Visiting the house at Lyme

A view of the South Front of Lyme Park from across the lake with spring blooms framing the shot — The south front of Lyme Park, Cheshire | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Like many great houses, Lyme was built and rebuilt, embellished and enlarged throughout its ownership by the Legh family, with each generation making its mark and creating the house we see today. Explore the many rooms of the house and discover unusual objects and strange secrets as you walk through six centuries of family history at Lyme in Cheshire.

What's on in the house

From talks and tours to our Regency dressing room and Conservation in Action, there's always more to explore at Lyme. Whether you're a regular visitor or it's your first time here, delve into the rich history of this special place.

Talks and tours are volunteer dependent so please ring the Estate Office on 01663762023 to double-check on the day of your visit. Times may vary.

Talks

Every day in the Chapel (volunteer dependent). Visit the Ticket Office upon arrival to find out more.

A brief history of Lyme, offering a background on the Legh family and how Lyme came to be. Talks last approx. 20 minutes. No need to book, it is on a first come first served basis.

Behind-the-scenes tours

Every day (volunteer dependent). Visit the Ticket Office upon arrival to find out more.

Tours last approximately 45 minutes and detail what life was like for working servants at Lyme. Visitors can see areas usually closed to the public including the Butler's Pantry, and learn about the below stairs characters who lived here. Please be aware that these tours are not suitable for children under 10 and involve tight spaces, steep staircases and narrow passageways.

Regency dressing room

Experience Lyme like a Jane Austen character and get dressed up in full Regency dress. Spend the day in costume whilst exploring the house and gardens. We have Regency men’s, women’s and children’s clothing including spencer jackets, day-dresses, trousers, shirts, and riding jackets that look straight out of Pride and Prejudice. Open every day from 11.00 till 15.00 (excluding Wednesdays as the house is closed). All ages welcome.

No pre-booking necessary. If you'd like to go directly to the Dressing Room, ask in the Entrance Hall and our friendly volunteers will direct you through the house. Sizes range from a S to XXL and women’s up to a size 22. All sizes are subject to availability.

Conservation in Action

Our conservation team regularly undertake vital conservation work whilst we’re open to the public. Visitors can visit the conservation studio and see where the team are currently working. In 2025 scaffolding is set up in the Dining Room for cleaning the plasterwork and high levels. Conservation projects vary throughout the year.

Collection items to look out for

Over 600 years, Lyme has acquired all kinds of unusual objects and strange secrets so you're bound to notice hidden details on every visit. Here are some highlights from the collection.

The Sarum Missal at Lyme showing the initials of William Caxton who produced the book in 1487 in conjunction with the printer Guillame Maynyal in Paris. — The Sarum Missal is the only surviving, largely intact, book of its kind. | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

The Sarum Missal in the Library

The Sarum Missal at Lyme is the only surviving, largely intact, book of its kind. Printed by William Caxton in Paris 1487, the book is unique in having belonged to one family for over five centuries and represents the changing religious views of the country during that period. The Sarum Missal can be found in the Library, alongside a facsimile that you can read through to discover its secrets for yourself.

Discover the most important printed book in the National Trust

Lyme has the finest clock collection in the National Trust | © Andreas von Einsiedel

Clock collection in the State Bedroom

The collection at Lyme is so large that the majority of the older clocks are displayed in the State Bedroom and Dressing Room. Take a closer look at the intricate inner workings and find out more about their individual histories. In this room you’ll find the Fromanteel clock. Dating from 1658, this timepiece is thought to be from the first ever batch of pendulum clocks made in England. It is likely to be the oldest surviving pendulum clock in the entire country.

The Erard Harp in the Drawing Room

This beautiful golden harp was bought by Thomas Legh in 1829, a year after his marriage to the young heiress Ellen Turner. However their relationship was to be tragically short-lived, as she died in 1831. After this, Thomas went back to travelling the world, and it would be 12 years before he settled back at Lyme again.

Greek stele in Library at Lyme Park. Dating from the 5th century, it depicts an actor or poet holding masks of the tragic and comic muses. — Discover explorer Thomas Legh’s most important archaeological find in the Library | © Andreas von Einsiedel

Greek Stele in the Library

Discover explorer Thomas Legh’s most important archaeological finds. He discovered these marble sculptures in Athens in 1812 and asked Lewis Wyatt to incorporate them into the design for the new library at Lyme. Thomas displayed his most treasured objects here to showcase the ancient culture he had witnessed and admired.

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The History of Lyme

Unlike many great estates, Lyme was a much-loved home to generations of one family and their valued and loyal workers. Living through England's most troubled times, the Legh family hung on to their home and (mostly) their heads, and this impact can still be seen across the estate today. The largest estate in Cheshire, Lyme has been designed on a grand scale over a number of centuries. It has been a place to receive occasional royal guests, take friends hunting or to entertain on a lavish scale.

Whet your appetite before your visit and learn about the 600 years of history at Lyme by clicking here.