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.
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.
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.
Weather & Climate near Harewood House #
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.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (74 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (68 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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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.