A Family Day out at Beningbrough Hall

Craving fun in the sun on Saturday we headed to one of our favourite places in Yorkshire-The National Trust’s Beningbrough Hall: the perfect place to lose ourselves in exquisite grounds, lush lawns and beautiful blooms.

Close to York, it’s but a 20 minute drive from our house here outside Leeds, a breathtaking baroque mansion surrounded by the most glorious gardens imaginable making it, undoubtedly one of this family’s happy places close to home.

Grand, but welcoming to all; the ideal place for little people, the gardens are brimming with all my favourite flowers-sweet peas, dahlias and climbing roses along with literally boundless rows of scented, purple, swaying lavender- I could have stayed forever.

Outfit c/o Mamas & Papas, shoes gifted by Bobux.

Inspired by his Grand Tour, John Bourchier created Beningbrough, an Italian Palace and home to a considered collection of portraits on loan from the National Portrait Gallery, Beningbrough’s long-term partner.

Although we just missed it this time, we adored the Royal exhibition on our last visit late last year: ‘Royals: then and now’.

…A working walled garden, herbaceous borders, sweeping lawns and a play area for children offers a year-round garden for big and little people.

Picture-postcard views can be seen from the palace and the parkland offers opportunity for riverside walks and the exploration of ancient trees and hidden wildlife.

The boys spotted birds, bulls in the distance and whiled away the day running across the green with other children their age, plotting adventures and relishing the outdoors.

Oliver’s tee c/o Vertbaudet, shoes gifted by Bobux.

Tee c/o Vertbaudet

They peddled three wheelers and bikes dotted around the grounds, left especially for children to enjoy and squealed with delight as they dipped fingers into the ponds there, in awe of lemon and almond coloured lilypads and sparkling orange fish gliding beneath the water.

We visited in winter last time, so it was an utter delight to return in summer time particularly on this balmy August day, taking shade in their magical playground and roaming around the grounds on an animal spotting trail before enjoying a healthy, delicious lunch in the restaurant, with fruit ice lollies for dessert and sweet gifts of bright yellow putty and notepads from the gift shop.

Upstairs, together, we got crafty, creating collages of family crests, sticking, gluing, painting and colouring in, preserved there for posterity as we sadly left them behind to dry, promising to return but forgot. Whoops.

…My highlight was meeting Joan, aged 92, the oldest fan of Beningbrough no doubt who informed me with a smile she felt it was time to go now, she was tired, plus there’s nothing on TV these days! A Welsh woman originally, she shared stories of her sweet children and her love of Tom Jones.

Sorry it’s a little blurry!

It was a privilege to meet her and she’d promised to pop over to the blog, her daughter Libby was going to show her so she could see herself online. Hi darling Joan!

Such a bright, life affirming, happy day. I’m so pleased I got to document it here.

Thank you Beningbrough for inviting us, we shall be back.

My favourite shot of the day-Peter captured a mother (my) love here!

Don’t miss our video of the day too!

Enjoy!