Brodsworth Hall & Gardens
Brodsworth, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire
A Victorian country house near Doncaster, conserved as it was found, set in restored period gardens that were named Great British Garden of the Year 2026.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit Brodsworth Hall & Gardens?
Brodsworth Hall is one of the most complete Victorian country houses in England, and its gardens have been restored to match. The house was built between 1861 and 1863 and has hardly changed since, while English Heritage has brought the surrounding gardens back to their Victorian character. In 2026 they were named Great British Garden of the Year by greatbritishgardens.com, a mark of how far the restoration has come.
Victorian gardens were about display and surprise, and Brodsworth offers both. The formal areas near the Italianate house are set off by statues, reflecting Charles Sabine Thellusson's taste for Italian sculpture, and further out there are hidden corners to find, such as the fern dell and the rose garden. The 2026 exhibition, A Season of Flowers, explores lesser-known parts of the gardens and the team who care for them, and the Restoration of Miss Pam's Garden tells the story of one area being brought back to life.
Gardeners interested in period gardens will find plenty to study in how the Victorians combined formal display with more secluded, informal spaces. Children can explore the gardens and the outdoor play area, and the tearoom is in the old servants' wing. Note that dogs, apart from assistance dogs, are not allowed anywhere on the site, including the gardens. The upper floors of the hall are currently closed, but the ground floor and grounds remain open.
What to see
- Restored Victorian gardens, named Great British Garden of the Year 2026.
- The fern dell, one of the garden's secluded corners.
- The rose garden, at its best in early summer.
- The Italianate hall, conserved as found after its last resident died in 1988.
- The Restoration of Miss Pam's Garden, a current project in the grounds.
Brodsworth Hall & Gardens through the year
- spring
- Spring brings fresh growth to the formal gardens and new fronds in the fern dell.
- summer
- Summer is the peak for the rose garden and the Victorian-style flower displays.
- autumn
- Autumn is a quieter time to explore the hidden corners of the garden as the trees turn.
- winter
- Seasonal family events run on some winter weekends; check English Heritage for winter opening days.
The story behind the garden
The Brodsworth estate was bought in 1790 by Peter Thellusson, a banker of Swiss origin whose fortune was linked to loans to slave owners and Caribbean plantations. His unusual will tied up his wealth for three generations. In 1859 his great-grandson Charles Sabine Augustus Thellusson inherited, demolished the Georgian house and had the present Italianate hall built in 1861 to 1863 to designs by the young London architect Philip Wilkinson.
The house passed through the family to Sylvia Grant-Dalton, who struggled for 57 years with leaking roofs and subsidence from coal mining. After her death in 1988, her daughter Pamela Williams gave the hall and gardens to English Heritage in 1990. The interiors were conserved as found rather than restored, while the gardens have been restored to their Victorian style.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Families, Victorian history fans and anyone interested in how a historic garden is restored, though not dog owners, as dogs are not allowed.
- Getting there
- Brodsworth Hall is about five miles north-west of Doncaster in South Yorkshire; follow the brown signs as you approach.
- Before you go
- The upper floors of the hall are currently closed, but the ground floor, gardens and the rest of the site are open. Check the English Heritage website for current opening times and tickets.
Questions about visiting Brodsworth Hall & Gardens
Can you take dogs to Brodsworth Hall?
No. Apart from assistance dogs, dogs are not allowed anywhere on site at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, including the gardens, so plan to leave pets at home.
Is Brodsworth Hall English Heritage?
Yes. Pamela Williams gave the hall and gardens to English Heritage in 1990, after the death of her mother, Sylvia Grant-Dalton. The contents were bought by the National Heritage Memorial Fund and transferred to English Heritage.
What award did the gardens at Brodsworth win?
Brodsworth Hall and Gardens was named Great British Garden of the Year 2026 by greatbritishgardens.com, recognising the care and creativity that go into preserving this historic Victorian garden.
Is there a café at Brodsworth Hall?
Yes. There is a tearoom in the servants' wing of the hall, handy for a break between exploring the house and walking round the gardens.
Why is Brodsworth Hall special?
It is one of the most complete surviving Victorian country houses in England, virtually unchanged since the 1860s. English Heritage chose to conserve the interiors as found, showing how a grand house grew comfortably old.
Garden features
Location
Brodsworth, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire
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