Harewood House is a beautiful Georgian mansion nestled in the Yorkshire countryside.
The intricate gilded detailing and luxurious furnishings are entwined with a brutal history that Harewood House is not afraid to confront. The grounds include a terraced garden, lake, playground, courtyard, kitchen garden and many walking trails.
Harewood House makes for a fun and relaxing day trip from York or Leeds!
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Address: Harewood House, Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LG, UK
Opening Hours: The House is open 10.30am to 4pm, and the Gardens are open 10am to 6pm.
Ticket Price: £18 for adults and £10 for children.
Website
3 reasons why you should visit Harewood House
1. So peaceful
I visited Harewood House in the peak of summer (July) and I didn’t feel crowded by visitors as I usually do. The grounds are so large that it is easy to escape the other visitors.
2. Off the beaten track
Harewood House is off the tourist track because there is no direct transport route or pre-planned tours available. Most visitors to this site are local York or Leeds residents.
3. All day activity for £18
Visiting Harewood Wood will take up an entire day. This means that you have a whole day of entertainment for only £18 + roughly £4-£14 in transport fees.
How to Get to Harewood House from York
I took a train from York to Harrogate. The journey took about 30 minutes and cost £5. I crossed the road to catch the 36 bus (£2) to Harewood.
TIP: If you are making multiple train journeys across the UK, check out if a Railcard will give you any savings. You can save 1/3 of your rail fare if you are aged between 16-30 or over 60, or you have a disability. Railcards start at £30 for 1 year.
The bus arrived in the village of Harewood around 10:30 am, just in time for the opening of the House. The village was eerily quiet; there was not much more than a pub and a school.
How to Get to Harewood House from Leeds
Just catch the no. 36 bus from its depot at Leeds Bus Station. The journey takes about 45 minutes.
Just 10 metres from the bus stop was the gate to the Harewood House. This was when I realised I had not planned this day trip well enough. In fact, I hadn’t even looked at the map.
If I had, I would have realised that the actual House was at the end of a mile long driveway.
Although it was the middle of summer, the wind was bitterly cold and I was starting to regret not packing a scarf as I trudged alone down the driveway.
The girl behind the booth at the end of the driveway was surprised when she saw me on arrive on foot. I was the only person who had walked; apparently everyone else had the driveway memo and drove a car.
She said they do offer a shuttle from the entrance of the grounds to the house, but I didn’t see any shuttles or signs about this.
How to Spend 2 Days in York + 2 Great Day Trip Ideas!
York Travel Essentials
SIM cards: Airalo offers eSIMS for over 200 countries which you can install BEFORE travelling, saving you the stress of running around to find a store or from being ripped off by local vendors. This is perfect for backpackers who are travelling to multiple destinations in a short period of time.
Insurance: You should NOT go overseas without getting travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you in case you get injured or your plans change or are cancelled. I always use Covermore, because the cover is comprehensive and they were easy to work with when I needed to make a claim.
Banking: When travelling and saving for travel I use Up Bank, an online Australian bank, that allows fee-free overseas transactions, unlimited savings ‘pools’ and easy transfers. If you join Up with my invite code we both get $13!
Harewood House
The main reason I had spontaneously decided to visit Harewood House was because they had an exhibition about the artist Joshua Reynolds. Had I ever heard of a Joshua Reynolds? Not in the slightest. But I felt like the universe was giving me a sign because my last name is also Reynolds.
The interior of Harewood House was luxuriously furnished. I have never seen inside Buckingham Palace, but I imagine it to be something like this.
The rooms were decorated with ornate mirrors, twisted gold lamps with embroidered lampshades, intricate wallpaper and the most incredible four poster beds that I have ever seen.
As I made my way through the house, I learned about the history of its construction.
The house was built in the mid to late 1700’s for Edwin Lascelles, funded by profits made through the family’s West Indies (now known as the Carribean) plantation and the Transatlantic slave trade.
The current Earl of Harewood, David Lascelles, has been open about discussing and acknowledging this brutal history.
The ancestors of David Harewood, an actor famous for his role as Captain Poison in the movie Blood Diamond, were enslaved by the Lascelles family.
The Harewood House youtube channel posted an interesting interview between David Lascelles and David Harewood in honour of the newly commissioned portrait of David Harewood that was added to the Harewood House collection in late 2023.
The House also has ties with the royal family, as the 6th Earl of Harewood married Princess Mary in 1922. There are photographs displayed of Prince William and Princess Kate visiting the house with their children, so the tie must still remain strong.
The view of Harewood House is just as impressive from the rear. There is an impeccably kept terraced garden surrounded by yellow gravel and stone features.
Whitby Day Trip: The Ultimate Guide to this Coastal Gem
Looking for day trips from York? Check out my guide to the seaside village of Whitby.
Lakeside Walk
I downloaded the Harewood House map and followed the Lakeside Walk. This 1 mile walk goes through the Courtyard, past the Himalayan Garden around to the Walled Garden.
Near the Walled Garden is the Bothy Teahouse and a patch of grass with picnic tables. It was the perfect place for my late picnic lunch while I watched the ducks.
The Walled Garden is the old kitchen garden, with wide beds of vegetables and herbs. There was really no one else around; this is the best place to really get away from people and get in touch with nature.
South Park Walk
The South Park Walk encircles the original manor that was on this plot of land, Gawthorpe Manor. When I visited, they were conducting archaeological digging or restoration of the remains of the old Manor.
North Park Walk
The North Park walk makes its way from the parking lot to the All Saints Church. Only people who have paid to visit Harewood House can enter this now abandoned church. Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood, was buried nearby.
At this point, I was exhausted. I think I had walked 20,000 steps and I was ready to get back to the warm living room of my hostel.
The person greeting guests at the front door and she said that they had found a cover for the shuttle driver (finally). I sat on the front steps beside a middle-aged couple as I waited for this shuttle. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t a European version of a tuk-tuk with plastic walls and no seat belt.
As we puttled along the driveway, I was sure that I could have walked to the gate in far less time.
I joined a boy in the stone bus shelter and we sat together as we waited for the 36 bus to arrive, nodding in acknowledgement rather than greeting him to avoid revealing my Australian accent.
Final Thoughts
Is Harewood House worth visiting?
Absolutely. Harewood House is a fun day trip to take from York or Leeds that will take up to a full day to explore completely.
The price is pretty reasonable, and the house and grounds are absolutely beautiful and peaceful.
If you have a spare day in your York itinerary, or you’re looking for something to do this weekend, maybe visit Harewood House!
Where to Stay in York
Most visitors of Harewood House stay in York.
$ Hostel $
Safestay York Micklegate
88-90 Micklegate, York, YO1 6JX, United Kingdom
Safestay York Micklegate is my hostel of choice in York. There are only two others: Astor York and York YHA. This hostel is the closest to the centre of town and only 300 metres from the train station. It is a Georgian-style building with historical features and a variety of room options. Check availability or see other options.
$$ Hotel $$
Diamonds Inn
39 Monkgate, York, YO31 7PB, United Kingdom
If you are looking for a no-frills basic guesthouse, this is the place to stay. Located just outside the city walls, this guesthouse provides quiet, simple accommodation close to the main sights of York. Check availability or see other options.
$$$ Hotel $$$
Minster Walk Guesthouse
22 Marygate, Bootham, York, YO30 7BH, United Kingdom
If you are looking for the absolute top-notch accommodation in York, look no further than Minster Walk Guesthouse. This guesthouse is located just next door to St Mary’s Abbey and the Yorkshire Museum Gardens. The gorgeous interiors reflect the building’s historical heritage. Check availability or see other options.
How to Get to York
I recommend flying to London, then taking the train or bus to York.
Train
York is a 2 hour train journey from London. I recommend booking tickets well in advance to get the best deal. Ticket prices range from £20-40 each way.
Bus
National Express buses from London take about 6 to 7 hours. Ticket prices range from £16-25 each way.
Car
Driving from London to York takes about 4 to 5 hours via M1.
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