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Monday 10am - 6pm Tuesday 10am - 6pm Wednesday 10am - 6pm Thursday 10am - 6pm Friday 10am - 6pm Saturday 10am - 6pm Sunday 10am - 6pm

Harewood House

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Harewood House

Yorkshire's most vibrant country house with over 140 acres of stunning gardens and grounds and three incredible play areas. We think you‘ll be delighted!

A unique blend of history, heritage, art, and nature. Harewood sits at the heart of Yorkshire, one of the Treasure Houses of England, the house was built in the 18th century and has art collections to rival the finest in the land in the setting of Yorkshire’s most beautiful landscape. Harewood is just as much about today as it is about history. There are exhibitions of contemporary art, an award-w

inning educational department and over 100 acres of exquisite gardens. You can expect the unexpected at Harewood with special events and themed weekends throughout the season to surprise you. Whether you want to visit the House and its wonderful collections, relax in the Gardens or play on the Playground, come to Harewood.

06/09/2026

At Harewood, it is never too early to talk about Christmas...

Join us on Sunday 27 September from 11am for a relaxed Volunteer Open Morning, where you can discover how you can be part of the magic at Harewood this Christmas. Come for cake, coffee, and a friendly chat about the exciting ways you could get involved during our festive season.

From 6 November, we’ll be looking for volunteers to support Christmas at Harewood in a variety of roles, including:
🎄 Volunteer Event Ambassadors - helping over 50,000 visitors enjoy the sparkle and wonder inside the House
🎁 Christmas Shop Support - assisting at weekends and throughout the holidays in our gift‑filled, decoration‑brimming shop
🚙 Santa‑mobile Drivers - driving our electric shuttle bus to help visitors get around
📚️ Secondhand Bookshop Volunteers - helping run our much‑loved bookshop

If you’re curious, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Sarah, at [email protected] for more details.

And remember, volunteering isn’t just for Christmas. You’ll be warmly welcomed to continue volunteering into 2027 and beyond.

Image descriptions:
1 - A Christmas tree decorated with warm lights, gold decorations and red baubles stands beside a grand piano in the Music Room. Two people stand in the foreground, seen in silhouette, while candles and Christmas decorations add to the cosy festive setting.

2- A grand Christmas tree stands in the Yellow Drawing Room, decorated with frosted branches, white and gold ornaments and warm twinkling lights. Wrapped presents are arranged beneath the tree, with an elaborate gilded mirror, antique furniture and paintings visible in the background.

3 - Three smiling women stand together inside the Entrance Hall in front of a decorated Christmas tree. They are dressed warmly and wearing volunteer-style lanyards and name badges, with ornate interiors, artwork and a sculpture visible behind them.

03/09/2026

In the Cinnamon Drawing Room, you’ll find Henrietta, Countess of Harewood, an unfinished portrait by celebrated British artist Thomas Lawrence PRA. 🖼️

Painted in oil on canvas in the 19th century, this captivating head-and-shoulders portrait depicts Henrietta (1770–1840) looking to her left, a delicate ribbon adorning her hair.

The sitter was previously identified as Lady Louisa Lascelles, later Lady George Cavendish. However, similarities between the sitter’s hairstyle and a portrait of Henrietta by John Hoppner in the Harewood Collection support the current identification.

Inspired by the portrait? Come and join us on 12 September for our Portrait Painting Workshop.

Designed as an introduction to portrait painting, this one-day workshop will guide you through creating a portrait from a reference image, with tuition and guidance throughout the day. You’ll develop your observational drawing skills, painting technique, and understanding of colour and colour mixing, while exploring the fundamentals of portraiture through paint.

🎨 Join us on 12 September and discover the art of portrait painting.

Image description: The portrait of Henrietta, Countess of Harewood, an unfinished portrait by celebrated British artist Thomas Lawrence PRA, hanging in the Cinnamon Drawing Room. The portrait shows her gazing up to the left, she has rosy cheeks, and her hair is tousled up in a bun. The background is and her dress remains unfinished just leaving a beige background.

02/09/2026

In 1971, Cecil Beaton came to Harewood on a very particular quest: to find iconic royal garments for his forthcoming fashion exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Among his discoveries were Queen Mary’s remarkable toques.👒

A ‘toque’ is a brimless hat often styled on turban-like headwear derived from Turkish and Persian dress. Queen Mary was famous for wearing this style of hat long after it had gone out of fashion.

Adding height and allowing full visibility of the face, they contributed to her commanding and immediately recognisable silhouette. Several of these hats were made by Marjorie Somerset, a notable London milliner of the 1940s. Utilising chiffon and crêpe to create elegant, structured folds, Somerset often embellished her designs with feathers and silk
flowers.

He found Queen Mary’s hats ‘in splendid condition’ though at first they were
‘disappointing’. He noted: ‘One expected to see large loaf-like toques, instead the proportions were so very small. I suppose the great white wig on top of which they were perched gave such an effect of height.’

For Beaton, these garments were more than clothes. They captured an era, an image of royalty and the power of fashion to shape how we remember the past. Explore Queen Mary’s her 1940s toques at Harewood, and discover the royal wardrobe that caught Cecil Beaton’s discerning eye.

Image descriptions:
1 - In the East Bedroom a display features a portrait of Queen Mary in a gilded frame, surrounded by vintage hatboxes, gloves, hats and other personal objects.

2 - A close-up of a pale blue-grey vintage toque displayed on a wooden hat stand, decorated with clusters of pink, blue and white flowers. Other historic hats are softly blurred in the background.

3 - A close-up of a pale blue-grey vintage toque displayed on a wooden hat stand, decorated with clusters of blue flowers. Other historic hats are softly blurred in the foreground.

31/08/2026

Today, as THE OFFICIAL LEEDS WEST INDIAN CARNIVAL PAGE fills the streets once again, we’re throwing it back to our 2022 exhibition, Arthur France: A Son of a Small Island, and a very special piece that was on display. 💙

Arthur France is the founder of Leeds West Indian Carnival, a pioneering cultural figure whose passion, vision and commitment helped establish Europe’s first Caribbean-style carnival in Leeds in 1967. Arthur recognised Carnival as a crucial component of Caribbean culture. After a carnival fête at Kitson College in Leeds in 1966, Arthur persuaded the United Caribbean Association to form a carnival committee. As a result, 1967 saw Europe’s first Caribbean-style carnival take place in Leeds.📍

Many of the now familiar elements were already in place, crucially the parade of Carnival Queens and their Troupes from Potternewton Park in Chapeltown to Leeds City Centre and back again on August Bank Holiday Monday. Leeds West Indian Carnival now attracts more than 100,000 people, making it one of the city’s most important annual cultural events.

For Arthur, Carnival is also an act of remembrance and a way to tell stories about African history. Every costume he creates is designed to tell a story, including ‘Queen Imanje’, made for the 50th anniversary of Leeds West Indian Carnival. 🎭️

Queen Imanje is one of the most powerful queen goddesses in the world. It is said that when her children were stolen from Africa and taken to the Caribbean, she travelled there to protect them so that they would not lose their true identity. She is a loving goddess and is revered for her nurturing, protective ways, but she is also a fierce warrior who always guards the safety of her people.

At the 2017 conference at Leeds Beckett University celebrating 50 years of Carnival in Leeds, Arthur France said:

“I’m passionate about being an African ... Your race comes before your nationality ... That great African continent is what drives carnival ... We are here today celebrating our forefathers and their emancipation ... We are a people full of compassion and love ... We are not too worried about receiving love, but we demand some respect."

Image description: A mixture of close-ups and full room shots of a vibrant carnival costume, ‘Queen Imanje’, is displayed on a mannequin in a grand room. The elaborate blue, white and silver costume features layers of shimmering fabric, large feathered elements, stars and ornate gold detailing. A photograph of the costume being worn is displayed on the wall alongside another image, while trophies and carnival memorabilia sit on the mantelpiece. A steel pan and chair are positioned in front of the fireplace, adding to the Caribbean carnival theme.

29/08/2026

Looking for the best place to spend the long bank holiday weekend? ☀️🌦️

Whether rain or shine, Harewood is the perfect place to make the most of your bank holiday weekend. Explore the beautiful grounds, discover something new, enjoy a delicious bite to eat, or simply take some time to slow down and enjoy a day out surrounded by nature.

And if the British weather doesn’t quite cooperate, we’ve got you covered! 🌧️

If it rains continuously for two hours during your visit, you can claim a return ticket for a day of your choice within the next 3 months. Simply head to Visitor Information with your original receipt or booking reference, and our team will issue your ticket.

So whatever the forecast has in store, there’s no need to let a little rain stop you from making memories at Harewood. Plan your bank holiday visit and come rain or shine, we’ll see you there!

Image description: Aerial view of Harewood House, a grand multi-story stone stately home with classical architecture, set within formal gardens featuring symmetrical parterre designs with clipped hedges, fountains, and statues. Terraced steps lead down to expansive lawns, parkland, and dense woodland reaching rolling hills under a partly cloudy sky, conveying a calm and elegant summer scene

26/08/2026

Happy International Dog Day!

Dogs have always been part of family life here at Harewood 🐾

These images of dogs are from the 5th Countess's photo album. Dachshunds have been a favourite breed throughout the 20th century, but the Lascelles family have also owned Labradors, Spaniels, Poodles, Terriers, Collies and Weimaraners amongst others. There is a special cemetery on the estate where many of them are buried.

Some of their pets’ names, past and present, include: Frida, Islay, Minnie, Lulu, Hermia, Anna, Prim, Bell, Astra, Wizzie, Debbie, Floss, Luna, Dido, Cleo, Judy, Chablis, Arabella, Fudge, Ditto, Peggy, Pepper, Pinch and Jess.

And we’re excited to welcome plenty more four-legged visitors to Harewood for on the Farm, 12–13 September! 🐶

Set in the heart of Yorkshire, DogFest on the Farm is all about dogs doing what they do best, from sheepdog trials and working dog displays to have-a-go activities, open fields to explore, and plenty of opportunities to run, fetch and chase.

There’ll also be local food, Yorkshire makers and regional produce to enjoy, plus special guest James Martin, who’ll be hosting live cooking demonstrations and sharing practical dog nutrition advice in the Kitchen Theatre.

A weekend made for dogs and the people who love them. ❤️

Image description: Black-and-white photographs documenting dogs at Harewood, photographed throughout the 20th century. The images depict dogs in and around House, as well as across the Gardens and wider Grounds.

25/08/2026

Strolling along the Archery Border🌳

The Archery Border is one of the most dramatic features of Harewood’s Terrace gardens. Once a space where the Lascelles family tried their hand at golf and Edwardian ladies honed their archery skills, today it’s a living testament to the ever-evolving landscape of Harewood.

Originally planted with shrubs in the 1930s, it was transformed by Harewood House Trust in 1999 and filled with striking, exotic plants.

Bananas, gingers, yuccas, pineapple lilies, bottle brush, rice-paper trees, magnolias and ‘Devil’s Tobacco’ adorn the lower Terrace wall, presenting a rich array of unusual woody and herbaceous plants from all over the world.

The scale and exuberance of the planting scheme in the Archery Border, combined with its late flowering season, makes a visit to the Terrace in late summer to early autumn an essential part of the Harewood experience.

24/08/2026

Good news! 🎉

Due to popular demand, Cecil Beaton: Staging Icons at Harewood has been extended until 18 October.

Don't miss this opportunity to step into the glamorous world of Cecil Beaton, the legendary photographer who captured some of the most iconic figures of the 20th century, from Hollywood legends and stars of the West End to the British royal family. 📷️

Book your visit and discover one of the 20th century's most influential image-makers before it closes. 🎟️

Image descriptions:
1 - A grey-walled room at Harewood House displays framed black-and-white photographs on both sides of an ornate doorway, with a dark wooden chest, books and a lamp in the foreground.

2 - Visitors gather inside the East bedroom featuring patterned wallpaper, antique furniture, lamps, luggage and a portrait on an easel.

3 - Framed black-and-white photographs from the Cecil Beaton exhibition hang on a dark grey wall, each illuminated against the dim gallery interior, with labels below.

4 - Princess Mary's richly embroidered white historic wedding dress lies across a bed in the East bedroom, surrounded by floral wallpaper, dark green curtains, artwork and soft lamps.

5 - Three black-and-white portraits displayed in black frames suspended by brass chains against a pale grey wall, with small exhibition labels beneath each work.

6- Three visitors sit with their backs to the camera as they look at a row of framed black-and-white Cecil Beaton photographs mounted on a dark grey exhibition wall.

Address

Leeds

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 6pm
Tuesday	10am - 6pm
Wednesday	10am - 6pm
Thursday	10am - 6pm
Friday	10am - 6pm
Saturday	10am - 6pm
Sunday	10am - 6pm

Telephone

+441132181010

Website

http://harewood.org/

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