Visitor information

Opening hours

Estate: 7.30am – 7pm
Hall: 10am-5pm
Wildlife World: 10am – 5pm
Last entry: 45 mins before

Facilities

  • Adventure playground
  • Play area
  • Toilets
  • Baby change
  • Café
  • Education facilities
  • Picnic area
  • Shop

Contact

Phone:
0113 378 2959
(10am – 4pm)

Leeds Ticket Hub (tickets):
0113 376 0318
(Mon – Sat, 10am – 4pm)

Email:
[email protected]

Access information

We aim to provide a friendly, accessible environment for all our visitors and the widest possible access to our buildings, exhibitions and collections.

Situated just outside Aberford, Lotherton is approximately 12 miles from Leeds. It is 4 miles from the nearest train station at Garforth. Lotherton is a 20-25 minute walk from the nearest bus stop in Aberford, along a public highway with limited footpaths. A 180 metre long drive leads up to the entry kiosk.

Accessibility guides

We are proud to be accessible for all visitors. If you or a member of your family has a disability, our dedicated guides on accessibilityguides.org contain lots of information to help you plan and prepare for your visit.

Accessible parking

There are several accessible parking spaces in the car park nearest to the hall and Wildlife World. This car park is used as priority parking during the busier summer months. Access from the car park to the hall and Wildlife World entrances is via fairly gradual uphill paths.

Accessible toilets

There is a Changing Places and accessible toilet in the Stables Courtyard, and there is an accessible toilet in the house and café.

The Changing Places toilet has sufficient clear space to enable a wheelchair user and two assistants to access and manoeuvre around the room.

Visual stories

The Visual Story documents are guides to what to expect when you visit Lotherton Estate, including the House and Wildlife World. They include photographs and information so that you can prepare for your visit.

What3Words

What3Words is a location app which provides exact location points based on 3 metre squares. Every 3 metre square of the world has been given a unique combination of three words which can be shared with friends and family, emergency services and more to pinpoint locations easily.

We have provided What3Words locations for key areas of our attractions to help you navigate your visit.

Carers

When a paying visitor needs the help of a carer, the carer can enter Lotherton for free.

Entrances

There is a gravel road leading up to Lotherton Hall museum. The museum has ramped access. The entrance is manual, opening inwards with a clear opening space. There is a bell on the information panel if you require help to open the doors.

The Courtyard Shop and Stables Café entrances are both level. The doors are both manual, opening inwards with clear opening spaces.

Wildlife World has level access across a wooden boardwalk and automatic doors at the shop. There are doors throughout the zoo to separate the enclosures.

What3Words

Estate entrance: ///forge.minority.dispensed
House: ///tripods.pronouns.wades
Courtyard Shop: ///activates.glass.frost
Stables Café: ///blush.mush.lakeside
Wildlife World: ///glitz.nags.soulful

Baby changing

Baby changing facilities are available in the café, courtyard toilets and inside the house. We are a breast-feeding friendly site and you are welcome to breast feed wherever you feel comfortable.

Assistance dogs

Guide and assistance dogs are welcome to all areas. Dogs need to be kept on leads in the gardens and courtyard but are free to roam the rest of the grounds if well behaved and in sight. Water and bowls are available in the courtyard. You can find out more information about bringing your dog to Lotherton here.

Wheelchair access

Lotherton Hall museum

Due to the historic nature of the hall and its displays, larger motorised wheelchairs and scooters cannot navigate the visitor route, so these aids are not permitted. Light wheelchairs are available to borrow for use in the house. Please note that we are only able to accommodate one wheelchair at a time upstairs due to our evacuation procedures. We have a covered buggy park next to the entrance of the house.

A proportion of the museum is accessible.

There is a lift to the first floor which provides access to the Fashion Galleries and three other rooms. A further two rooms and two bathrooms are only accessible via a chair lift.

The School Room, used by pre-booked groups, is inaccessible to wheelchair users but an alternative can be offered. Please discuss any access needs with the Learning and Access Officer when booking your visit. Notice is required in advance of your visit to ensure we can offer an alternative on the day.

There is seating around the museum including folding seats, which are available for visitors to use.

Wildlife World

Wildlife World entrance is accessible via a wooden boardwalk and through the gift shop.

Immediately outside of the gift shop there is an upwards slope on a gravel path.

There are a number of push/pull gates and ropes to prevent the animals from leaving their dedicated enclosure areas.

There are gravel paths around Wildlife World.

The Nocturnal House is on a slope and is accessible through two sets of plastic screen curtains. It is purposely kept dark during visiting hours for the nocturnal species in this enclosure.

Grounds and Gardens

The majority of the grounds and gardens are accessible. Due to its historic design, the Edwardian Garden is not fully accessible to wheelchair users, but can be viewed from vantage points.

Manual and push wheelchairs may struggle on some of the gravel areas.

Wildlife World is fully accessible but some pathways are fairly steep and gravelled in parts.

The courtyard and Stables Café are fully accessible.

Borrow a wheelchair or mobility scooter

One manual wheelchair is available from reception to use within the museum. Unfortunately we cannot provide assistance to get around the house for wheelchair users. Another manual wheelchair is available from the Stables Café which can be used in the grounds.

Three outdoor mobility scooters are available from the welcome cabin to use on the estate which can be booked in advance.

Please email us at [email protected] in advance of your visit if you would like to discuss specific access needs.

Induction loop

There are no induction loops at Lotherton.

Special Educational Needs and Access

Please visit our dedicated Special Educational Needs and Access page for more information about how we try to make Lotherton inclusive and accessible for people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Access provision for groups

There are areas within Lotherton Hall museum that are touch and handling friendly, particularly the Servants Rooms on the ground floor.

If a member or members of your group require access provision, please contact us at least six weeks in advance of your visit.​​

VAQAS

Lotherton estate is a member of the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme (VAQAS). The VAQAS is a scheme which ensures high quality experiences at tourist attractions, including a commitment to respect the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 by making reasonable adjustments to improve service for disabled people.

Contact us

If you would like more information before your visit, please contact us:

Main desk and Learning and Access Officer

0113 378 2959 (10am - 4pm)

Email

Post

Lotherton Lotherton Lane Aberford Leeds LS25 3EB

Visitor Information

We are currently replacing enclosure fencing at Wildlife World. The lower area of the zoo will not be accessible while works are taking place, and Emu and Stanley Cranes will not be on display.

Admission prices

Prices apply to online booking, prices on the gate are higher.

Tickets are processed through Leeds Ticket Hub, the city’s ticketing provider.

TicketStandard Admission
online
Standard Admission on the gateLeedsCardLeedsCard ExtraBreeze Pass
Adult£9.50£10.00£8.00£6.00N/A
Junior
(3 – 15 years)
£4.75£5.00N/AN/A£4.00
Child under 3FREEFREEN/AN/AN/A
  • TICKET TYPE & PRICE

  • Adult
    £9.50

  • Junior
    (3 – 15 years)
    £4.75

  • Child
    under 3
    FREE

  • Adult LeedsCard
    £8.00

  • Adult LeedsCard Extra
    £6.00

  • Junior Breeze Pass
    £4.00

Admission to Lotherton is free for members of the Leeds Art Fund, Friends of Leeds City Museums, the Museums Association, the National Arts Collection Fund, and Yorkshire’s Great Houses Castles and Garden card holders.

Free entry for named MAX card holder and one parent/carer.

Free entry does not apply to some ticketed events, as detailed on our individual event pages.

Lotherton Membership

Join as a member and enjoy Lotherton all year round, from spring time walks to picnics in the gardens and annual events.

Our range of membership packages offers visitors the flexibility to explore the estate and visit Lotherton throughout the seasons.

How to get here

Bus

Bus numbers 64 and 64A go to Aberford from Leeds city centre. There is then an approximate 20 – 30 minute walk along a public highway with limited footpaths.

Rail

The nearest train station is Garforth, located 4 miles away. Taxis are available from the station.

Parking

Admission includes parking charges. Please advise the welcome cabin staff if you accessible parking or any other access assistance.

Pay and display parking is available during off peak hours only, before 10am and after 3.15pm in the winter, before 9am and after 4.15pm in March – October. The price is £2 per visit.

Dogs at Lotherton

Greyhound at Lotherton

We welcome dogs at Lotherton and have plenty of space for them to play, sniff and explore on the estate.

Our boundary trail, woodland and open parkland are great spots to stretch their legs and play fetch, or enjoy a more leisurely pace through the gardens.

If you are planning on bringing your dog for a walk we have more information on our dedicated dogs at Lotherton page.