The Secrets of Heaton Hall and Park

Johnny James, Managing Editor

Book now

The Secrets of Heaton Hall and Park

Heaton Park, Manchester
8 June 2025

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Heaton Hall
Heaton Hall
Book now

James Wyatt was one of the great architects of his day and Heaton Hall is one of his masterworks, built in phases between 1778 and 1789. This guided tour includes a rare visit inside the house, granting you access to interiors that bring a mix of elegance, opulence and drama.

Your knowledgeable guide will not only give you insights into glorious spaces such as the circular Cupola Room; they’ll also reveal the stories that they contain. The whole building, in fact, is something of a love story set in stone – the passion between a young married couple immortalised through architecture.

And then there’s the surrounding Heaton Park, whose history is as rich and extensive as the Hall’s. Hear tales of the owners, the Earls of Wilton, of Fanny Kemble and the Duke of Wellington visiting in 1830, of ‘the world’s first DJ’, William Grimshaw, of Pope John Paul II’s visit and about huge gigs from the likes of the Stone Roses.

But it’s not all about the aristocracy and famous faces; there are some fascinating tales to be heard about everyday visitors, too. After all, Heaton Park is truly the ‘people’s park’ and has been since 1902 when it was bought by Manchester Corporation, now City Council.

Whether you’ve never visited Heaton Hall or you think you know it very well, be prepared to be surprised and delighted by what this tour reveals.

Where to go near The Secrets of Heaton Hall and Park

Treetop Adventure Manchester
Manchester
Tourist Attraction
Treetop Trek Heaton Park

Get up close with the woodlands of Heaton Park in aerial assault courses that’ll have you bouncing, swinging and gliding through the canopy.

Manchester
Event venue
Abraham Moss School

Abraham Moss Community School is a mixed all-through school located on a 19-hectare site situated on Crescent Road in the Crumpsall/Cheetham Hill district of North Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, next to the Abraham Moss Metrolink station.

Manchester
Library
North City Library

A modern community library space in North Manchester which is shared with North Manchester Sixth Form College.

Broughton Leisure Centre
Salford
Event venue
Broughton Leisure Centre

Broughton Leisure Centre is a sports facility located in Salford, Manchester. Broughton Leisure Centre houses a 25m pool and a teaching pool and also has a sauna and steam room.

Manchester
Albert Park

Albert Park is an important and valued piece of open space which first opened in 1877. Among the park’s main attractions is a fantastic all-weather astro turf pitch,

Manchester
Park
LIVIA forest

LIVIA is an accumulation of woodlands included Drinkwater, Forest Bank, Clifton, Robin Hood Sidings, Silverdale, Queensmere reservoir and Waterdale.

Cheetham Hill
The Yard

New creative hub The Yard is home to a great little music venue, which tends to attract future-leaning electronic artists.

What's on: Tour

Cathedral of Sound - Lazerian
Until
Activity
Music for the Senses

Music for the Senses, a city-wide art trail by global art producer Wild in Art, takes over the streets of Manchester this summer.

Free entry
Ossett Brewery Exterior
Until
TourWakefield
Ossett Brewery Tour

Beer lovers, get to know the taste of Yorkshire with an Ossett Brewery Tour. Learn about the process before sampling the goods.

From £19.09
A mushroom growing on a stump of mossy wood
TourLeeds
Fungus Foray at Temple Newsam

Guided walk for families and beginners looking at Fungi at Temple Newsam. 

The walk aims to find examples of all the major genus of fungi so that the participants can more

From £8.00

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Theatre this month bursts with contrasts - from bold new writing and Black History Month highlights to contemporary arts and reimagined classics.

Cinema in the North

This month we recommend a season of Film noir, cult Australian movies and a huge celebration of DIY community cinema.

Exhibitions in the North

Galleries around the North are gearing up for a new season of exhibitions - from iconic art prizes to smaller, artist-led gems.

Wisp Press Image
Music in the North

From corrupted shoegaze to experimental electronica, post-hardcore to Indian classical, these are the shows that should be on your radar.