Gawthorpe Hall
Gawthorpe Hall is a stunning historic house in Lancashire, set within tranquil grounds and woodland. Built for the Shuttleworth family in the village of Padiham near Burnley, it has beautifully furnished rooms to explore. Inside you will also find an exhibition from the Gawthorpe Textiles Collection.
Dating back to 1600, Gawthorpe Hall is now owned by the National Trust and leased to Lancashire County Council. It was renovated in the 1850s by Sir Charles Barry, who also remodelled the Houses of Parliament in London, and is now Grade 1 listed.
The hall is managed by Lancashire County Museum Service. The estate buildings including the Great Barn are managed by the National Trust and include Mooch Gawthorpe café.
Admission charges
Adults £7
Children up to 18 years - free
National Trust members* and Friends - free (proof of membership required) *Charges may apply for events.
Guided tours £8
Xplorer pass £25
How to find us
Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham, Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 8UA (Satnav BB12 8SD)
Use M65 motorway, exit at junction 8 or 10, follow signs for Padiham.
The driveway leading to the Hall is off the A671 in Padiham, on the outskirts of Burnley.
If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with us you can do so via email at gawthorpehall@lancashire.gov.uk or call us on 01282 771004
Public transport
There are regular bus services from Burnley bus station. Plan your journey and view bus timetables for your area. Why not take advantage of our bargain bus fare offers to visit?
Map
Plan your visit
Opening times
Wednesday 1 April to Sunday 1 November 2026
Also open on Bank Holiday Mondays – 6 April, 4 May, 25 May and 31 August.
Please note the last entry time is 4.15pm
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday |
12:00pm to 05:00pm |
| Thursday |
12:00pm to 05:00pm |
| Friday |
12:00pm to 05:00pm |
| Saturday |
12:00pm to 05:00pm |
| Sunday |
12:00pm to 05:00pm |
Things to see and do
Situated over 3 floors the Hall contains both original Jacobean features and historic Victorian rooms. The rooms showcase many pieces of original family furniture, paintings and portraits selected from the National Portrait Gallery, London.
On a visit you can see the original seventeenth century panelling and plasterwork in the Drawing Room; period Victorian rooms redesigned by Sir Charles Barry (architect of Houses of Parliament) showing what life was like for the family in the 1890s and enjoy the splendour of the Long Gallery.
Outside are pleasant grounds with woodland walks.
Gawthorpe Hall is a superb example of a Grade 1 listed Jacobean historic house. During the English Civil War it was a target for the Royalist forces.
In the early 1850's the family chose Sir Charles Barry, architect of the Houses of Parliament and Highclere Castle, to carry out restoration work, incorporating designs by Augustus Pugin.
Charlotte Bronte is known to have visited Lady Shuttleworth at the Hall and was introduced to fellow author Elizabeth Gaskell by the family.
In 1913 King George VI and Queen Mary lunched at Gawthorpe whilst on their tour of Lancashire.
The Hall was the inspiration for best selling 2019 novel The Familiars by Stacey Halls.
The grounds offer a mixture of formal gardens and woodland areas. During 2018's drought we saw the amazing 'ghost garden' re-emerge on the front lawn. The magnificent outline of the Victorian formal garden appeared as various types of soil dried at different rates.
The garden made headlines across the world as far afield as Australia, America, Canada, Germany, Holland, Italy and Japan.
Once you've explored the formal gardens with views of the river, the whole family can enjoy the extensive woodlands on the estate. During the summer you can join the National Trust Ranger for a guided walk round the wider estate of Gawthorpe Hall including the walled garden and Great Barn.
Facilities
Free parking
Picnic tables
Small shop in our reception
Woodland walks
Assistance dogs welcome
Limited disabled access
Toilets
Large print and braille guides
Sensory bags
Access
Gawthorpe Hall is a tower shaped building over 3 floors, with steps between rooms on the same floor. Due to its historic listing it is not possible to install a lift,
See the access statement (PDF 1.7MB) for more detail or please ring the museum team if you have any questions.
Contact us
Phone: 01282 771 004
If you've visited us, what was your favourite thing you learnt about the hall? Let us know by sharing your experiences on social media using #GawthorpeHall and don't forget to tag in @LancsMuseums on X and @LancsMuseums on Facebook.
If you've visited us recently, don't forget to leave us a TripAdvisor review.
Discover more of Lancashire's diverse history and visit one of our other Lancashire Museums. Which of our museums will you visit next?
Museum loan boxes
Our museum loan boxes contain a wide range of historical artefacts, replica objects and useful resources. Loan boxes are a great way of bringing a little bit of the museum into your classroom.
Volunteer with us
We have some fantastic volunteering opportunities at Judges' Lodgings. Our wonderful volunteers create a warm, friendly and welcoming environment to our visitors and provide them with the knowledge and information about this historic site during their visit.
You don’t need any previous experience or qualifications to volunteer, just enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.
Our current volunteer Ruth shares her experience of what it's like to take on this interesting role.
"I've enjoyed talking to lots of interesting people about their memories and interpretations of the historic hall and its surroundings."
Schools
Heritage Learning Lancashire's aim is to give pupils the opportunity to explore and appreciate Lancashire's rich heritage through access to our unique collections and stimulating sites.
Find out about school visits to Gawthorpe Hall.
Check for Special events weeks.
Find out more about Learning with Lancashire Museums.
Learning sessions
Special events only are held Gawthorpe Hall. Join us for a very special Victorian Christmas in November or come explore the world of the Bard during Shakespeare week in March! Find details of our special events weeks.
Cost
Special Event Week (half day only) £4 LCC pupil; £4.50 Academy / Non-LCC pupil
Accompanying adults free
Facilities
Coach drop off
Coach parking
Limited accessibility
Toilets