Levens Hall, Kendal

Author's product rating:   

Prices	Average
Is it worth visiting?	Excellent
Transport links	Excellent
Family Friendly	Good

Advantages:	Easy to get to, wonderful gardens
Disadvantages:	Bit dear

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

On my ex wife's thirtieth birthday, I surprised her with a trip to this stately home. This visit was not the reason as to why she became the ex Mrs Borg (nor was it cited in the grounds for divorce), I must stress, as we both enjoyed our little excursion around the place. I am not much of a stately home fan. I can take them or leave them, and I wouldn't take a trip out especially to go to one these days, but when I have been I have quite enjoyed them. This certainly applies to Levens Hall.

I think that any trip to a hall or castle is about discovering information on history and because of this I will not mention much of these here. I will say that it has been around in the 1500s. The current owner is Hal Bagot, but it has been in the family for centuries.

The most memorable thing I remember of Levens Hall is the gardens. Dating from 1694, the topiary (which I find both hard to say and spell!) in magnificent. Wonderful greenery of all shapes and sizes, painfully shaped by experts. Levens Park is also of beauty. Contrasting trees and rare wildlife, this place is beautifully kept and preserved.

Levens Hall has a quaint little gift shop, whose wares are placed upon charming pine shelving. A new children's play area has been built (I can hear the sighs of relief from parents all around!), which is an adventurous place, and there are picnic tables nearby. There are also quite a few steam engines at Levens Hall. Collected by Robin and Hal Bagot, the present collection contains a 1925 Foden Steam Wagon, a Locke Steam Car built in 1902, a Fowler 1920 Showman's Road Locomotive known as 'Bertha', and a half-size Traction Engine called 'Little Gem'. Little Gem and Bertha normally make an appearance in full steam on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays,.

Levens Hall and gardens are situated in the south end of the English Lake District. It is well sign-posted from junction 36 of the M6 and pretty easy to get to. The nearest train station is Oxenholme. There are several bus routes that include the 555 and556 'Lakes Rider' Keswick to Lancaster service.

Admission is quite dear, but that is the way of the world it would appear. You can go to the house and gardens or to the house only.

House and Gardens -

Adults - £10.00
Children - £4.50
Families - £25.00 (2 Adults and up to 3 Children of school age only.)

Gardens only -

Adults - £7.00
Children - £3.50
Families - £19.00 (2 Adults and up to 3 Children of school age only).

Warning - Both the House and Gardens are closed on Fridays and Saturdays!

For up to date information, check out: www.levenshall.co.uk