Mount Grace Priory, House and Gardens is a ruined Carthusian monastery with an Arts and Crafts manor house and 13-acre garden near Northallerton in North Yorkshire, managed by English Heritage in partnership with the National Trust. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was last updated in March 2026 to reflect the 2026/27 admission prices, valid from 28 March 2026. National Trust members receive free entry to Mount Grace Priory as well as English Heritage members — an important detail for visitors holding either membership. There are no bus services directly to the site; the nearest bus stop involves a 4.5-mile walk from Osmotherley.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Staddlebridge, Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL6 3JG |
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–5pm (summer); Sat–Sun in winter; see below |
| Adult ticket | £10.79–£13.85 depending on date and day |
| Nearest train | Northallerton (~6 miles) |
| Parking | On-site gravel car park; charged for all visitors (free for Blue Badge holders) |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
Mount Grace Priory opening hours
Mount Grace has a slightly different half-term schedule — the half-term window runs 6–14 February (not 13–21 February), and the broader late-winter Wed–Sun opening begins 15 February (not 22 February). Check before planning a February visit.
The 2026/27 schedule (28 March 2026 – 16 March 2027): 28 Mar – 24 Oct, daily 10am–5pm; 25 Oct – 1 Nov, daily 10am–4pm; 2 Nov – 23 Dec, Sat–Sun only, 10am–4pm; 24–26 Dec, closed; 27 Dec – 1 Jan, daily 10am–4pm; 2 Jan – 5 Feb, Sat–Sun only, 10am–4pm; 6–14 Feb (half-term), daily 10am–4pm; 15 Feb – 16 Mar, Wed–Sun, 10am–4pm. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Opening hours last updated in March 2026.
Mount Grace Priory ticket prices
Both English Heritage and National Trust members enter free. Concessions apply to visitors aged 65+, students with a valid ID, and jobseekers with relevant ID.
As with most English Heritage sites, the ticket pricing system is needlessly complex, but here goes…
Super Saver — Mon–Fri, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; daily, 2 Nov–16 Mar
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £10.79 |
| Concession | £10.03 |
| Child | £5.35 |
Saver — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; Mon–Fri, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £12.32 |
| Concession | £11.56 |
| Child | £6.12 |
Standard — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £13.85 |
| Concession | £13.09 |
| Child | £6.88 |
Groups of 15 or more receive a 10% discount. Ticket prices last updated in March 2026.
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.
How to get to Mount Grace Priory
Mount Grace Priory is just off the A19, 12 miles north of Thirsk and 6 miles north-east of Northallerton, near the village of Osmotherley. Take care when turning off the A19 dual carriageway; brown English Heritage signs are placed approximately half a mile before the turning.
By train: Northallerton station (East Coast Main Line from London Kings Cross ~2 hrs; from Edinburgh ~1 hr 20 min) is approximately 6 miles from the priory. A taxi from Northallerton is the most practical option.
By bus: There are no buses directly to the site. The nearest bus stop is in Osmotherley, approximately 4.5 miles away on foot. Check traveline.info for any service changes.
By car: Use postcode DL6 3JG or search what3words: loft.arise.removable. Follow the A19 north from Thirsk and watch for brown signs. Bike racks are on site.
Parking at Mount Grace Priory
An on-site car park with a gravel surface is available. Parking charges apply to all visitors — including National Trust members. The only exceptions are Blue Badge holders, who park free. Three accessible parking spaces are available, approximately 25 metres from the entrance; spaces can be reserved in advance by calling the site. A drop-off point is available at the entrance to the manor house — call in advance to arrange.
How long to spend at Mount Grace Priory
Most visitors spend 2 to 3 hours. The priory ruins, reconstructed monk’s cell, manor house ground floor and first-floor museum, Arts and Crafts gardens, and Orchard Café can all be seen within this time. The 13-acre gardens reward a slow pace; allow longer in spring (bluebells) and summer (roses and borders in full bloom).
Accessibility at Mount Grace Priory
A ramp provides access into the manor house and priory grounds. The Orchard Café is wheelchair accessible. The cloister has two flights of three steps — not accessible without stairs. The monk’s cell is accessible at ground level; one step to the herb garden. The first-floor museum requires three flights of stairs. Uneven ground, rabbit holes, and low walls are present across the site. Three accessible parking spaces (~25 metres from entrance) can be reserved by calling the site. Baby-changing in the manor house. Dogs are not currently permitted on site; assistance dogs welcome.
Inside Mount Grace Priory, House and Gardens: what to see
Mount Grace is the best-preserved of the ten medieval Carthusian monasteries (charterhouses) in England. Founded in 1398, the Carthusians were semi-hermits — each monk lived alone in a cottage-like cell around an immense Great Cloister. One cell has been reconstructed to its 15th-century appearance, with bedroom, study, garden, and workshop. It is one of the most tangible recreations of medieval monastic life in England. The priory ruins include the small church with its surviving tower, great cloister, and chapter house. An explorer pack for children featuring Sammy the Stoat is available on entry.
In the 17th century the former priory guest house became a manor house, extended in the Arts and Crafts style around 1901 by industrialist Sir Lowthian Bell. Bell commissioned leading craftsmen of the day including William Morris, whose designs appear throughout the manor. The drawing room contains an original William Morris carpet. The first-floor museum holds excavation artefacts and tells the full story of the site.
The 13-acre Arts and Crafts gardens, redesigned by Chris Beardshaw, include herbaceous borders, terraced spaces, a wildflower meadow, orchard, and the Monks’ Pond. The Orchard Café serves hot and cold drinks, pasties, sausage rolls, cakes, soups (November to March), and baguettes (April to October). Prior’s Lodge, a holiday cottage sleeping four, is available to rent through English Heritage.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Both EH and NT members enter free | National Trust members receive free admission to Mount Grace Priory as well as English Heritage members. |
| Half-term dates differ | Mount Grace’s half-term opening runs 6–14 February, not 13–21 February as at most EH sites. Check before planning a February visit. |
| No buses to the site | There are no direct bus services. The nearest stop is in Osmotherley (~4.5 miles on foot). A car or taxi from Northallerton is required. |
| NT members still pay to park | Parking charges apply to all visitors including National Trust members. Only Blue Badge holders park free. |
| Take care on the A19 turning | The turn-off from the A19 dual carriageway is fast-moving; brown signs appear ~0.5 mile before the junction. |
| No dogs | Dogs are not currently permitted on site. Assistance dogs are welcome. |
Frequently asked questions about Mount Grace Priory
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do National Trust members get free entry? | Yes. Both English Heritage and National Trust members enter free of charge. |
| Is there parking at Mount Grace Priory? | Yes. On-site gravel car park; charges apply to all visitors including NT members. Blue Badge holders park free. Three accessible spaces can be reserved by calling the site. |
| Is there a café at Mount Grace Priory? | Yes. The Orchard Café serves hot and cold food and drinks year-round, with indoor and covered outdoor seating. |
| Are dogs allowed at Mount Grace Priory? | Not currently, other than assistance dogs. |
| Is Mount Grace Priory accessible for wheelchair users? | Partially. Ramp access to the manor house and grounds. The cloister has steps; the first-floor museum requires stairs. The café is accessible. |
| How do I get to Mount Grace by public transport? | There are no direct buses. Take a train to Northallerton (~6 miles) and then a taxi. There is no practical bus connection. |
Things to do near Mount Grace Priory
Rievaulx Abbey (English Heritage, ~12 miles south-west) is one of England’s great Cistercian ruins in a spectacular valley; members free. Helmsley Castle (English Heritage, ~13 miles south-west) is a medieval castle with a walled garden; members free. Sutton Bank National Park Centre (~10 miles south) is a free visitor centre with panoramic North York Moors views. Northallerton (~6 miles west) has independent shops and cafés. Thirsk (~12 miles south) has the World of James Herriot museum.
More Yorkshire travel
Other Yorkshire travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Guide to visiting Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.
- What to see and do at Helmsley Castle, Middleham Castle and Pickering Castle.
- The best bits of Byland Abbey.
- Practical visitor guides to Malham Cove, the Ribblehead Viaduct, Aysgarth Falls and Linton Falls in the Yorkshire Dales.
- Complete guide to visiting Stump Cross Caverns.
