Crook Hall Gardens

Crook Hall Gardens in Durham is a National Trust heritage attraction built around a medieval hall, formal gardens, maze and walled garden, with a café and bookshop on site. Dogs on short leads are welcome throughout the gardens and in the café, making it a practical Durham day out when you want history, green space and somewhere to sit down without leaving your dog outside. The gardens offer a mix of pathways, seasonal planting and shaded corners, all navigable on lead.

The café welcomes dogs too, so you can grab a drink or a bite after exploring the grounds. The medieval hall itself is assistance dogs only, but the outdoor setting and café access are the main draw for most visits. Open daily 10am-5pm until early November, then Friday-Sunday 10am-4pm through mid-December.

There's a pay-and-display car park off Frankland Lane for Crook Hall Gardens visitors, free for National Trust members and £3.30 for up to three hours for other visitors. Views of Durham Cathedral remind you this green space sits close to the city centre, with interlinked garden rooms, an orchard, moat pool and plenty of benches when paws need a rest.