Levens: Manor House, Topiary and Landscape

Levens brings together an Elizabethan manor house and a historic topiary garden at Levens Hall & Gardens, with paths, routes and traces of settlement from different periods. When planning your visit, you can choose from a range of interests: architecture, garden design, wildlife or outdoor activities. The 2026 season schedule for Levens Hall & Gardens lists opening from 27 March to 8 November, seven days a week. Check the dates before your trip.

Levens Hall & Gardens and its history

Levens Hall developed from a Pele Tower believed to date from the 13th century. Today, it is the largest Elizabethan manor house in the county. The house’s presumed origins and its Elizabethan classification point to different historical reference points. The ha-ha at Levens Hall is also part of the estate’s history: it is among the earliest known examples in the country.

The history of the village extends beyond the period of the manor house. Traces of settlement from the Bronze Age, Iron Age, Romano-British period and Viking Age have been found in Levens. Anyone interested in the area’s long history can explore these periods alongside the architectural and garden history of Levens Hall.

Topiary garden and special dates

The Topiary Garden at Levens Hall was laid out in 1694, after Colonel James Grahme commissioned Monsieur Guillaume Beaumont to design it. Today, more than 100 topiary figures can be seen there. The garden is the oldest topiary garden in the world and holds a Guinness World Record for this. The date it was laid out and the large number of figures give a tangible sense of how strongly topiary shapes the garden history of Levens Hall.

World Topiary Day is an annual event held on 12 May. If you would like to plan your trip around this date, check that year’s programme.

Walking paths, wildlife and routes

Marked public footpaths run through the privately owned Levens Deer Park and are open year-round. Follow the signs on site. The park is home to a herd of black fallow deer and a herd of rare Bagot goats; wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. Levens Hall is also on the Cumbrian Coastal Way footpath.

The long-distance cycling route Walney to Wear and Whitby offers a different kind of route: it passes through Levens and is 248.5 miles long. Two other recommended routes lead from the village to different destinations. The 6.7-mile route to Sedgwick goes via Hincaster and is suitable for beginners. The 16.7-mile route to Witherslack goes via Crosthwaite and Brigsteer and is suitable for intermediate cyclists. The shorter and longer recommendations therefore differ in both distance and difficulty rating. As route conditions can change, check the route before setting out.

Food and local events

Levens Kitchen serves a seasonally inspired menu featuring locally sourced produce from the Levens estate and the gardens at Levens Hall. The food and drink offering also includes Morocco Ale, a strong ale whose recipe originated at Levens Hall in the 17th century. It is available at Levens Kitchen and the Potting Shed Gift Shop; check availability if you are interested.

St John's in Levens holds a service every Sunday at 9:45 am. If this date and time are important for your visit, check the service time in advance.

Discover more destinations: Greystoke, Farlam, Gamblesby, Lindal in Furness, Penrith, Stainburn, Cotehill, Torpenhow

For the broader travel overview: Cumbria.