Hall is open for general admission from March to October each year. There are special events at Christmas time too. Opening hours are 10.30am to 4pm. Standard adult admission is £26 (2024 prices) or free with the Heritage Houses card.
LOCATION & MAP
Address: Haddon Hall, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1LA
Phone: +44 1629 812855
Email: info@haddonhall.co.uk
The car park for Haddon Hall is on the opposite side of the main A6 road. Parking costs £3.80 (2024 prices). Please take care when crossing the road to access the hall.
MORE ON HADDON HALL
Haddon Hall – Official website
Haddon Hall – Wikipedia
Hotels near Haddon Hall – Booking.com