Bishops' House

Is it right for my child?

• What it is: the Friends describe a small museum. Some rooms are laid out in Jacobean style, and others hold cabinets of artefacts and information boards.
• The building is the star: the Friends say that for many visitors, seeing the building itself is the highlight. They call it half-timbered: a frame of load-bearing timber, infilled with plaster, wood and other materials.
• Rooms to see: Sheffield City Council says the Great Parlour is restored as a typical dining room. It says the first-floor chamber holds the bedroom furniture and fittings listed in a 17th century inventory.
• A hidden mystery: the house has witches’ marks, patterns scratched into its timbers to ward off evil spirits. There are burn marks too, meant to bless the building against fire or the fires of hell. The Friends say they are hard to find, so ask a volunteer.
• A name puzzle for older children: the house was linked in Victorian times to two bishops from the Blythe family. The Friends say tree-ring dating proves both had died before this building went up.
• Ages: the official pages give no age guidance. The Friends say young families tend to stay half an hour to an hour, while history fans can easily spend over an hour.
• Hands-on activities: the official pages do not mention any for weekend family visitors. Guided tours, a handling collection and crafts are described for booked school visits only.

Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist

• Go on a Saturday or Sunday between 10am and 4pm. Those are the normal opening times the visit page gave on 12 November 2026.
• Check the visit page on the morning you go. The Friends ask visitors to look there for any change of plans first.
• Plan a short visit. Pair it with time in Meersbrook Park, which the council lists with a children’s playground.
• Wheelchair users should contact the Friends before travelling, as only the downstairs is accessible and there are steps.
• Bring a snack for the park. The official pages do not mention a café at the house.
• Ask a volunteer to help you find the witches’ marks.

Prices and tickets

Entry is free. The Friends’ website states free entry on its home page and in its site header, which reads “Open weekends, free entry”. The official pages do not mention tickets or booking for a normal weekend visit.

The Friends of Bishops’ House is a registered charity run entirely by volunteers. The official pages give no suggested donation amount.

Some events cost extra. The events page links to tickets for music events and fused glass workshops.

School groups pay separately. The schools page lists £3.50 per child for a 2-hour half day and £5 for a full day. Accompanying adults are free.

Pushchairs, babies, toilets and access

The Friends say Bishops’ House is unfortunately not wheelchair friendly. Access is restricted to the downstairs, and not all wheelchairs can move freely around that floor. There is a step at the front door and another step into the parlour.

The Friends invite visitors to contact them for more specific information about their needs.

Pushchairs: the official pages do not mention pushchairs or a place to leave them. Bear in mind the steps described above.

Toilets: the schools page, written for booked school groups, notes that the house has only one toilet. The official pages do not say whether weekend visitors can use it, and do not mention baby changing.

The park is steep. The council describes Meersbrook Park as set on a steep hillside, with Bishops’ House at the top. Allow for an uphill walk if you arrive from the lower park.

Food and drink

The official pages do not mention a café or food for sale at Bishops’ House.

Meersbrook Park is free to visit from dawn until dusk, according to the council. The official pages do not name picnic areas, so pack food you can eat on the go.

Getting there and parking

Address: the Friends give Norton Lees Lane, Sheffield, S8 9BE. They add that the house actually sits at the junction of Lees Hall Avenue and Lees Nook, by the top entrance to Meersbrook Park.

The house is about two miles south of Sheffield city centre, in Norton Lees.

By car: the Friends suggest setting your satnav to Lees Hall Avenue, S8 9NA. They say there is usually space by the top of the park gates. The area is residential, with ample roadside parking nearby.

The council lists a car park at the park’s main entrance off Brook Road. It also lists two disabled parking spaces in front of and next to Meersbrook Hall.

By bus: the Friends point you to the Travel South Yorkshire journey planner. Routes it suggests will aim for Lees Hall Avenue, alongside the house.

For more route choice, the Friends suggest a bus to Heeley Retail Park on Chesterfield Road. From there, walk up Beeton Road and through Meersbrook Park, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

The council lists bus stops for the park on Chesterfield Road, Norton Lees Road and Derbyshire Lane. It says the park is about 20 minutes by bus from the city centre.

When to visit

Plan for a weekend. On 12 November 2026 the visit page gave normal opening times of 10am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The council also says the house is usually open on those days.

Christmas and New Year: the official pages do not mention any Christmas or New Year arrangements. Check the visit page before you go in late December.

A little history for curious children

• The Friends say the house was built in 1554, during the reign of Mary Tudor.
• People lived in the house until 1974. It was then restored and opened as a museum.
• Sheffield City Council owns and maintains the building. Museums Sheffield curates most of the items on display.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bishops’ House free for children?

Yes. The Friends of Bishops’ House say entry is free. Booked school visits are charged, and the events page links to tickets for music events and fused glass workshops.

When is Bishops’ House open?

On 12 November 2026 the visit page gave normal opening times of 10am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The Friends ask visitors to check that page for changes before setting out.

How long do families spend at Bishops’ House?

The Friends say young families tend to spend half an hour to an hour in the house. Visitors interested in history can easily spend over an hour.

Can you take a wheelchair or pushchair into Bishops’ House?

The Friends say the house is not wheelchair friendly. Only the downstairs is accessible, with a step at the front door and another into the parlour. The official pages do not mention pushchairs.

Is there parking at Bishops’ House?

The official pages do not name a car park for the house itself. The Friends say there is usually space by the top park gates on Lees Hall Avenue, with ample roadside parking nearby.

Is there a café at Bishops’ House?

The official pages do not mention a café or food for sale. Bring snacks, and use the park for a break.

Checked on 12 November 2026 against the official Friends of Bishops’ House pages for the home page, planning your visit, contact, schools and history, and the Sheffield City Council page for Meersbrook Park. Opening times can change, so check before you travel.