Temple Newsam

Temple Newsam in Leeds is a historic country house estate with beautiful grounds waiting to be explored. My father and Granddad even worked here tending to the farm, gardens and estate in the 80’s and 90’s!

Temple Newsam has changed over the years but one thing remains the same. Every time I visit it feels like home!

We often walk to Temple Newsam from our home and there’s so many ways to explore. Through the woods, the farmers fields or my favorite walking down The Avenue. The old grand entrance to the estate. This time we have walked through the vineyard and up the hill!

The best thing about Temple Newsam is that you can decide how expensive your trip will be. Are you going for a walk? Visiting the Farm or exploring the secrets of the house? It really is upto you!

The Farm

The farm is currently under construction. They are building a soft play area which should of been open by now but unfortunately running behind because of a fire on the premises. We did visit but we were unable to have a sneaky peak!

Once you have entered you have lots of animals to see; pigs, sheep, goats, donkeys, ducks, cows. You may even get lucky and visit when their babies are born. If you explore the houses and rooms you may find activities to do and history about the farm. I have been a few times over the years with the children and learnt how to make felt, churn butter and even had a go at been a craftsman!

Inside the farm you have your own playground and the highlight for many the machines which means you have to have a oblatory Tractor picture.

The House

The house is grand and as children we weren’t allowed in. I think it was more to do with breakages than a rule as my mother would of been distraught that we ruined a priceless gem. But now it is set up for children to explore and learn. There’s a break out area every so often that allows parents to enjoy the house and children to play. We enjoy the dressing up box and when the children were little they loved playing with the dolls house in the nursery.

I don’t want to give too much away so come and see for yourself!

We paid just under £34 for 2 adults and 4 children to visit both the house and farm but this is optional and we don’t do it all the time. This was a little treat as my younger children have been learning about monarchs.

Now here’s my tips not to pay a penny more than you have too!

There’s a charge to park your car no more than £5 or you can buy an annual pass that been said we walk so no extra cost involved.

If you walk around the grounds you will see animals grazing from the footpaths!

You can visit the onsite café which is expensive. (£2 for a cuppa tea, £3.75 for a coffee and £1.95 for a bottle of water) or take your own picnic which we often do. There’s plenty of benches around to sit back and relax.

There’s so much space to play games so bring a ball and have a kick around! Climb a tree! Feed the ducks! There’s even a playpark but it does get busy so we normally avoid during the school hoilidays!

Let the children use up that energy!