Quick answer
Nunnington Hall is a National Trust manor house with an organic garden beside the River Rye, a play area and plenty to do indoors. It is closed until Thursday 19 November 2026. For Christmas it then opens Thursday to Sunday from 19 November to 20 December 2026, 10.30am to 4pm, with last admission at 3pm. Adults pay £14.30 with Gift Aid, children aged 5 to 17 pay £7.20, and under 5s and National Trust members go free. Father Christmas visits cost £11.50 per child, must be booked, and are up a staircase.
Is it right for my child?
- Nature’s Noel: around 20 Christmas trees are displayed through the Hall, decorated by local charities, schools and community groups using natural and recycled materials.
- Lion’s Den play area: a natural obstacle course with tree stump steps, a rope bridge and a wooden climbing frame.
- Rainy days: next to the top-floor exhibition space there are colouring activities, board games and a children’s second-hand bookshop. The Hall also holds the Carlisle Collection of miniature rooms.
- Water: the garden sits alongside the River Rye, and the walled tea garden is on the riverbank. Keep a close eye on young children near the water.
- Stairs: there is stepped access only to the first and second floors of the Hall.
Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist
- Check the date. The Hall is closed until 19 November, then open Thursday to Sunday only, until 20 December.
- Arrive by 3pm. Last admission is at 3pm and the Hall closes at 4pm. The car park closes 15 minutes after closing time.
- Use the right sat nav search. Nunnington Bridge is closed for repairs, so search for “Nunnington Hall Car Park” rather than “Nunnington Hall”.
- Leave the pushchair outside. Pushchairs are not permitted inside the house.
- Wrap up warmly, and bring a torch to a Festive Evening.
Prices and tickets
2026 prices, with Gift Aid and without it:
- Adult (18+): £14.30 or £13.00.
- Child (5 to 17): £7.20 or £6.50. Under 5s go free.
- Family (2 adults and up to 3 children): £35.80 or £32.50.
- Family (1 adult and up to 3 children): £21.50 or £19.50.
- Free entry: National Trust members and under fives. The page says it also accepts a selection of other passes, including RHS membership and Yorkshire’s Great Houses, Castles and Gardens Cards.
- Nature’s Noel needs no booking and costs nothing extra, but normal admission applies.
Pushchairs, babies and toilets
- Pushchairs: not permitted inside the house. The main page says pushchair storage is in the rear courtyard. The family page says to leave them outside in the storage sheds or return them to your car.
- Baby changing: on the first floor of the Hall, which has stepped access only.
- Toilets: on the ground floor and first floor. The accessible toilet is reached by a ramp in the rear courtyard.
Food and drink
The tea-room is in what was once the family dining room, with table service. At Christmas it adds seasonal specials such as a Turkey Bap and Turkey Pie.
The Father Christmas page says that on winter weekends the tea room closes at 3.15pm. The Trust cannot guarantee any food is allergen free, so ask the staff.
Picnics are welcome, with spots on the river bank, around the garden and on the main lawn.
Getting there and parking
- Address: Nunnington, near York, North Yorkshire, YO62 5UY. Phone 01439 748283.
- Bridge closure: Nunnington Bridge is closed for repairs. Visitors can still reach the car park by an alternative route, which the National Trust page describes. The Trust asks visitors to avoid parking in the village.
- Parking: free visitor car park, with campervan spaces, mobility parking spaces and four electric vehicle charge points. Access from the car park to the Hall is over a sloped bridge.
- Bus: the Trust says the Moorsbus M8 runs from Helmsley on Sundays only, and to check the Moorsbus timetable.
When to visit
- Closed until Thursday 19 November 2026. On 13 November the opening calendar marked 3 to 18 November as closed.
- Nature’s Noel: Thursday to Sunday, 19 November to 20 December 2026, 10.30am to 4pm, last admission 3pm. The Hall is closed Monday to Wednesday.
- Festive Evenings: Saturday 5 and Saturday 12 December, 4pm to 8pm, last entry 7.30pm. There is a festive mini market with local makers. The gardens are closed during the evenings. No need to book, and normal admission applies.
- Guardians of the Garden: a textile art exhibition on the same dates. The galleries are up several flights of stairs, with no lift.
- After 20 December: on 13 November the calendar showed 21 to 31 December as closed. We did not read any January 2027 dates.
Meet Father Christmas in the Panelled Bedroom, dressed for Christmas, with his Elf. On 13 November the event page listed Saturday 21 and 28 November and Saturday 5, 12 and 19 December. It listed 30-minute slots from 11am to 1pm and from 1.45pm to 3.45pm.
- Price: £11.50 per child, plus standard admission for non-members on arrival. Booking is essential, and you book one ticket per child.
- What happens: each child gets 10 minutes with Father Christmas within the 30-minute slot, and receives a book to take home.
- Babies: babies under 18 months who do not need a gift go in with the family free. Book a child ticket if you want a gift for your baby.
- Rules: all children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are non-refundable. Arrive outside the Panelled Bedroom no more than 5 minutes before your slot.
- Afternoon slots: last entry to the site is 3pm, so the page recommends arriving earlier in the day for an afternoon booking.
- Booking: online through the National Trust ticket portal, or call 0344 249 1895. The page says places are limited.
Additional needs and disability support
The National Trust lists these access facilities for Nunnington Hall.
- Step-free areas: ramped access into the ground floor of the Hall, the café and the toilet in the rear courtyard, and onto the main lawn. The tea room and tea garden are accessible at ground level.
- Not step-free: the first and upper floors of the Hall have stepped access only. The Panelled Bedroom, where Father Christmas is, can only be reached by staircase. To discuss alternative arrangements, call the property team on 01439 748283.
- Virtual tour: a Virtual Reality headset shows the showrooms across all 3 floors and the garden, with optional audio narration. Staff manage the headset, and you can request it on arrival or before your visit.
- Wheelchairs: 2 are available. Call to book.
- Hearing: induction loops at all till points.
- Drop-off point: call to arrange it before your visit.
- Changing Places: the official pages do not mention a Changing Places toilet.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nunnington Hall open in November 2026?
It is closed until Thursday 19 November 2026. It then opens Thursday to Sunday until Sunday 20 December, 10.30am to 4pm, with last admission at 3pm.
Do children go free at Nunnington Hall?
Under 5s go free. Children aged 5 to 17 pay £7.20 with Gift Aid or £6.50 without. National Trust members go free.
How much is Father Christmas at Nunnington Hall?
£11.50 per child, and booking is essential. Non-members also pay standard admission on arrival. Babies under 18 months who do not need a gift go in free.
Can I take a pushchair into Nunnington Hall?
No. Pushchairs are not permitted inside the house. Store them in the rear courtyard, or leave them in your car.
Is Nunnington Hall good on a rainy day?
Yes. There are colouring activities, board games and a children’s second-hand bookshop by the top-floor exhibition space. That floor has stepped access only.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes. Dogs on short leads are welcome in the garden, courtyards and wider estate. Only assistance dogs may go in the house and café.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official National Trust Nunnington Hall, Christmas at Nunnington Hall, Meet Father Christmas, family visits, tea room and garden pages. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.
