Blogs & News

  Elizabeth Gaskell's house would be lovely to live in ! It has a real feel to it and really preserves what it woould have been like when Mrs Gaskell herself... read more lived there

  A few weeks ago I visited with 3 family members on a quiet Sunday afternoon. The house is easy to find by car and there was free parking right outside.... read more With regards to inside, the house is a wonderful tribute to the past, and to the Gaskell family. Beautifully maintained; it's like stepping back into the past and Mrs Gaskell herself could be writing in the next room. The guides were all so lovely and helpful. Sometimes when you visiting museums, the atmosphere is a little stuffy and uncomfortable but this is absolutely not the case here. I enjoyed viewing the rooms and listening to the stories about times gone by and famous literary visitors to the property. The Ruskin exhibition in an upstairs room is wonderful and I can't wait to return to visit the bedroom that is currently being refurbished. Downstairs is the second hand book sale and lovely tea room/gift shop. Lovely and clean and all COVID rules being followed. It was a lovely visit and the house is a little gem just a stone's throw from the bustle of Manchester city centre. Tickets last for 12 months so I hope to return next year. Well done to all involved in the upkeep of the house.

  I grew up close by and finally decided to visit with my three children aged between 12 and 1. The staff were really friendly and great with kids. I was... read more dubious about my boisterous 7 year old running riot, but he really enjoyed it. The staff were all passionate and knowledgeable about the Gaskells, the building and even what plants are grown in the grounds. The building and gardens are amazing and there's even a tearoom. I can't recommend this enough. Not often I find something for the whole family to enjoy. Definitely worth a visit.

  Despite arriving at 3 pm, and the signboard outside saying open until 4:30 pm, as did the website, we were told they had just closed. It’s not until you get... read more outside that you see the sign saying “booking essential“, this is not the place for a casual passerby to call in. While we understand the need for safety procedures, there is little point in a signboard saying museum open if

  Went with my daughter on a very wet and windy day, so unusually quiet. The house is beautiful and being sensitively restored. The welcome and warmth from the knowledgeable guides... read more more than compensated for the weather outside. We, especially my daughter, enjoyed the book sale and our only regret was not having some of the lovely homemade cake!

I would love to go back, especially to some of the very interesting workshops and events. And we are inspired to extend our reading of Mrs Gaskell! Highly recommended.

(If you like Korean food, pop round the corner to Seoul Kimchi, great food and value)

  It was a drizzly day in Manchester. I sent my two young adult children and their southern visitor to the museum. They returned saying that they'd had a great time:... read more they'd learnt lots of interesting things and found all the guides incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. They were encouraged to play the piano at the house and ask lots of questions. (The cakes in the café got a 5-star rating too.) All three came home and started reading Mrs Gaskell.