Speke Hall, Garden & Estate

Speke Hall is a Tudor wood-framed manor house in the south Liverpool suburb of Speke, near the widest part of the River Mersey. It is cared for by the National Trust, and while the black-and-white house is the headline, the garden and estate around it make it a good outing for gardeners too, all within the city.

Around the house is a restored Victorian garden, which frames the old timber-framed walls. Beyond it you can explore an orchard, woodland and meadow, and there is a maze to find your way through. The estate is managed with wildlife in mind, and the National Trust runs a project here focused on nature. Liverpool John Lennon Airport is close by, so expect the occasional aircraft overhead, which gives the visit an unusual contrast between old and new.

For home gardeners, the Victorian garden is a useful reference for period planting around an older house, and the orchard and meadow show how a looser, wildlife-friendly approach can sit next to a formal space. The maze is popular with families. You can also combine a garden walk with a look inside the house, so it is worth allowing time for both on the same day. As with any estate on low ground near an estuary, paths in the woodland and meadow can be muddy after rain, so sensible footwear helps.