Gainsborough Old Hall, located in the Lincolnshire market town of Gainsborough, stands as one of the largest and most complete medieval manor houses still extant in England. Dating primarily from the 15th century, the house escaped the destruction that affected many similar properties and offers a comprehensive view of late medieval life.
The hall is known for its vast Great Hall featuring an original wooden roof, its unique set of domestic service rooms, plus its connections to English royalty and the early Puritan movement. Jointly managed by English Heritage and Lincolnshire County Council, this guide details visitor information, historical significance, and accessibility for exploring Gainsborough Old Hall.
Practical visitor information: Gainsborough Old Hall hours and admission
Admission to the hall is ticketed. As hours and specific opening days can vary seasonally, particularly outside of summer, visitors are advised to confirm the schedule on the English Heritage website before travelling. As a rule of thumb, however, it is open daily from 10am to 5pm between April and October, and weekends only from 10am to 4pm during the winter season.
Admission fees for Gainsborough Old Hall (2025/2026 season)
Prices are structured to offer a 15% discount for advance online booking, and you’ll pay more during peak periods. English Heritage members are admitted free of charge. The following rates are for super saver tickets outside of peak times.
- Standard adult (at the gate): £10.90
- Saver adult (advance online): £9
- Child (5-17 years): £6.80 on the gate, £5,40 online.
- Family tickets: Discounted rates are available for groups.
Is it worth paying for English Heritage membership?
Entry prices for English Heritage sites, including Dover Castle, Stonehenge and Tintagel Castle, can seem extremely expensive. This is clearly a deliberate ploy to push visitors towards taking out annual English Heritage membership.
Membership gives free access to more than 400 sites across the country, and costs £82. That is, unless you get a special deal – there was a 25%-off Black Friday deal in November 2025, for example.
Whether that £82 is worth it depends on how many sites are near you (there are lots in the south of the country, not so many near me in Yorkshire). And, critically, whether you’re going to visit them with children.
Each member can take up to six children with them free of charge. Given the steep one-time entry fees, an adult member with two children is likely to recoup the cost of their membership by visiting just two or three sites within the year.
For an individual without children, I’d say English Heritage membership is worth it only if you’re planning to blitz a few sites in one year. For an individual with children, membership is a smart investment that will likely pay itself back within one school holiday. To me, it’s a no-brainer.
The real question is whether it’s worth renewing English Heritage membership after a year. That’s debatable, as you’re unlikely to go to many of these sites twice. I eventually renewed after I was offered 20% off the price. I’ll probably recoup the membership price visiting two sites in summer next year, even if I’ve ticked off most of the best ones near me.
If you buy membership through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Architecture and history of Gainsborough Old Hall
The house was predominantly built in the 1460s by Sir Thomas Burgh, a prominent figure in the court of Edward IV, and remains a significant example of English perpendicular style.
The Great Hall and its roof
The main feature is the Great Hall, which occupies the full height of the central range. It is defined by its impressive wooden roof, built in the decorative double-hammerbeam style. This design provides structural support while creating an open, lofty space that was essential for feasting and communal life in the medieval period.
The medieval kitchens
The surviving domestic service block contains one of the best-preserved sets of medieval kitchens in England. They feature three huge fireplaces, evidence of the immense scale of cooking required to feed the Burgh household and their royal guests. The scale demonstrates the manor’s importance as a centre of hospitality and power.
The royal connections
The house hosted several significant royal visits, attesting to the Burgh family’s status. King Richard III stayed at the hall in 1484, and King Henry VIII visited in 1541 during his progress through the North.
The Old Hall and the Pilgrim movement
In the early 17th century, Gainsborough Old Hall became associated with the nascent Pilgrim movement, giving it a key role in transatlantic history.
The separatist congregation
In the early 1600s, the manor was occupied by the Hickman family, who were sympathetic to the Puritan cause. They allowed separatist congregations, who were seeking to break away from the established Church of England, to meet secretly in the Great Hall. These meetings were instrumental in the formation of the Pilgrims who eventually sailed to the New World.
The congregation, led by John Smyth, used the hall as a base before fleeing England for the Netherlands in 1608, establishing the roots of the American Pilgrim movement.
Accessibility guide for Gainsborough Old Hall
The medieval structure of Gainsborough Old Hall results in areas of limited accessibility. The site is a Grade I listed building, restricting the scope for modern adaptations.
Access details
- Great Hall and ground floor: The lower levels, including the **Great Hall**, are mostly accessible. However, floor surfaces can be uneven.
- Upper floors and tower: Access to the upper ranges (the East and West Lodging Blocks) and the Tower is via steep, narrow wooden staircases. These areas are challenging for visitors with limited mobility. There are no lifts available.
- Mobility aids: A manual wheelchair is available on site for loan.
- Toilets: An accessible toilet is located near the entrance/visitor reception area.
Nearby attractions to Gainsborough Old Hall
Gainsborough Old Hall is located in the west of Lincolnshire, offering access to several notable historical and cultural sites across the county.
- Lincoln Cathedral: Located in the city of Lincoln, this major example of Gothic architecture was once the tallest building in the world.
- Lincoln Castle: Also in Lincoln, the castle houses one of the four surviving copies of the 1215 Magna Carta and offers tours of its walls and prison.
- Newark Castle: A key medieval ruin on the banks of the River Trent, linked to King John and the English Civil War.
- Marshall’s Yard: A regenerated shopping and leisure area in Gainsborough, providing modern amenities and dining options near the Old Hall.
