Things To See and Do
New for 2023: The Wild Man Play Area
Release your inner Wild Man with our new play area, featuring towering climbing frames, winding slide, swings and lots more to explore, along with a dedicated area for toddlers.
You can keep an eye on your children from the new café, where you’ll find fresh and local drinks and food, including the North East’s famous stottie cakes.
Belsay Hall
Following his honeymoon, Sir Charles Monck was inspired by Greek and Italian architecture and designed Belsay Hall. Using stone quarried from the gardens to build the hall, it was completed in 1817. During your visit, admire the imposing Pillar Hall and look out for the coffered ceiling and elaborate decoration in the reception rooms.
As part of the Belsay Awakes project, key conservation works have been completed in the hall as well as essential repairs to the roof.
Find out moreEnchanting Gardens
Lose yourself in the vast 30 acre Grade I listed gardens. Follow through ravines cut out of rock to discover the jurassic-feeling Quarry Garden. Inspired by Sir Charles Monck's travels, the Quarry Garden has its own microclimate which means all sorts of exotic plants grow here.
The gardens are is filled with an unusual collection of plants and home to many species of wildlife. There is always something new to discover here, as the landscape changes with the seasons.
Explore the garden and seek out the trail markers, to find out about some of the plants and wildlife at Belsay this season.
Medieval Castle
The castle was built as a refuge at a time of Anglo-Scottish warfare but it was also designed to impress.
Explore the maze of rooms and keep your eye out for rare traces of elaborate medieval wall paintings. In the 18th-century wing you can still see the old cooking range and fireplaces.
The whole ensemble here is the creation of the Middleton family over more than seven centuries and you can watch their story unfold through an impressive animation in the castle told by the Wild Man.
Make sure to follow in the footsteps of the Wild Man to reach the castle through the activity posts and markers dotted around the gardens...
