Hardwick Hall-Durham Country Park

Hardwick Park is a country park with a difference, an eighteenth century landscape park and Visit England accredited attraction. A great place to visit at any time of the year. Find all the information you'll need to make your visit an enjoyable one.

What there is to do?
With free admission (other than car parking charges), you can stroll through the historic parkland admiring the eighteenth century buildings, and natural beauty of the lake, woodlands and wildlife. And no trip to the park is complete without calling into our visitor centre to learn about the history and restoration. Our Tower Café, which offers enjoy a light lunch, snack or drinks, is a popular spot for a rest and why not pick up a souvenir from our gift shop.

The park has two designated play areas:

Infant Play Area - located just outside of the Tower Café at the front of the park, this fenced-off play area is designed for children aged between two and seven years. Offering opportunities to climb, swing, balance and enjoy sensory play, this is a popular choice for families with younger children.

Junior Play Area - our brand-new junior play area situated in the woodland near the entrance to the park boasts a 14.5 metre play tower for climbing, exploring and sensory play, and features two giant slides. The play area also has an accessible roundabout, swings, hammocks, musical instruments and a double zip wire. This play area is perfect for children aged between six and sixteen years.

There are a number of interesting sculptures to find on your walk around the park. Make sure you check out our hand-carved wildlife sculptures on the Bright Water Sculpture Trail, and our popular woodland dragon and Gruffalo.

Hardwick Park welcomes responsible dog owners and their dogs. However, the park has a dog on lead policy. The Public Space Protection Order authorises officers to enforce against owners who do not have their dog on a lead. The dog exercise area allows dogs off their lead in a designated area. Dogs, even on a lead, are not allowed in the children's fenced off play area. Dog foul must be picked up and disposed of in the bins provided.