This post was first published in 2017 and last updated in April 2022.
During our trip to Swansea Bay I was looking for somewhere to stop off en-route. I am really not a fan of service stations and don't think a clinical and crowded environment and fast food is the best way to break up a journey.
We tend to stop at a National Trust place and make use of our membership during road trips but when my friend Penny mentioned Wollaton Hall in Nottingham, I knew it was going to be the best place for us to stretch our legs.
We tend to stop at a National Trust place and make use of our membership during road trips but when my friend Penny mentioned Wollaton Hall in Nottingham, I knew it was going to be the best place for us to stretch our legs.
Wollaton Hall in Nottingham is where key scenes from The Dark Knight Rises were filmed and the hall is just 5 miles North of Gotham where Gotham City got it's name. I'd say it's must visit for any Batman fans!
Wollaton Hall | Location
Wollaton Hall in Nottinghamshire is around a 3 hour drive from Newcastle. Nice and easy, straight down the Al.
Address: Wollaton Hall & Deer Park, Nottingham. Nottinghamshire. NG8 2AE.
The surrounding park is free to enter and parking is currently £3 for 2 hours or £5 for all day. You can view opening times here. Dogs are welcome on a lead in the grounds. Please keep them well away from deer.
Wollaton Hall is accessible by public transport if you are staying in the area. Check their website for info.
The following areas are free to visit:
- Deer Park with over 90 red and 120 fallow deer
- Lake walk
- Formal gardens
- Camellia house
- Botanical gardens
- Two play areas
- Family trails
- Accessible site with changeing places toilet (see here for more access info)
- Three snack kiosks around the site
- Wollaton 508, the courtyard and deli cafe areas
- Toilets, baby change and baby feeding facilities
- Wayne Manor (aka Wollaton Hall) exterior
Credit. : Wollaton Hall
You can also purchase tickets to see special exhibitions inside Wollaton Hall. At the moment, this is Titus: T. rex is King and is the first real T. rex to be shown in England for over a decade. Find out more and book exhibition tickets here. Entry to the Natural History Museum is included with T. rex tickets.
5 Reasons to Visit Wollaton Hall
5 Reasons to Visit Wollaton Hall
- See the real Wayne Manor
- Spot over 200 wild deer
- Excellent facilities including food kiosks, cafes, toilets
- On-site car park
- Free playgrounds, walks and gardens
Wollaton Park | Play Areas
Wollaton Park is home to two lovely outdoor play area that are free to visit.
We visited the one by the car park. You can easily spend a decent amount of time in this area alone if you pack a picnic as there's lots to keep the kids entertained. H&H loved the zip wire. apologies for the grey photos - we visited on a very overcast day.
We visited the one by the car park. You can easily spend a decent amount of time in this area alone if you pack a picnic as there's lots to keep the kids entertained. H&H loved the zip wire. apologies for the grey photos - we visited on a very overcast day.
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| Credit : Wollaton Hall |
Wollaton Park | Wayne Manor
Wollaton Hall is instantly recognisable from The Dark Knight Rises and we were all excited to see it in real life. The walk up to the manor from the park kind of builds the anticipation and once you're up close the detail does not disappoint.
It is a short-ish walk from the car park to the manor.
It is a short-ish walk from the car park to the manor.
You can walk right around the building and we found a well around the back which we're pretty sure must be a secret entrance to the bat cave.
Wollaton Hall dates back to 1580 and was built by Sir Francis Willoughby. The style is advanced Elizabethan with early Jacobean elements. The house was bought by Nottingham City Council in 1926 and opened as a museum in 1926.
Now the hall is home to a natural history museum where you can see over 750,000 objects including fossils, fossils, plants, taxidermy and more. Wollaton is the largest natual history museum in the country.
Now the hall is home to a natural history museum where you can see over 750,000 objects including fossils, fossils, plants, taxidermy and more. Wollaton is the largest natual history museum in the country.
Wollaton Park | Deer Park & Gardens
Walking beyond the hall there are gorgeous manicured gardens and woodland for you to have a stroll through. There are seats dotted about and it's really a lovely place for a walk - I still can't believe it's free!
Visitors can enjoy 500 acres of parkland and over 200 wild deer (red and fallow). Please keep your distance, especially when there are fawns adout and during rutting season.
Visitors can enjoy 500 acres of parkland and over 200 wild deer (red and fallow). Please keep your distance, especially when there are fawns adout and during rutting season.
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| Credit : Wollaton Hall |
The camellia house is cast iron framed glass house in Europe (dating back to 1823) and the only one in the UK. Situated within the formal gardens, there is an indoor seating area where families were tucking into a packed lunch under cover.
The camellia flowers are usually in bloom between autumn and late spring.
Sometimes this area may be closed for weddings / private functions.
We ended our stroll around the other side of the hall where there was a courtyard that was very similar to a National Trust tea room and cafe. It looked like a nice place to stop for tea and cake or lunch. There are plenty of loos here and a small shop selling plants/local produce ect.... too.
If you're travelling South (or North for that matter) Wollaton Hall is just a small detour from the M1 near Nottingham. It's around a 3 hour drive from Newcastle so an ideal spot to break up a longer journey. Check out our YouTube video from our visit below:
Wollaton Hall Events
It's worth checking out the Wollaton Hall website for upcoming events. In Spring / Summer they have the following:
- Dinosaur Egg Trail
- Vintage Funfair
- Stone Age Adventure Workshop
- Open Air Theatre | Gunpowder Plot
- Splendour 2022
- Open Air Theatre | Romeo and Juliet
- Open Air Theatre | Awful Auntie
- Iniza Orchestra 2022
- Open Air Theatre | Cinderella
- Open Air Theatre | A Midsummer Night's Dream
Check the Wollaton Hall website for upcoming events info here
Where to Stay or Visit Nearby
Wollaton Hall is in Nottinghamshire. If staying in the area, you could also visit the following attractions:
- Chatsworth House
- Hardwick Hall
- Bolsover Castle
- Sundown Adventure
- Sherwood Forest
- The Robin Hood Experience
- Alton Towers
We have stayed at Darwin Forest a few times and it's within an hour's drive. It's a beautful site with hot tub lodges and around an hour's drive from Wollaton Hall. Read our review of Darwin Forest here.
If you are looking to just stay the one night, (ad) Nottingham Castle Marina Hotel has a 4.5* customer rating, free on site parking and family rooms are available from £30.
Alternatively, (ad) Travelodge Nottingham Wollaton Park is located next door to the park and is a dog-friendly hotel (up to 2 dogs can stay with you at £20 per dog).
Looking for other Superhero film locations? You can visit Thor's House in Asgard at St Abbs near Berwick. Read our guide to visiting Thor's House here.
How long should we plan to spend here?
We spent a few hours there as a stop off but you couls easily spend all day there as there is quite a bit to see and do.
How much is it to visit?
It's free to visit the exterior of Wollaton Hall, walk around the grounds and park and enjoy the playgrounds. Parking fees apply. If you'd like to visit inside, you need tickets to the T.rex exhibition which are priced from £8.75 per child and £13 per adult. Carers and Under 3s go free. Family tickets are available for £34.
Are there toilets?
Yes including baby change, disabled and a changing places toilet
Can we bring a picnic?
Yes you can bring a picnic and there are several tables and picnic areas across the site. BBQs are not permitted
Is there a cafe?
Yes there is a cafe plus several takeaway kiosks for snacks and drinks across the site. All of the cafes/takeaways are outdoor seating only.
Can we go inside?
You can but you need to purchase a T.rex exhibition ticket to do this. You can walk right up to the outside without purchasing a ticket though and you do get to see quite a bit of Wayne Manor just from walking around outside.
How much is parking?
Between £3-£5 depending on how long you stay. The car park is pretty big.
Can I have the postcode?
NG8 3AE
Is it pushchair /wheelchair friendly?
Yes and there is accessible parking right next to the hall. Find out more here.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds. Please keep dogs away from deer.
Can I fish or swim in the lake?
No
Can I take photos?
Yes feel free to take photos. Drones are not permitted without prior permission.
If you are looking to just stay the one night, (ad) Nottingham Castle Marina Hotel has a 4.5* customer rating, free on site parking and family rooms are available from £30.
Alternatively, (ad) Travelodge Nottingham Wollaton Park is located next door to the park and is a dog-friendly hotel (up to 2 dogs can stay with you at £20 per dog).
Looking for other Superhero film locations? You can visit Thor's House in Asgard at St Abbs near Berwick. Read our guide to visiting Thor's House here.
Wollaton Hall FAQs
How long should we plan to spend here?
We spent a few hours there as a stop off but you couls easily spend all day there as there is quite a bit to see and do.
How much is it to visit?
It's free to visit the exterior of Wollaton Hall, walk around the grounds and park and enjoy the playgrounds. Parking fees apply. If you'd like to visit inside, you need tickets to the T.rex exhibition which are priced from £8.75 per child and £13 per adult. Carers and Under 3s go free. Family tickets are available for £34.
Are there toilets?
Yes including baby change, disabled and a changing places toilet
Can we bring a picnic?
Yes you can bring a picnic and there are several tables and picnic areas across the site. BBQs are not permitted
Is there a cafe?
Yes there is a cafe plus several takeaway kiosks for snacks and drinks across the site. All of the cafes/takeaways are outdoor seating only.
Can we go inside?
You can but you need to purchase a T.rex exhibition ticket to do this. You can walk right up to the outside without purchasing a ticket though and you do get to see quite a bit of Wayne Manor just from walking around outside.
How much is parking?
Between £3-£5 depending on how long you stay. The car park is pretty big.
Can I have the postcode?
NG8 3AE
Is it pushchair /wheelchair friendly?
Yes and there is accessible parking right next to the hall. Find out more here.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds. Please keep dogs away from deer.
Can I fish or swim in the lake?
No
Can I take photos?
Yes feel free to take photos. Drones are not permitted without prior permission.
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We love Wollaton Hall. You should definitely try the caves and castle next time you're in the area. I think the kids would love it x
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip - we definitely will
DeleteI kind of like those grey skies. They make it all look so atmospheric and Batman-esque. And you found the secret entrance! Great that so many bits of it are free. Thanks for linking up with #CulturedKids x
ReplyDeleteit really is! Such a good way to get kids interested in stately homes too I think x
DeleteFar nicer than a motorway service station, what an incredible place and FREE! Thank you for linking up with #CulturedKids
ReplyDeleteWhoa - what a house!! If I ever move to the UK my first purchase will be a National Trust membership, for sure. Never watched Batman, but I can certainly imagine him here. Very interesting read - thanks! #CulturedKids
ReplyDeleteWhat an atmospheric looking place and I agree, it's a great way to get kids interested in stately homes!
ReplyDeleteLove the fact you found the way into the bat cave - I really wanted to see the exhibition this summer but we totally ran out of time.
ReplyDelete