2025.10 UK & More – Hardwick Hall
With a British Heritage membership in our pocket from visiting Dover Castle, it was time to make use of it. Along the route north from Silverstone to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, there were three places that were close to the highway. Due to timing we only visited one, and it was totally worth the visit, Hardwick Hall.
Location
I honestly cannot remember where Hardwick Hall is located, but the important part is that it’s short drive off the M1, and the place is epic. While we made our journey north, or as the road signs declared, “The NORTH”
Getting to Hardwick Hall really does set up for the impressive nature of the building as you drive for a few minutes on a one way road to the hall. From a distance, it does only appear as a brick-like shaped building. That changes once you get closer, and especially once you enter the grounds (passing the admission booth), the place is mostly glass. Something that was constructed during the reign of Elizabeth I, the amount of windows must have been one-of-a-kind. I encourage you to read the Wikipedia post, or other account of the building.
Outside & Garden
It’s a short walk from the entrance through a garden to get to the hall. Although the weather was trying to decide have the sunshine between intermittent showers we were able to get to the Hall without getting soaked. I feel we approached the building from the back, as the front of the building is quite a sight.
I took these pictures after we toured the building, it really is an impressive building.
Once inside there was even more to take in.
Indoors
Unlike this being built by a lord, or count, instead it was the lady of the house, who had built up her wealth that she had the building constructed. Before her death she had a will written that chronicled in detail the many possessions, items, and artwork that filled this space. This detailed document provided historians with the ability to keep items in the building authentic to the age when the building was used during her lifetime (built in the 1590s).
One can only imagine how brilliant the rooms would be if the curtains were open and the sun was shining — quite an improvement from medieval castles and older buildings where outside light was seen as a weakness to guarding and holding the building.
From the signs posted in the hall, it was described that the great room was at the top of the building. This design approach was used to tire out guests to further drive home the grandeur of the building. I was taken in by the original wall coverings. A guide informed us that the many points and cues that showed these tapestries were made in England and contemporary to the construction of the building.
Part of me did wonder, what would a person think having to climb multiple stories to greet the Lady of the house? And then while losing your breath while climbing the stairs you pass many wall coverings and other works of art.
The house does have a preferred flow, and it’s completely self guided so you don’t have to dwell in an area if it’s not of your interest. The slideshow below are a few of the many rooms along with the art that she had commissioned as well.
When you eventually arrive to the great room — it felt that it occupied half of the floor, a portrait of the lady of the house, Bess of Hardwick:
After completing the tour, your walk back to the entrance passed by a few old stone buildings that is used as the cafeteria, and gift shop. The day of our visit it appeared that the garden around these buildings were being setup for an outdoor film screening. Once back in the car and back on the road to the motorway I grabbed another picture of the directions on the sign. For us in North America usually it’s the Highway name and direction. I joked to Little Miss “Does the sign now infer we’re in the middle of England now?”
We made the rest of our trip to Newcastle-upon-Tyne without delay or traffic issues. We skipped the other destinations as we approached the highway exit for the second potential stop it was within 20 minutes before its closing time. We missed a castle and, as I write this, I honestly cannot recall the third potential stop enroute North. Honestly, I think we made an excellent choice in visiting this hall.
Explore other parts of this trip:
Part 1 – Air Canada Flight Toronto to Halifax, to London
Part 2 – Hilton Garden Inn, Heathrow
Part 4 – Best Western Abbots Barton Hotel, Canterbury
Part 6 – Canterbury Cathedral & Abbey
Part 7 – Hilton Garden Inn, Silverstone
Part 8 – Hardwick Hall (this post!)
Part 9 – Newcastle Upon Tyne Doubletree Hotel
Part 10 – Alnwick Gardens & Corbridge Roman Town
Part 11 – Premier Inn Penrith
Part 12 – Castlerigg Stone Circle & Lake District
Part 13 – Hilton Garden Inn Manchester
Part 14 – Isle of Wight
Part 15 – Carisbrooke Castle
Part 16 – Osborne
Part 17 – Heathrow Terminal 4 Hilton
Part 18 – Flight to Amsterdam, Hilton Dusseldorf
Part 19 – Doubletree NDSW Amsterdam
Part 20 – Mauritshuis, The Hague
Part 21 – Hilton AMS
Part 22 – Flight home via Newark