Quick answer
Nostell is a National Trust estate near Wakefield with a Georgian house, gardens, lakes and 300 acres of parkland. Its woodland play area has a 30-metre zip wire. The parkland is free, but non-members pay £5 per car to park, and the gardens and play area cost extra. On 13 November the house was closed for Christmas preparation. The Christmas page gives house opening for A Treemendous Christmas from 1 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, except 24 to 26 December. The opening calendar on 13 November also listed Monday 30 November. Breakfast with Santa needs advance booking, and Quiet Santa places are reserved by phone.
Is it right for my child?
- Woodland play area: it sits inside the paid gardens. Younger children can climb, slide, use the bucket swing, wobble boards and a wendy house. Older children get a tower climb and abseil, rope bridges and the 30-metre zip wire.
- Free parkland: the National Trust says the 300 acres of parkland are free for everyone. Joiner’s Wood has wild play with log walks, stumps, a maze, wooden horses and den building.
- Bikes: two bikes-only trails of about 1km each, a green trail for little legs and a blue trail with more twists. Bikes, trikes, scooters and balls must be left at the garden entrance.
- In the house: a family trail with Simon the Dolls’ House Footman, a glass mouse to spot in the Dolls’ House, and puzzles in the Housekeeper’s Room.
- Water and drops: the dog page warns of stretches of open water and steep drops on site, which may be dangerous. Hold small hands near the lakes.
Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist
- Check which part is open. On 13 November the calendar showed the gardens open 11am to 4pm daily from 3 to 29 November. The house was closed on those dates.
- Arrive in good time. Last entry to the gardens is 1 hour before closing time, so 3pm on a 4pm day.
- Allow for the walk. The main car park is 800 metres from the entrance, about a 10-minute walk.
- Pack wellies. Some parkland paths can be uneven and muddy in wet weather.
Prices and tickets
Parking: National Trust members park free. Non-members pay £5 per car, using the JustPark app (location code 80635) or the payment machines. Garden and play area admission is on top of the parking charge.
The main page shows two price tables, each headed “From 1 March”. The Christmas page links to them “for your reference”. We found no separate winter price list. Prices with Gift Aid, then without:
- House or Gardens: adult (18+) £10.50 or £9.50. Child (5 to 17) £5.30 or £4.75.
- House or Gardens, families: 2 adults and up to 3 children £26.20 or £23.75. One adult and up to 3 children £15.70 or £14.25.
- House and Gardens combined: adult £15.40 or £14.00. Child £7.70 or £7.00. Families £38.50 or £35.00 (2 adults), £23.10 or £21.00 (one adult).
- Under 5s go free. National Trust members go free.
- Christmas: the Christmas page says tickets are sold on the day from the ticket office only.
Pushchairs, babies and toilets
- Pushchairs: most garden paths are accessible with mostly even terrain. Some parkland paths can be uneven and muddy in wet weather, which might make them challenging for pushchairs. The play area is listed as accessible for prams and wheelchairs.
- Buggy service: on busier days a buggy service runs between the car park and the entrance.
- Baby changing: in the toilets in the Stables courtyard.
- Toilets: Changing Places, baby change and disabled toilets are in the courtyard.
Food and drink
The Courtyard Café opens daily from 9am, with hot meals, kids’ sandwiches and children’s lunch boxes. The calendar listed the tea-room as 9am to 4pm.
The Grab and Go takeaway opens at weekends and school holidays. The Christmas page says the pizza trailer opens every day from 19 December to 3 January, except 25 December.
Picnics are welcome. The main picnic area is behind the welcome cabin near the car park. The kitchen cannot guarantee any food is allergen free, so ask the staff.
Getting there and parking
- Address: Doncaster Road, Nostell, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF4 1QE. Use WF4 1QE for sat nav. Phone 01924 863892.
- Car park: 7am to 6pm on the November and December dates we checked, apart from 25 December.
- Train: Fitzwilliam station is 1½ miles away.
- Bus: the Trust lists services from Wakefield to Doncaster, the 485 Wakefield to South Elmsall via Ackworth and the 496 Wakefield to Upton via Fitzwilliam.
When to visit
On 13 November the opening calendar showed these times for every day from 3 to 29 November 2026: car park 7am to 6pm, parkland 7am to 5pm, garden 11am to 4pm, shop 10am to 4pm and tea-room 9am to 4pm. The house was closed.
A Treemendous Christmas runs from 1 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. The Christmas page says it is “open daily, except 24 to 26 December in the house”. The calendar showed the whole site closed on 25 December.
- House times: the calendar showed the house open 11am to 3pm from 30 November to 23 December. The page note says last entry to the house is 45 minutes before closing. Another line on the same page says last entry is 3.15pm.
- Rooms closed: some rooms in the house stay closed for winter conservation during December.
- Father Christmas: he makes appearances in the house and gardens on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays during term time. You may bump into him, but these are not bookable visits.
- Christmas craft market: Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November, 10.30am to 3.30pm, in the Riding School. Admission is free, but car parking charges apply.
Breakfast with Santa runs on Saturday 5, Sunday 6, Saturday 12, Sunday 13, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December, 9am to 11am. Advance booking is required.
- Price: adult £13.00, child £6.50. The event page gives no age bands and does not say whether admission is included.
- Where: the event page says the Coach House, just off the main Stables Courtyard. The Christmas page says the Stables Riding School. Follow your booking.
- Booking: through the National Trust ticket portal, or the Central Box Office on 0344 249 1895.
Additional needs and disability support
The National Trust lists this support at Nostell.
- Quiet Santa: calmer sessions for children with additional needs and their families on 6, 13 and 20 December, 11.15am to 12.15pm, in the Pavilion Bookshop. Call 01924 863892 to reserve a place. The page gives no price.
- Sensory backpacks: fidget toys, sunglasses and ear defenders, to borrow from the ticket office.
- Changing Places toilet in the courtyard.
- Getting around: a 1.4km accessible trail, mobility scooter rental (bookable), wheelchairs, a lift and ramped access are listed. Steps and uneven terrain are listed too.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nostell free for children?
Under 5s and National Trust members go free. Other children aged 5 to 17 pay for the gardens and play area. The parkland is free, but non-members pay £5 per car to park.
When is the house at Nostell open?
The Christmas, family and house pages give 1 December 2026 as the reopening date. The opening calendar on 13 November listed the house open from 30 November. The same calendar showed the gardens, parkland, café and shop open every day from 3 to 30 November.
Can you meet Father Christmas at Nostell?
Only Breakfast with Santa and Quiet Santa are dedicated visits. He also roams the house and gardens on term-time Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, but these are not bookable visits.
Can I bring my dog to Nostell?
Dogs are welcome in most of the parkland, on a short lead in busy areas. They are not allowed in the gardens, play area or house, except assistance dogs.
What happens on a rainy day?
The family page suggests the second-hand bookshops or the café. The play area is under the woodland canopy, which offers some shelter.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official National Trust Nostell, Christmas at Nostell, family, eating and shopping, dogs and Breakfast with Santa pages. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.
