Melbourne Hall
Derbyshire, England
Photo: PJMarriott, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Greg Bowler, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Trevor Rickard, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Kerr family (Marquess of Lothian's family)
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Membership
- Historic Houses members go in free - what it costs per visit
- Nearest station
- Peartree, 5.6 miles (straight-line)
- Stays
- Overnight accommodation available
- Note
- Historic house with notable early 18th-century formal gardens.
Pinpoint
Church Square, Melbourne, Derby DE73 8EN
Telephone 01332 862502
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 1:00 – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 1:00 – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 1:00 – 5:00 PM |
Melbourne Hall is a historic house known for its notable early 18th-century formal gardens. Reviewers note the hall itself opens only in August, and most visits centre on the grounds, the walks around The Pool and the village beyond. Opinions on the gardens are mixed, with some finding them a peaceful place to walk and others expecting more flower borders than the mainly grass and trees they found.
At a glance
Worth the trip
The quiet walks around the grounds and The Pool, which reviewers say stay peaceful even on a bank holiday.
Before you go
Reviewers report the hall is open in August only, and that the cafe stops serving food and closes well before the gardens do, so plan food early in the visit.
What visitors say
Melbourne Hall reviews · 4.5 / 5 across 855 Google reviews
Reviewers repeatedly note that the hall itself is only open in August, and those who got inside describe a house still very much lived in, full of family photographs and paintings, with the dining room and hall picked out and the connections to Lord Melbourne and Lady Caroline Lamb mentioned. Opinions on the gardens differ: one visitor was enthusiastic about the clipped yew hedges, water features, ponds and unusual trees, while another found them mainly grass and trees with few flower borders and not a place to come for planting ideas.
The setting is generally described as peaceful and not busy, with walks around the grounds and the pool, and reviewers also mention the village, craft shops and a micro bar behind the hall. One practical warning is that the cafe closes an hour before the gardens and stops serving food an hour before that.
“We had a lovely visit to the Gardens. Even though we went on Bank Holiday Monday, it wasn't busy. The gardens feel very peaceful. We used our Gardeners World 2-4-1 card and felt it was worth going too. The village…”- Angela Breith, visitor review
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Facilities
- “Nice little cafe, but it closes 1 hour before the gardens and stops serving food 1 hour before that.” - Nadine Sims
Common questions about Melbourne Hall
Where is Melbourne Hall?
Melbourne Hall is in Derbyshire, England, at Church Square, Melbourne, Derby DE73 8EN.
Do you need a ticket to visit Melbourne Hall?
Yes - Melbourne Hall is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by Kerr family (Marquess of Lothian's family). Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
Can you stay overnight at Melbourne Hall?
Yes - Melbourne Hall offers bookable accommodation, so you can spend the night in the stately home itself or within its grounds. See the Stately Homes You Can Sleep In guide for the full list and how each stay works.
What is the highlight of visiting Melbourne Hall?
The quiet walks around the grounds and The Pool, which reviewers say stay peaceful even on a bank holiday.
Is Melbourne Hall a ruin or still intact?
Melbourne Hall is largely intact - Historic house with notable early 18th-century formal gardens.
