Fairfax House
With a National Art Pass you get
Fairfax House is regarded as one of the finest Georgian townhouses in England.
A classical architectural masterpiece, it was originally the winter home of Viscount Fairfax and his daughter Anne. Its richly decorated interiors and magnificent stucco ceilings were designed by York's most distinguished 18th-century architect, John Carr, who was commissioned by the Viscount to create a place where he and his Anne could enjoy the bleak months in comfort and grandeur. During the 1760s Fairfax House hosted many glittering engagements of 'polite society'.
In the 20th century the house was re-purposed as a cinema and dance hall, until York Civic Trust took ownership of the building in the 1980s and restored to its former glory. Today visitors are transported back to the Georgian era, the house reflecting the tastes and fashions of the day – not just in architecture and decoration – but also food and furnishings.
Visitor information
Address
Castlegate, `, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 9RN
01904 655543
Opening times
Fairfax House is open 11am - 4pm Saturday - Thursday (last admission 3.30pm) for general admissions.
We run guided tours only on Fridays at 11am and 2pm.
Please check the Fairfax House website for more details.
Exclusions and safety measures
Click here for a full list of safety measures in place.
Visitor information
The more you see, the more we do.
The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.