Hardwick Hall & Garden, Derbyshire

Tour Information

A spectacular Elizabethan house filled with rich furnishings. See the famous Gideon tapestries now on show after a 24-year restoration project.

Experience the epitome of Elizabethan grandeur, where history meets architectural marvel in the heart of Derbyshire at Hardwick Hall & Garden. One of the finest Elizabethan buildings in the country, Hardwick Hall is a display of Elizabethan extravagance and power.

Bess of Hardwick, a formidable and talented woman, was responsible for the creation of both Hardwick Hall and Chatsworth House. Her four marriages led to her becoming the Countess of Shrewsbury and one of the richest women in Elizabethan England.

Enjoy the gardens which are laid out around the hall. Take a break in Hardwick’s Great Barn Restaurant or bring a picnic to eat in the grounds. Treat yourself in the gift shop, browse the pre-loved books or pick up something for the garden.

Included in the cost is:

Entry into Hardwick Hall & Garden

Discounted fee for National Trust Members

Expert Guides are available throughout the house

Tour accompanied by Wisteria Tours

Return coach travel with the fabulous Lakeside Coaches.

Find out about the Itinerary…

The final Gideon tapestry at Hardwick Hall after a 24 year conservation project.
The hanging of the final Gideon tapestry at Hardwick Hall after a 24 year conservation project. July 2023.
Gideon Attacking the Midianites, 1 of 13 of the Story of Gideon, Oudenaarde, 1578.
Visitors in the Yew Alley at Hardwick, Derbyshire
View across the series of ponds in the park at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire.
View across the Herb Garden to the south front of Hardwick Hall
A mown path through the Orchard in June at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire.
Ornamental garden wall and pink roses in June at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire.
The herb garden at Hardwick Hall in summer - wild leek, pot marigolds and santolina.

See the historic restored Gideon Tapestries

Fascinating Elizabethan Hall

£55 National Trust Member, £73 non-members

10^th July 2024

Ellesmere, Shrewsbury

Book Online

09.00 Departing Lakeside Coach Yard, Ellesmere

10.00 Departing Abbey Foregate car park, Shrewsbury

12.00 – 16.00 Hardwick Hall visit

18.00 Arriving back in Shrewsbury & Ellesmere at 18.45

Timings will to be confirmed 7-days before travel.

Booking your place

A non-refundable deposit of £20 per person is payable when booking. Full payment is due 10 weeks before departure.

Itinerary

Tour Information

Hardwick Hall

Discover incredible historic collections from the famous Hardwick textiles to fascinating paintings and furniture. Fortunately, Bess’ descendants, the Dukes of Devonshire preserved Hardwick – partly due to lavishing much of their attention and money on nearby Chatsworth House – saving it from significant alteration over the years.

Arriving at 12.00 there is time to enjoy the house at your leisure. Our tickets allow entry at any time throughout the day and expert guides will be available in all rooms to share stories about the house and answer your questions.

The Gideon Tapestries

The unique set of 16th Century tapestries are now on display after a 24-year, £1.7 million restoration project.

The 13 tapestries, which portray the Old Testament story of Gideon, were bought for Hardwick Hall in 1592. Centuries of damage and dirt have been tackled by a team of experts working on one 6m (19.6ft) wall hanging at a time. The process involved shipping the tapestries to Belgium for wet cleaning before specialist needlework repairs.

Expert guides will be available throughout the house to help with more information about the tapestries.

The Gardens

Hardwick’s historic garden will be bursting with summer colour. Stroll around the herb garden which hums with bees and radiates scents, stroll through the orchards and enjoy an abundance of colour in the mixed borders.

Hardwick’s Great Barn Restaurant

The restaurant serves a great selection of refreshments. Enjoy soup, main meals, light snacks, hot and cold drinks, cakes and scones.

Stables Shop and second-hand bookshop

The shop has a range of seasonal gifts and tempting treats, some of which are sourced locally. Whether you’re after some retail therapy, a last-minute gift, to stock up on greetings cards or your favourite jam, you’ll find it in the Stables Shop.

Check out the range of gardening stock and plants for sale. The Hardwick gardeners grow some of the plants and there’s always a good choice available so you can add something interesting to your garden.

Discover the second-hand bookshop, where you’ll find a great selection of preloved books.

Booking your place

The cost for the day is £55 for a National Trust Members, £73 for a Non National Trust Members which includes return coach travel from your pick-up point and entry into Hardwick Hall & Garden.

A non-refundable deposit of £20 per person is payable when booking. Full payment is due 10-weeks before departure.

Accessibility & Mobility Information

For an overview of facilities click here to go the NT Hardwick Hall Home Page and scroll down to the Accessibility section.

You can see Hardwick Hall’s detailed Access Statement by clicking here.

Hardwick Hall National Trust Images: All of the images on this page are kindly provided courtesy of the National Trust and show Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire.