Levens Hall and Gardens Heralds Arrival of Seven-days-a-week Opening

South Lakes visitor attraction, Levens Hall and Gardens, will be doing something brand-new for 2025, welcoming visitors on all seven days of the week once it opens its doors for the season, on Friday, March 28.

To build up the anticipation for this new departure at the current Cumbria Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, Levens Hall and Gardens has suggested distinct ways to enjoy the seven days!

To start, visitors could engage in Mindfulness Mondays, heading to spots within the ten-acre gardens at which true reflection and contemplation can be enjoyed.  They could sit on the bench seat under one of the great Umbrella trees in the Topiary Garden, enjoying the view of the world’s oldest topiary garden from under trees that have stood here for over 300 years.  Or maybe they could head to the Fountain Garden and enjoy the sight of the sun reflecting on the pool of water in front of them.

Topiary Tuesdays suggest how visitors can really feel like Alice in Wonderland as they take in all the shapes, figures and features to be found in the Topiary Garden.  With over 100 pieces to study, this is a great thing to do mid-week, when things are quieter.

Wellington Wednesdays are all about stepping inside the magnificent Elizabethan hall and exploring its links to the Duke of Wellington and his adversary Napoleon Bonaparte.  With items directly associated with the Battle of Waterloo, as well as other possessions of the pair, this is a great way to spend a Wednesday.

Throttle-less Thursdays encourage visitors to travel to Levens Hall and Gardens sustainably, using pedal power, or by arriving on foot.  Levens Hall and Gardens is on the Bay Cycle Way and National Cycle Way Route 6 passes nearby and there are bike racks available near the entrance kiosk.  Routes such as Levens to Sedgwick, or Levens to Witherslack, also help cyclists make Levens Hall a pitstop on a longer ride.  Those wanting to travel by e-bike will find that Levens Hall and Gardens is also on the Easeeride bike route, with e-bikes for hire from Arnside train station, or delivered to suit.

Walkers, meanwhile, can combine a visit with a walk on marked footpaths through the glorious Levens Park, just across the road.  Levens Hall is also on the Cumbrian Coastal Way footpath.  

Fashionable Fridays are days on which fashionistas can take a selfie and follow in the footsteps of fashion models for both Barbour and Malina, who headed to the gardens in 2024.  With so many Instagram-friendly features, there are some fantastic opportunities for those wanting to get an attention grabbing pic on their profile.

Saturdays can be Sa-tudor-days if visitors learn all about the Elizabethan heritage of Levens Hall and step inside to see all the references to Queen Elizabeth I.  These can be found within exquisitely carved mantels around fireplaces and in ornate plasterwork and other elements of craftsmanship.

Sketching Sundays conclude the week and suggest how Levens Hall and Gardens frequently welcomes artists who just want to informally bring a sketch pad, sit in the gardens and create something magical with their pencil.  That could be a topiary piece but could equally be an impression of the dramatic Beech Circle, a view over the Bowling Green or a beautiful representation of a shrub in one of the stunning herbaceous borders.  Options are numerous.

Levens Hall and Gardens’ owner, Richard Bagot, says, “Seven-days-a-week opening will create many more opportunities for us to welcome visitors and let them explore all we have to offer.  We decided to open on Fridays in 2023, and can now welcome visitors on Saturdays too.  

“This will remove any obstacles to visiting that may have existed.  It also brings things into line with our much-acclaimed Levens Kitchen and Levens Bakery, which also open every day, not to mention our gift shop.  Those arriving for one of our must-have brunches, lunches or afternoon teas will no longer be disappointed to find they can’t also head into the Hall or gardens to see glories such as unique Cordova leather wallpaper, the earliest English patchwork, amazing furnishings and, of course, our Guinness World Record-holding topiary garden.”

To plan your visit, use the information provided at www.levenshall.co.uk  Tickets for Hall and Gardens admission will cost £16.45 for an adult, £5.50 for a child and £41 for a family of two adults and up to three children aged 5-16. Gardens only admission is £12.45, £4.50 and £31 respectively.  

Great value season tickets cost £30 for one person, £55 for two people and £60 for a family. Anyone visiting more than once in the season, which runs to October, can save money with this option.

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Editors notes

Levens Hall & Gardens is a historic house in the South Lakes, Cumbria, close to Kendal and home to the world's oldest topiary gardens, dating from 1694, created by French garden designer, Guillaume Beaumont. The Hall is a stunning Elizabethan house built around a 13th century pele tower and has close links to the Duke of Wellington, as well as various items which once belonged to him and Napoleon Bonaparte. Levens Park is home to the rare Bagot goats gifted to the Bagot family and a place in which to stroll and enjoy nature. Levens Kitchen is the contemporary new cafe, full of delights for cake lovers and foodies alike.