Become a member
Join today and help protect nature, beauty and history – for everyone, for ever. Enjoy access to more than 500 places with National Trust membership.
Lyme
Glorious house, surrounded by gardens, moorland and deer park
Disley, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 2NR
Important notice
Due to snow and ice on 22nd November, Lyme is now closed to visitors.
Please continue to check the website for updates on opening on 23rd November.
Opening times for 22 November 2024
Asset Opening time House Closed Garden 10:30 - 15:00 Park 08:30 - 17:00 Car Park 08:30 - 17:00 Crow Wood Playscape 09:30 - 16:30 Timber Yard Café 10:00 - 16:00 Refreshment Kiosk 10:00 - 16:00 Hall Shop 11:00 - 16:00 Timber Yard Shop 11:00 - 16:00 House Tearoom 11:00 - 16:00 Pre-loved bookshop 10:30 - 16:30 MTWTFSS282930311234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829301OpenPartially openClosedPark & Gardens
Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £7.70 £7.00 Child £3.90 £3.50 Family £19.30 £17.50 Family 1 adult £11.60 £10.50 Group Adult £6.65 Group Child £3.33 House, Park, & Gardens
Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £16.50 £15.00 Child £8.30 £7.50 Family £41.30 £37.50 Family 1 adult £24.80 £22.50 Group Adult £14.25 Group Child £7.13 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Bookshop
Browse in the pre-loved bookshop at Lyme and you may just find that special book you've been searching for at the House
Guided tour
Free talks and tours are run by a dedicated team of volunteers and are subject to availiabilty.Go to the visiting the house at Lyme page for more information.
Café
Kiosk
Car park
Plant shop
Coffee shop
Shop
Cycle parking
Cycle parking is located in the car park (next to the kiosk) and in the courtyard at the Timber Yard (next to the shop). Ask at the kiosk or in the Timber Yard shop if you want to borrow a lock.
Tea-room
Dogs allowed
Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of Lyme. Dogs are welcome in the Lyme's estate and formal gardens every day.
Toilet
Accessible parking available. Level-access toilets and accessible toilet in the Timber Yard. Step-free pathway leads up to the north front of the house from the car park. Wheelchairs and shuttle buggy/minibus available.
Accessible route and/or map
Level access to shop
Accessible toilet
Level access/terrain
Designated parking
Powered mobility vehicle available
Induction loop
Steps/uneven terrain
Large print (guide or menu)
Transfer available
Level access to food outlet
Wheelchairs available
By road
Lyme can be accessed from the A6 in Disley. Please respect our local community by only parking at Lyme. If you can, please consider visiting Lyme by public transport.
Parking: Please park in the marked bays only, limited parking is available for large vehicles. The house and gardens are a 0.2 mile / 5 minute walk from the car park up a steep incline. Alternative accessible parking is available near the orangery.
Sat Nav: To reach Lyme's car park, use the postcode, SK12 2NR.
On foot
The main entrance is to Lyme is via the A6. The house and garden are 1 mile / 30 minute stroll from the entrance. A free shuttle bus runs most days from 10.30am - 4pm from the admissions hut at the entrance to the house and gardens. Please note this service is volunteer led and subject to availability on the day. To confirm whether the shuttle bus is running on the day please call Lyme on 01663 762023. Lyme is at the northern end of the Gritstone Trail and there are walking routes from the Macclesfield Canal. Please visit the gritstone trail website here or download the map .
By train
The closest train station is Disley (0.5 mile / about a 20 minute walk) to the entrance and a further 1 mile / 30 minute stroll to the house and gardens. Please check the National Rail website for up to date train times. Click here to find train times There is a map and waymarked route from Disley Station to Lyme. A free shuttle bus runs most days from 10.30am - 4pm from the admissions hut at the entrance to the house and gardens. Please note this service is volunteer led and subject to availability on the day. To confirm whether the shuttle bus is running on the day please call Lyme on 01663 762023. As a thank you for arriving car-free, enjoy 10% off in our cafés when you show a bus or train ticket with the day’s date on it, or a bike helmet. Find out more about exploring car-free
By bus
Travel to Lyme by bus for just £2 each way. Catch the 199 skyline to Burton Road West which is 0.1 miles / 5 minute walk from the entrance and a further 1 mile / 30 minute stroll to the house and gardens. A free shuttle bus runs most days from 10.30am - 4pm from the admissions hut at the entrance to the house and gardens. Please note this service is volunteer led and subject to availability on the day. To confirm whether the shuttle bus is running on the day please call Lyme on 01663 762023. Click here to find bus timetables . The 199 bus runs twice an hour from Manchester Airport, Stockport, Heavily, Stepping Hill, Hazel Grove, Newtown, New Mills, Furnace Vale, Chapel en le Frith, Whaley Bridge and Buxton. As a thank you for arriving car-free, enjoy 10% off in our cafés when you show a bus or train ticket with the day’s date on it, or a bike helmet. Find out more about exploring car-free .
By bicycle
National Route 55 passes close to Lyme on the Middlewood Way. Once on site, cycling is permitted on main roads around the estate. There is cycle parking in the main car park. As a thank you for arriving car-free, enjoy 10% off in our cafés when you show a bus or train ticket with the day’s date on it, or a bike helmet. Find out more about exploring car-free . Plan your cycle route here.
Car-free
Travel the green way and help us to look after this special place. As a thank you for arriving car-free, enjoy 10% off in our cafés when you show a bus or train ticket with the day’s date on it, or a bike helmet. Find out more about exploring car-free .
Planning your visit
Article
Christmas at Lyme
Get into the festive spirit with a visit to Lyme this Christmas. Visit the house every day from 29 November to Christmas Eve and celebrate Christmas with magnificent and unusual beasts discovering winter traditions. Listen to local choirs or book a festive afternoon tea.
Article
Groups at Lyme
Whether you're a local community club, planning a school trip, or just a break with a friends, visit Lyme with your group and enjoy a discounted rate to explore at your leisure. Discover what's on offer and how to book your visit here.
Article
Tramper hire at Lyme
If you find walking difficult you can still enjoy Lyme, thanks to the Tramper, all-terrain mobility scooter that's available to borrow. Available from the Ticket Office at the house, those with reduced mobility can explore the garden along designated Tramper routes while taking in glorious views of surrounding Manchester and Cheshire.
Article
Photography and filming at the places we care for
Find out information on professional photography, drone and wedding photography at National Trust places.
PDF
Highlights
House
Step back in time to a house with six centuries of history. Explore beautiful features and the fascinating collection.
Park
The 1,400-acre grounds encompass formal gardens, ancient woodland and rugged moors, with various fascinating follies to explore.
Garden
Wander through Lyme's glorious gardens and enjoy the contrast between cascading water and still reflections.
Crow Wood Play area
Let off some steam and have fun with your family in Crow Wood. The perfect place for smaller adventurers to run, skip and slide.
Spotlight events
Article
Christmas at Lyme
Get into the festive spirit with a visit to Lyme this Christmas. Visit the house every day from 29 November to Christmas Eve and celebrate Christmas with magnificent and unusual beasts discovering winter traditions. Listen to local choirs or book a festive afternoon tea.
Festive Afternoon Tea
Treat a loved one to a Christmas treat this winter. Perfect to share or as a gift. For just £24.95 a person, your afternoon tea will include a welcome drink, warming winter soup, a selection of sandwiches, sweet treats, scones with a pot of tea or coffee and of course mince pies!
Trail
Seasonal Spotlight Walk — Paddock Cottage
Take in impressive views of Cheshire and Greater Manchester on this pleasant walk to Paddock Cottage, in a tranquil area of Lyme Park estate.
Things to see and do
Article
Explore the garden at Lyme
Explore all the different areas of the garden at Lyme. This Autumn appreciate the changing colours of the garden with the wild moors and parkland beyond.
Article
A family-friendly day out at Lyme
From running, skipping and jumping around Crow Wood play area and dressing up in period costume inside the house, to spotting red deer in the park, there’s something for everyone at Lyme.
Article
Visiting the house at Lyme
Step inside the house and discover unusual objects and strange secrets as you walk through six centuries of family history at Lyme in Cheshire.
Activity
Enjoy the outdoors at Lyme
From leisurely strolls to soft hiking or more challenging rides enjoy the outdoors surrounded by spectacular countryside views.
Article
Discover the estate at Lyme
There's over 1,400 acres of historic parkland to explore at Lyme in winter. Discover thriving wildlife during your walk into nature, and seek out the follies for some of the best views over Cheshire.
Article
Visiting Lyme with your dog
Lyme is a three pawprint rated place. With 1,400 acres of rugged moorland, ancient woodlands and formal gardens to explore, Lyme is a great day out for you and your dog. Find out where your dog can go and the facilities available below.
Top trails
Trail
A walk to the Lantern at Lyme
Beautiful woodland and wonderful views await you on this self-led walk to Lantern Wood. On a clear day look out for Kinder Scout, the hills of Derbyshire and Yorkshire, Holme Moss and Winter Hill.
Trail
Paddock Cottage walk
Take in impressive views of Cheshire and Greater Manchester on this pleasant walk to Paddock Cottage, in a tranquil area of Lyme Park estate.
Trail
A walk to The Cage
If you're looking for short walk with a big payoff, a walk to The Cage is essential on your visit to Lyme.
Trail
Step free cage and deer sanctuary view walk at Lyme
Take in impressive views of The Cage and Deer Sanctuary on this step-free walk to East Lodge in a tranquil area of Lyme Park in Cheshire.
Gritstone Trail
Stride out along the Gritstone Trail and sample some of the finest walking in Cheshire. This hiking route begins at Lyme and is called the Gritstone Trail because of the local rock type which is millstone grit. This 35 miles route is a challenging walk stretching from Disley to Kidsgrove, and can be completed in one go, or there are options to break it up into smaller sections.
GM Ringway: Section 5
Lyme features as part of Stage 5 of the GM Ringway. The 8.2 mile route starts at Middlewood train station and finishes at Strines train station passing throughcolourful forest paths, sections of the Macclesfield and Peak Forest Canal and the old textile-printing settlement of Strines.
Eating and shopping
Article
Eating, drinking and shopping at Lyme
Feeling peckish during your visit to Lyme? There's a choice of eateries, each serving a wide range of snacks and drinks. After you've refuelled, head to the shops to browse for a special gift or souvenir.
Places to stay
Lyme East Lodge
On the Lyme estate and deer park, this Edwardian cottage looks out over lush green countryside.
Lyme West Lodge
Tucked away on the glorious Lyme Park estate, Lyme West Lodge is a picture-book pretty Edwardian cottage set in leafy woodland.
Upcoming events
Event
Behind closed doors tours - servants' quarters
The house at Lyme has many secrets from throughout the centuries. As part of this hour tour see the servants' areas not usually on the house route and learn about their lives.
Event
Pooch Passport
Explore top rated places for days out with dogs. Visit six participating places between 1 September 2024 and 28 February 2025 to collect your free treat and visit 12 for a second treat.
Event
Festive afternoon tea
Enjoy a festive treat at Lyme this Christmas with our festive afternoon tea.
Event
Choirs in the courtyard
Join in with some Christmas carols in the courtyard at the house and you’ll feel jolly in no time. It’s the most wonderful time of the year to get together with your friends and family and sing to your heart’s content.
Event
Behind closed doors tour - collections and conservation
The house at Lyme has many secrets from throughout the centuries. As part of this hour tour around the house, see what lies behind hidden cupboards, doors and cabinets, and how we care for Lyme's collection.
About Lyme
Welcome to Lyme. Nestling on the edge of the Peak District, Lyme was once home to the Legh family and, in its heyday a great sporting estate.
The 1,400 acre estate with its medieval herd of red deer offers fantastic walks and stunning views.
For a more tranquil walk explore the elegant Rose Garden, Ravine Garden or the luxurious herbaceous borders next to the reflecting lake where a certain Mr Darcy met Miss Bennet in the BBC production of 'Pride and Prejudice'.
Head in to the house to step back in time to the Regency era - a time which saw great rejuvenation for Lyme.
The Timber Yard Cafe offers delicious hot and cold snacks, and range of cakes whilst the Refreshment Kiosk in the car park offers grab and go drinks and ice creams.
You can view online some of the items that Lyme has in its collection. The site catalogues approximately three-quarters of a million National Trust objects with more being added daily.
History
Article
History of Lyme
The largest estate in Cheshire, Lyme has been designed on a grand scale over a number of centuries. It has been a place to receive occasional royal guests, take friends hunting or to entertain on a lavish scale. Whether by taking a tour of the house or escaping on to the wild moors, you can still find the same sense of retreat today.
Art and collections
Article
The Sarum Missal at Lyme
Find out more about the fascinating Lyme Missal, deemed the most important printed book in the National Trust's care.
Project
Project
Restoring the Cadmus Tapestries at Lyme
Find out more about the restoration of the Flemish Cadmus tapestry at Lyme, a set of three which tell the myth of the founding of Thebes.
Our work
Article
Our work in the parkland at Lyme
From ongoing conservation work to restoration work brought about by flooding and fires, the work of rangers and volunteers is a round-the-clock job.
Project
Project
Projects at Lyme
From medieval deer park to RAF base, generations have shaped Lyme into the place you see today. Over the next few years, we need to adapt to look after the long-term future of this much-loved place. Find out more about future plans and how you can get involved.
Project
Project
River Bollin Riverlands project at Lyme
Keep up with the latest updates from the River Bollin Project as we work to improve the health of the river along the catchment at Lyme.
Support us
Article
Volunteering at Lyme
Many hands make Lyme work – find out about the volunteer and work experience opportunities at Lyme, from rangers to conservationists, retail to building maintenance.