Harewood House

Historical Site Georgian country house with extensive gardens and collections

A Georgian country house near Leeds with period interiors, formal gardens and an on-site bird garden; visitors tour the art collection, estate walks and seasonal events.

Main image

Harewood House is a mid-18th-century Georgian country house and estate north of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England, built for the Lascelles family. The house is noted for its period architecture and interiors and forms the centrepiece of a larger landscaped estate.

Visitors can tour formal state rooms, view permanent art and furniture collections, and walk in the surrounding parkland and gardens which include designed landscapes and specimen plantings. The estate also contains a separate bird garden and family-oriented visitor attractions located within the wider grounds.

The house was commissioned and built in the mid-1700s and involved leading architects and designers of the Georgian period; it has remained associated with the Lascelles family since its construction and has been adapted for public visitation and conservation.

Harewood sits on an estate north of the city of Leeds in northern England, within landscaped parkland and farmland, and is reachable by road from Leeds and other nearby towns.

  • Date and ownership: The house was built for the Lascelles family in the mid-18th century and contains interiors by leading architects and designers of the period.
  • Access and combined attractions: Located north of Leeds, the estate is accessible by road from the city and combines historic interiors with landscaped grounds and a separate bird garden attraction.

What to See #

  • Harewood House (main house): The main Georgian country house constructed in the mid-18th century featuring state rooms with period interiors and collections assembled by the Lascelles family.
  • Parkland and gardens: The landscaped parkland and gardens originally laid out in the 18th century with later 19th-century additions and designed elements by noted landscape practitioners.
  • Bird Garden and visitor attractions: A separate visitor attraction on the estate comprising aviaries, animal enclosures and family-oriented exhibits run as part of the Harewood visitor experience.
Harewood House
Harewood House, Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LG, United Kingdom
53.8967, -1.5283
Variable by season; typically daily 10:00am-5:30pm (shorter hours Nov-Feb)
Adults £16-£20 (varies by season); National Trust members free

How to Get to Harewood House #

Harewood House is about 10 miles north of Leeds city centre. Drive via A61 and B6164; limited public buses run from Leeds (check local timetables). There is on-site parking and occasional shuttle services from nearby rail stations on event days.

Tips for Visiting Harewood House #

  • Walk the estate's north lawn to find the viewpoint that frames the house with its dramatic Yorkshire Dales backdrop; arrive mid-morning for good light.
  • Don't miss the walled kitchen garden and the upstairs nursery rooms - the latter are surprisingly humane in the house's otherwise formal program.
  • Check the events calendar: Harewood has rotating exhibitions and a notable bird of prey center with flying displays on certain days.

Best Time to Visit Harewood House #

Best from late spring to early autumn for gardens, flying displays, and full public access to the house; check the website for seasonal opening times and ticket prices.

Spring
Mar-May · 5-15°C (41-59°F)
The estate gardens wake up with bulbs and magnolia blooms; fewer crowds than summer.
Summer
Jun-Aug · 15-22°C (59-72°F)
Full program of events and the house is fully open; estate paths are at their greenest but also busiest.
Autumn
Sep-Nov · 5-15°C (41-59°F)
Crisp light and rich leaf colours make the landscape especially rewarding for photographers.

Weather & Climate near Harewood House #

Climate

Harewood House's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 1°C to 20°C. Moderate rainfall (725 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Best Time to Visit
JulyAugustJune
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
30°
Warmest Month
-8°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (74 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

44 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
94%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

74 mm
Rainfall
4.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.0
UV Index
Low
7.9h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

46 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
91%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

53 mm
Rainfall
4.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
9.6h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

48 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
86%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

58 mm
Rainfall
4.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.3
UV Index
Low
11.7h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

56 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
11°
83%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

53 mm
Rainfall
4.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.7
UV Index
Moderate
13.8h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

58 Acceptable

Comfort

10°
Feels Like Cool
10°C
Temperature
15°
80%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

51 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.0
UV Index
High
15.7h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

64 Good

Comfort

13°
Feels Like Cool
13°C
Temperature
18°
81%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

59 mm
Rainfall
3.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.2
UV Index
High
16.7h daylight

July

July is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

68 Good

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
11° 20°
81%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

49 mm
Rainfall
3.6 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.2
UV Index
High
16.2h daylight

August

August is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

68 Good

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
11° 20°
83%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

59 mm
Rainfall
3.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.9
UV Index
Moderate
14.6h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

64 Good

Comfort

13°
Feels Like Cool
13°C
Temperature
17°
85%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

60 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.6
UV Index
Moderate
12.5h daylight

October

October is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

54 Acceptable

Comfort

10°
Feels Like Cold
10°C
Temperature
13°
90%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

65 mm
Rainfall
4.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.2
UV Index
Low
10.4h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (68 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

54 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
93%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

68 mm
Rainfall
4.3 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
8.4h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. The wettest month with 76 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.

42 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
95%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

76 mm
Rainfall
4.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.0
UV Index
Low
7.3h daylight

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