Cusworth Hall is an excellent free day out with the kids in South Yorkshire. On sunny days, Cusworth Hall parklands are the perfect place for picnics and feeding the ducks, and on rainy days there is the hall and museum itself to explore.
Tickets and Opening Times:
Entry to both the parklands and the hall itself is free!
The hall is open 10am – 4pm Friday to Monday. The parklands are accessible to the public every day of the year.
Parking/ Travelling:
There is a car park at Cusworth Hall with fairly cheap parking costs. Payment is via contactless or card payment only. Please note that on busy days this car park can get very full so I would recommend arriving early. It is open every day from 7:30am to 9pm, when it is locked. An annual pass for the car park can also be purchased.
The bus route 41 stops at Mallard pub or Kempton Park Road, which are both a 10 minute walk from Cusworth Hall.
Prams/ Accessibility:
Cusworth Hall has full disabled access, with lifts and level floors. Much of the parklands is also accessible for both wheelchairs and prams as there are lots of level paths.
Things to do at Cusworth Hall
1. Explore and picnic in the parklands
There are plenty of well maintained fields to have your picnic, with excellent views of the hall and the three lakes. You can also feed the very friendly ducks here. To keep the kids entertained, you can download their nature trail or history trail, which help you make the most of the grounds and spot things you would never have noticed, such as the remains of the Nissen huts used as accommodation by soldiers in 1941.
2. Discover the museum
As well as the picturesque grounds, the hall itself provides fun for all ages, with puzzles to solve in several rooms. It is rich in history, having been built between 1740-1744, and is a Grade I listed building. Inside, you will find the Great Kitchen, beautiful ceiling paintings in the chapel, and objects such as toys and clothes ranging from the 1700’s to present day.
3. Visit the microbrewery and Tea Rooms
Your little ones will be entertained with the play park and inflatable slide at Cusworth Park, while adults might be more interested in the microbrewery and café. The Old Brewhouse serves beers brewed on site as well as pizzas, cakes and bar snacks. Butlers Tea Room and Bistro always has excellent service, even on very busy days, and has a full menu with everything you would expect. I can personally recommend the pulled pork sandwich and strawberry milkshakes.
4. Events
There is always lots going on at Cusworth Hall, especially in the school holidays. At the time of writing, there is a family treasure hunt available to take part in throughout April, and an upcoming May Day celebration. There are frequent Walled Garden open days over the year where entry for children is free, as well as nature navigator days aimed at children aged 8-13. Click here for more information on events at Cusworth Hall.
Things to do with kids nearby
With exquisitely curated gardens and hidden historical buildings, Brodsworth Hall is a great place to visit if you’re looking for things to do with kids in South Yorkshire. Its an English Heritage property and therefore free to members, so lots of wonderful picnics can be held in these beautiful gardens. There is always lots going on at Brodsworth Hall, from live music to seasonal activities.
2. Conisbrough Castle
At Conisbrough Castle, there is a central, very well preserved medieval keep with several floors that you can explore, grounds with excellent views over the town of Conisbrough, and the romantic ruins of a curtain wall. You can visit the museum and kid friendly activity room.
3. Pontefract Castle
A castle with a rich history, it’s an excellent place to visit if you’re looking for things to do with the kids in West Yorkshire. There is plenty for them to do and if you’re visiting in the school holidays, there is quite likely an activity going on to get stuck into.
4. Xscape
This massive centre has activities for everyone. There are shops and restaurants, but the real star of the show is all the activities. Here you will find laser tag, 4D crazy golf, snowboarding, trampolining, escape rooms and so much more.