Knowsley Hall is a magnificent stately home dating back to 1495 and is the home of the 19th Earl and Countess of Derby. This historic house is at the centre of a private park of 2,500 acres, which as a former royal deer park dates back to the Norman Conquest. Throughout the last six centuries the house has been adapted to many different roles in times of peace as well as of war. The Stanley family have welcomed royalty and distinguished guests since the house first opened its doors more than six centuries ago.
Guided Tours of Knowsley Hall Gardens - For the first time ever this year there will be the opportunity to have a guided tour of the private gardens around Knowsley Hall. These were originally of a formal Baroque design but were softened by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown in the 1770s. The tour will include the Edwardian East Terrace Gardens, the beautiful Octagon Ponds, the dramatic Bridge Lodge, the elegant eyecatcher of the Octagon dated 1755, and the surviving menagerie for exotic birds, which had been collected by the 13th Earl of Derby and famously were painted in watercolours by Edward Lear during the 1830s.
Guided tours of the Hall and Gardens are ticketed events and must be booked online in advance. For those booking guided tours of the gardens, please bring stout shoes and waterproofs in case of inclement weather. Due to undulating and soft ground, these tours of the gardens are not suitable for those with walking disabilities.
