Things to see and do at Gainsborough old Hall
Visiting Gainsborough Old Hall for the first time? Here’s a list of the highlights of the Hall to look out for, including the medieval kitchen, the magnificent Great Hall, the instagram-worthy views from the top of the tower, and the all-important café in the 15th-century parlour.
Explore the medieval kitchen
Explore the vast kitchen at Gainsborough Old Hall. Its high ceiling and hulking oak beams make it one of the best surviving examples from the medieval period.
Look into the many spaces around the kitchen and imagine Lord Burgh’s staff at full stretch as they prepare meals for 100 people or more.
Can you hear their voices telling stories from the time in the replica equipment and furniture?
Admire the Great Hall
Take a seat in the magnificent Great Hall, a place of entertainment, eating and politics.
In the 15th and 16th centuries, important guests would have feasted with the lord and lady of the manor on dishes such as venison porridge with saffron, roast peacock and jellied fruit slices.
Later Gainsborough Old Hall would have been hushed by the preaching of John Wesley; and then in another time, filled with mirth and song as the space became a 19th-century theatre.
Climb the tower
Climb the old steps to the top of the tower at Gainsborough Old Hall, and you’ll be rewarded with fine views of Gainsborough town and across the river Trent to North Nottinghamshire.
From this vantage point, you can really get a sense of the Old Hall at the centre of a large medieval estate, and at the heart of the local community.
Enjoy a treat in the Café
The refurbished café at Gainsborough Old Hall is in the 15th-century parlour – a place that has always been used for conversation and socialising.
In the 19th-century, the room became the town’s Literary Institute and later a Masonic Temple.
Here you’ll find hot snacks, homemade soup, teas, coffees and a variety of cold drinks. Lunch bags are available for kids and we have vegan and gluten-free options.
You can find allergen and nutritional information here.
Thank you! Every cuppa or tasty treat you buy helps the charity look after England’s heritage.