5 Things to Do at Lyme Park House and Gardens – National Trust

Ideally located at the edge of the Peak District in England is the popular National Trust site of Lyme Park. 

The 1,400 acre estate has everything you need for a perfect day out: a glorious house filled with history, a magical garden packed with colourful flowers and unique features, a sanctuary packed with deer, many walking trails and stunning views of the surrounding area.

In this blog post I’ll show you some of the features you shouldn’t miss when visiting Lyme Park. If you’d like to see more of Lyme Park then make sure to watch our YouTube video linked below.

Introducing Lyme Park

Located on the edge of the Peak District to the south of Disley is the beautiful and famous Lyme Park Estate. The estate consists of a mansion, formal garden and 1,400 acres of historic parkland including a deer park.

In 1346 the estate was granted to Sir Thomas Danyers. Then in 1388 it was passed to the Leghs family through marriage and was owned by the same family until 1946. In 1946 the estate was given to the National Trust, but was managed by Stockport Council until 1994 when the National Trust took control over it.

Unfortunately, in August 2019, Lyme Park was hit by severe flooding and a large section of the garden was washed away. 

A place as beautiful as Lyme Park will automatically attract filmmakers. So it’s no surprise that many iconic movies and TV-shows were filmed here. Lyme Park was used as Mr. Darcy’s home, Pemberley, in BBC’s mini-series version of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The scene that turned Lyme Park into an iconic backdrop was when Lizzie was approached by the soaking wet Mr. Darcy (played by Colin Firth) at the Reflection Lake. I found the scene on YouTube if you’d like to re-watch it.

Part of the second series of The Village was also filmed at Lyme Park in 2014. It’s another BBC television drama set in a Derbyshire village in the 20th century. 

Lyme park was also used as a filming location in the 2011 film The Awakening.

How to get to Lyme Park?

By Car

Lyme Park is located 2 miles south of Disley in Cheshire in the Peak District. If you arrive by car, use postcode SK12 2NR in your SatNav and also follow the signs leading you to the park. The only entrance to the car park is just off the A6 Buxton Road W. Upon arrival you have to show your ticket then drive another mile to reach the actual car park. Make sure you park at the designated car park and not on the verge!

If you don’t have your own car but would like to enjoy the freedom of a private vehicle, then you can always hire a car to get to Lyme.

By Public Transport

If you decide to use public transport there is a bus stop along the A6 Buxton Road W. Bus 199 Skyline operates regular services between Buxton and Manchester Airport stopping at destinations such as Stockport, Chapel and Whaley Bridge. Disley Train Station is only 0.5 miles from the entrance of Lyme Park which offers services between Manchester and Buxton. If you come from further afield, I suggest getting to either Manchester or Buxton first, then getting the bus or train to Lyme Park.

Make sure to plan your journey with Trainline which also provides information on bus fares.

Top Tip – If you’re planning on travelling across the UK by train a lot, then check out some Railcard options which allow you to save some pennies on your train fares.

Did you know? – In order to reduce the pressure on the car park, Lyme Park offers visitors a free bus service between the Park and Ride at Hazel Grove and Lyme. This service is only available on Sundays and Bank Holidays. (Due to restrictions, this service has been suspended, but you can find more information on the website!)

By bike: If you decide to hop on your bike, there are plenty of national and local cycle routes running in the vicinity of Lyme Park.

Cost to enter Lyme Park

Entry fee to Lyme Park is £13 for adults and £6.50 for children. This includes your car parking fee, your house and formal garden tours. If you just want to enter the gardens behind the house, then it’s £6 for adults and £3 for children. Luckily, you can access the parkland and its features such as the Cage, the Lantern and the deer park free of charge, but you still have to pay for parking! Further information on tickets can be found on the website.

If you’re a member of the National Trust you can visit this stunning garden free of charge. You can read about the different kinds of membership by clicking here.

Facilities at Lyme Park

Cafés and Picnic Spots – If you’d like to grab a drink or something to eat then the café at Timber Yard offers a good variety of hot and cold drinks, lunches and of course delicious cakes. There’s also a Refreshment Kiosk at the car park serving some hot and cold drinks and some snacks. (Please note that you can only pay by card!) If you visit the garden on a nice day, I recommend bringing your own picnic with you. You can bring your own picnic blanket and find a great spot to eat anywhere on the grass within the estate.

Please Note! – You can’t have BBQs or any open fires! 

Shops – There are a few different shopping opportunities within Lyme Park. You can stop by Hall Shop if you’d like to browse for some home made products, trinkets and Pride and Prejudice merch. You can also check out the Timber Yard Shop for more outdoorsy products such as plants, gardening tools and even kids’ toys. There’s also a second-hand bookshop, called Pre-Loved Bookshop, for book lovers. (Unfortunately, the shop is currently closed.)

Toilets – There are toilet facilities available either at Timber Yard or at Lyme House. 

What to Do in Lyme Park?

1. Take a Tour in Lyme House

Lyme House is actually the largest one in Cheshire and it’s designated as a Grade I listed building. It’s also recorded in the National Heritage List for England. 

The very first records of the house date it back to 1465 but the building you see today was built in the 16th century. Obviously, the house went through some changes over the years and different sections were added and moderated. Around 1720 the Italian architect Leoni added some Palladian and Baroque styles to the Elizabethan features. The furniture you see today during your tour was bought towards the end of the 18th century. 

When the family fortune started to decrease the house began to deteriorate too. In the 19th century Lewis Wyatt was commissioned to restore Lyme House. As part of his work he remodelled every room in the house. 

We were incredibly lucky that at the time of our visit the ground floor of the house was open and we could enjoy the interior of this stunning building. 

Don’t Miss The Lyme Missal

When you’re touring around the house make sure you don’t walk past the Lyme Caxton Missal. It’s the centerpiece of the library so you can’t really miss it. 

If you didn’t know, a missal is a liturgical book that contains instructions and text for the celebration of Mass. This particular missal has been in the Legh Family since 1508 before the National Trust bought it in 2008. It’s actually the only pretty much intact copy of its kind which makes it even more special.

2. Explore the Former Gardens

I highly recommend spending some time exploring Lyme Park’s Formal Gardens. They were created in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Together with the deer park they are listed in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens as Grade II. 

The 15 acre (6 ha) garden has many amazing features and structures you can explore during your visit. As you stroll along the gardens, you’ll see the sunken Dutch Garden, cross the Ravine Garden on a cute stone bridge and see the Herbaceous Borders next to the Reflecting Lake. Make sure you spend some time at the Reflecting Lake taking in the beauty, finding the right angle for the perfect reflection or waiting for Mr. Darcy to appear. (Spoiler alert, he didn’t appear during my visit…)

You’ll also come across some additional flower gardens including a pretty Rose Garden. To the northeast of Lyme House is the Orangery which was designed in 1862. I love greenhouses so after the Reflection Lake, the Orangery was my second favourite part of the garden.

Did you know? – During World War II, the park was used as an RAF lorry depot.

3. Walk Out to the Cage

You can enter the Cage free of charge.

Another well known feature of Lyme Park is a tower called the Cage (53.34453°N 2.05189°W). It stands on the hill just to the east of the house. You can spot this structure when driving around the Peak District and you can also see for miles from it on a clear day. 

It was originally built as a hunting lodge, then later it was used as the park-keeper’s cottage. The name Cage comes from its use in holding prisoners here before their trial. The first structure was built in 1524 before it was rebuilt again in 1737. The tower you see today is a square three-storey building with small towers on the corners. Like many other features within Lyme Park, it’s also listed as a Grade II building.

It’s a bit of a walk from Lyme House and also quite windy but your efforts will be treated with some magnificent views across the Peak District and the Cheshire Plain. On your way back, you’ll have some pretty cool views of Lyme House so make sure to take your time and enjoy it.

4. Check Out the Red Deer Sanctuary

You can visit the Deer Park free of charge.

If you made the trip out to the Cage make sure to check out the deer sanctuary too. You’ll probably see them grazing in the distance, so you might as well go a bit closer and admire their beauty.

Deer have been present at Lyme Park for over 600 years. You can see them all year round, but if you’d like to make your visit extra special come either in October, which is the rutting season, or in June when you’ll see the adorable baby deer. 

Top Tip – If you are a photographer or have good camera gear you can take some amazing close up photos of the grazing deer.

5. Check Out the Lantern in Lantern Wood

You can visit the Lantern free of charge.

Whilst you’re strolling around the garden, you might spot an interesting tower to the left of the house on top of the hill (53.33842°N 2.04333°W). This feature is called the Lantern and it’s considered another iconic landmark of Lyme Park.

The Lantern is also a three-storey sandstone building like the Cage. However, whilst its first storey is square shaped, the other levels and the spire are octagonal. It’s also listed as a Grade II building. 

You’ll get some pretty epic views over Lyme Park, and on a clear day all the way across the Cheshire plain.

Did you know? – The Lantern is in line with the house’s Dining Room windows, so if Lord Newton could see the Lantern it meant that it was a good day for hunting.

Additional Gardens to Visit in the Area

So, if you’d like to visit other National Trust gardens and estates that are less than an hours drive away from Lyme Park then make sure to check out some of my other blog posts:

Biddulph Grange Garden – A unique National Trust Garden where you can visit China, Egypt, Italy and many other places in just one day. If you love combining travel, science, religion and horticulture, then you must put Biddulph Grange Garden onto your itinerary. Click here to read it.

Dunham Massey – Explore a historical country house, stroll through a beautiful garden and watch deer casually roaming around you at Dunham Massey. You can read about 6 things to do when visiting the estate by clicking here.

Chatsworth House and Gardens – Explore Britain’s favourite country house and thousands of acres of surrounding parkland. Click here to read it.

Tatton Park – Owned by the National Trust, Tatton Park is a beautiful historical estate situated to the north of Knutsford. Since the estate has a mansion, a medieval manor house, 50 acres of gardens, an animal farm and 1000 acres of deer park you can easily spend a full day there. You can read about 8 things you must do when visiting Tatton Park by clicking here.

Quarry Bank Mill – Learn about the history of one of the best preserved textile factories of the Industrial Revolution. Walk around the beautiful garden, explore Styal Country Park and spot planes at Manchester Airport. You can read about 7 things to do to get the most out of your visit by clicking here.

Final Thoughts on Lyme Park

There are a few places around us that we constantly return to and Lyme Park is definitely one of those places. This visit in August 2020 was probably our fourth visit to this beautiful National Trust site. There’s just so much to do and see and every season offers something different for you. 

Have you ever been to Lyme Park before? Which season did you visit it in and how much of the area did you manage to explore? Let me know in the comments below.