Visiting Speke Hall During Covid-19
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve visited Speke Hall over the last 8 years since it became my most local National Trust property. I’ve seen it in all seasons and all weathers and I still love returning. However, with the current Coronavirus situation I knew this visit would be very different. But just what is it like visiting Speke Hall during Covid-19?
Table of Contents
What and Where is Speke Hall?
As a quick summary for those of you who have landed on this page and don’t know anything about Speke Hall: this fabulous wattle and daub Tudor Manor house dates back to 1530. It is located in the U.K. Merseyside district of Speke, right at the end of Liverpool Airport’s runway. You’ll regularly see and hear aircraft taking off overhead.
Throughout its history Speke Hall only really passed through 2 families: the Norris family and the Watts family. When the last surviving heir of the Watts family passed away in 1921, the house was held in trust until 1943 when it then passed into the hands of The National Trust. It was initially administered to by Liverpool City Corporation, then Merseyside County Council who conducted major structural repairs and restoration. This was completed in 1983 and the National Trust took over full ownership in 1986.
As a member, I love visiting historic houses and estates and Speke Hall is just one of the cutest houses. What am I saying? It’s huge as far as houses go and approximately 500 years old! How can it be cute? Well I happen to think all black and white timber framed Tudor buildings are so cute! Uneven lines, quirky angles, jutting out timbers. Quaint quaint quaint! Not to mention full of history. Imagine the stories of those that once lived there. Those that walked the extensive gardens and played hide and seek in the woodlands, just like you can now.
And you can still do those last couple of activities despite the Covid-19 restrictions. However unfortunately the house remains closed for the time being. This was the first time I’d been to Speke Hall but not toured around the house. I’ll admit it was strange. For me it was like going to the beach but not putting my feet in the ocean, something I have to do even if it’s freezing cold! I was determined to make the most of my visit however and embrace the new normal that is visiting Speke Hall during Covid-19. So, what’s changed?
Pre-book Your Visit
First of all (and I can’t stress this enough) – you must book your visit online before going. If you turn up without a booking, you will unfortunately be turned away. That goes for members too! And that would be a crying shame, not to mention a waste of time and petrol.
Arriving at Speke Hall
As you approach Speke Hall there will be a member of staff on the main access gates and they’ll check your tickets, passes etc. They’ll then explain where to park and where the entrance and exit are. These differ to pre-Covid days.
Interestingly, the ladies on the gates were the only staff members I saw in my whole time at Speke Hall except for the gardeners that I observed through the gates in the kitchen garden. This would be unimaginable under normal circumstances with staff visible everywhere to direct and answer questions. I also visited on a Tuesday which meant the limited catering facilities weren’t open, so no staff there either. The Stables restaurant is only open Wednesday to Sunday.
What to Expect When Touring the Grounds of Speke Hall During Covid-19
It will be quiet!
There is actually a lot of space at Speke Hall. Wide open lawns and extensive woods. I don’t think I’ve quite appreciated this before when they’re full of people enjoying the great outdoors. I thought I would love it being so quiet but it actually felt slightly eerie. When you’re so used to the bustle and buzz of a place, it’s strange when you see it a completely different way.
The National Trust has massively restricted numbers for everyone’s safety, so even though it’s the height of the summer, it is still very quiet. Amazing I know! There are no other circumstances where you would find it this quiet in school holiday times, so if you like your peace and tranquillity I can highly recommend visiting now. It might just be the first time I’ve gotten a photograph of the front of the building with no one in it! So photographers – there’s a nice little silver lining to the current situation for you.
One-Way System
As you can imagine, the grounds of Speke Hall are now on a one-way system and it works very well. As you enter from the car park, take note of the large map to the right of the gate which shows you the areas that are open and the one-way route in operation. Take a photo of it as this is the only map on site.
As you can see in this photo of the map, there are a choice of routes you can take through the woodlands, so if you wish to do both of them, you will have to circle back round. It’s not as easy to cut through different areas as you once would have been able to due to some paths being closed.
Lots of Space to Relax With a Picnic
You will still have free reign of the rear (South) lawn and the grassy area in front of the house (North lawn.) There were several families sat with a picnic here which was lovely to see. With the lack of the usual restaurant facilities, The National Trust is actively encouraging you to bring picnics and relax in the grounds.
There was even a game of cricket being played by one family (with a soft ball set of course) and I have to say you wouldn’t normally have been able to do this as there would have been too many people around to do so safely and without impinging on other people’s enjoyment of the place.
You’ll find plenty of picnic tables and seats dotted around the site. There is a dedicated picnic area immediately to the left by the entrance and several tables in the orchard to the right after you pass the kitchen garden.
What Else is there to See and Do in Summer 2020?
The herbaceous border that runs alongside the kitchen garden is particularly colourful and fragrant right now as are the rhododendrons which run the length of the South lawn.
While wandering around the South lawn check out the superb examples of monkey puzzle trees in the south east corner. They are particularly impressive.
It might be closed to walk around at the moment, but you’ll be able to see through the gates into the kitchen garden to see what’s currently going on.
You’ll also still be able to admire the stunning architecture of the hall itself from all the usual vantage points and while you may have a strict entry time, once you are here you can remain as long as you like (though take note – the gates close at 5pm, so you need to be out by then.)
Follow the Terence the Troll Trail at Speke Hall
While the adventure play areas remain closed for the summer, you may be wondering how best to entertain children while visiting Speke Hall during Covid-19. Enter Terence the Troll!
Between the 30th July and the 1st September, Speke Hall brings you the tale of Terence the Troll and the Magic Acorn.
“Discover the mischievous creature that is gobbling up our trees and help the small but mighty Magic Acorn to protect its leafy friends and rescue nature.”
I highly recommend you download the trail leaflet before visiting so you have it to hand when you first meet Terence. Find the link in the “Summer at Speke” section of the National Trust website. There are no physical trail leaflets or maps on site and while the first time you see Terence is really obvious, the other points on the trail aren’t so you have to know where to look.
It is a great little trail so well worth following and it’s also educational in getting children to engage with nature and discover different types of trees and their purpose. At many of the stops there are activities to do too.
Discover the importance of trees at ‘The Story Tree’ (or as my nephew likes to call it: the Book Tree.) This is point 2 on the trail located in the picnic area.
Learn what will happen if we cut lots of trees down at the ‘Whispering Oaks’ tree stump (point 3 on the trail)
Find mice rescuing apples from greedy Terence at point 4 next to the orchard.
Discover the relationship between trees and the weather at ‘the Weather Tree’ (point 7 on the trail)
Overview of What is Open and Closed at Speke Hall during Covid-19
Open:
- Most garden and woodland areas (one-way system)
- The Stables tea room is open Wednesday – Sunday serving a limited range of drinks, snacks and ice-cream. Note: no indoor seating available
- Toilets and baby change facilities at Home Farm
Closed:
- The House
- The Childe of Hale Trail
- Play Area at Home Farm
- The Maze
- Woodland adventure play area
- The Secret Garden
- Coastal walk access
The National Trust is working on re-opening more areas and facilities when it is safe to do so. Please keep an eye out online and on social media to find out more.
You can check availability and book your slot at Speke Hall here. Prices have been reduced to take in to account what is currently open.
I hope you have a great day out at Speke Hall during Covid-19. As long as you adjust your expectations, I’m sure you will. I’ll definitely be returning for a few hours with one of my super comfortable garden chairs, a flask of hot chocolate and my sketch book. It offers just the right level of peace and tranquillity right now to feed my artistic side. I’ll make it on a day when I can purchase an ice cream though! Just so long as Terence the Troll hasn’t gobbled it all up himself.
Have you visited Speke Hall during Covid-19 days? Did you find it strange being so quiet… Please drop me a line in the comments below – I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Further Reading
Discover more places to visit in Merseyside with my other posts….
Clock Face Country Park | The Dream Sculpture at Sutton Manor Woodlands
‘Another Place’ at Crosby Beach | A Walking Tour of Liverpoool
Southport to Ainsdale Sands Walk
Cross the Mersey Gateway Bridge to discover Wigg Island in Runcorn
Discover more National Trust Properties to Visit with my other posts….
Penshaw Monument | Brimham Rocks
Little Moreton Hall | Dolaucothi Gold Mine
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Sophie Pearce | 9th Aug 20
Wow! Thanks for your honest review during the ‘new normal’. It’s so interesting to learn how NT properties are adjusting.
I am going to take up your suggestion and join the trust I think! Did you find it was easy to book and were there lots of spaces?
Speke Hall looks absolutely incredible – that architecture is BEAUTIFUL! I think I’d spend time just obsessing over it from the outside haha.
Thanks for sharing this gorgeous place and would love to visit one day 🙂 Sophie x
Tilly Horseman | 9th Aug 20
Hey Sophie, joining the NT is well worth it, especially at the current time. There are very few houses open yet I’ve found – most of them it’s just the grounds that are available. And there are very few people compared to normal, which is great from a photography POV but a tad strange when you’re so used to it being busy. Also – having membership means a lot of car parks are free to use also. If you visit a countryside or coastal NT location, there’ll be no charge for access to the land, but will come with a parking charge, so this is then free for members. There’s loads of places not too far from you, so it’d be worth getting a membership.
At the moment, you do have to book well ahead of visiting the property as they are generally selling out all tickets for the day, same goes for English Heritage places too. (Can’t assume there will be tickets left the day before wanting to visit.) NT are generally putting tickets online a week in advance every Friday, so I’d get online on a Friday or Saturday for the following week ideally. Hope that helps! xx
Lois Cordelia | 9th Aug 20
What a stunning place. Couldn’t agree more about its quaintness (love that word lol). So pleased you’re travelling again, Tilly! xxx
Tilly Horseman | 9th Aug 20
I know…it’s lovely to get out and about. Staying in the UK and only at places I feel completely comfortable visiting, so visiting lots of local places! Couple of hotel breaks booked in the Lakes where we got married and we know the hotels well and they are doing a sterling job!! xx