Holker Hall& Gardens

Home to the Cavendish family since it passed to them by marriage in 1756, Holker Hall has never been sold and remains a private residence, with parts of the house and 25 acres of gardens open to the public. The current occupants are Lucy Cavendish and her husband Tor McLaren. The gardens won the Christie's/Historic Houses Garden of the Year award in 1991 and include a lime tree recognised by the Tree Council as one of Britain's great trees, said to be around 400 years old, along with a limestone cascade and an accessible deer park open from March to October. A food hall and courtyard cafe sell produce from the estate and the wider area, and the gift shop carries garden and house-related goods. The hall itself opens only from late morning to mid-afternoon on the days the estate is open, Wednesday to Sunday and bank holidays through the season, while the gardens, cafe and shop keep slightly longer hours. Dogs are permitted on leads throughout the grounds.