Burton Constable Hall

Burton Constable Hall is an Elizabethan country house in the East Riding of Yorkshire, a few miles south-east of the village of Skirlaugh and about nine miles north-east of Hull. It holds Grade I listed status, the highest tier of protection in England, and stands in roughly 300 acres of parkland associated with Capability Brown.

What is Burton Constable Hall?

The Constable family lived here for over 400 years. The exterior dates from the reign of Elizabeth I, while the principal rooms were reworked mostly in the 18th and 19th centuries, giving the house a Georgian and Victorian character inside. Today the Burton Constable Foundation, a charity, looks after the estate and runs the house as a museum you can tour room by room.

What will you see?

• State rooms and interiors. Reception rooms, a library and living quarters filled with furniture, paintings and objects collected by successive generations.
• The cabinet of curiosities. An 18th-century collection of natural and scientific specimens, and one of the highlights of a visit. It shows how Enlightenment gentry went about studying the world.
• Stables and carriage house. These outbuildings are also listed Grade I.
• The park. Lakes, avenues and open lawns make for a half-day walk. The landscape appears on the national Register of Parks and Gardens.

How do you get there?

From Hull take the A1033 towards Hedon, turn off at the Saltend roundabout and follow the signs for Preston and Sproatley. Parking at the Hall is free, and coaches are welcome. Public transport in this rural area is sparse, so a car or a taxi from Hull is the practical choice.

When should you visit?

The house opens seasonally, roughly from late March to early November, usually Tuesday to Sunday, and on Mondays only on bank holidays. The parkland and the café in the old stables stay open for most of the year. Hours and ticket prices change from season to season, so check burtonconstable.com before setting out. A separate Christmas season runs in late autumn. Plan three to four hours for the house and grounds together.

Frequently asked questions

Is Burton Constable Hall open all year? No. The house is open from spring to autumn plus a short pre-Christmas period. The parkland is open for longer.

Can you visit the grounds without touring the house? Yes. Grounds admission is separate, and the stables café and gift shop need no house ticket.

Who designed the park? The landscape is attributed to Lancelot "Capability" Brown, one of the best-known English landscape designers of the 18th century.

Is there parking? Yes, free of charge, including space for coach parties.