Last week for visitors at Kiplin Hall and Gardens, Richmond

Popular visitor attraction Kiplin Hall and Gardens is due to end the 2024 season on Wednesday, November 6, but it wants to have a strong end to the year of trade and wants people to visit its current tearoom for the final time.

This final week will mark the end of an era for the venue’s Tea Room as the catering facilities move to a new location on the historic site.

In 2025 Kiplin Hall, based near Richmond, celebrates its 400th Anniversary, as a new visitor centre will welcome visitors to the historic house museum and grounds.

Last chance to enjoy the Tea Room at Kiplin Hall this week before the catering facilities move over to a new visitor centre and café on the historic site (Image: KIPLIN HALL) The Visitor Centre will host a new café for the venue "combining modern and accessible facilities with Kiplin’s unique charm and character", according to its owners.

Steve Hewitt, catering mobilisation manager at the Hall, said: "In our last week of trading for 2024, we are keen to welcome visitors to the Tea Room for one last time.

"It’s a much-loved space and has served Kiplin well for the last 20 years. As our visitor figures go up, we would like to be able to share the delightful food and drink at Kiplin with even more people.

"For this, we need more space and more modern facilities, something which can be tricky in a listed building. The conversion of the new Visitor Centre will allow us to seat more people and provide more accessible facilities to our visitors.

Architects’ impression of how the finished visitor centre will look (Image: BAUMAN LYONS ARCHITECTS) "Many Tea Room favourites, like the famous scones, will still feature in the new Café, alongside an improved menu showing off the best of the walled garden’s seasonal produce.

"This is a massively exciting time, as we plan a fabulous new space, which we are sure our visitors, new and old, will love. We can't wait to welcome everyone next spring."

Alongside the new Visitor Centre, 2025 will see Kiplin open up new museum displays in the historic house developed with the community through the National Heritage Lottery Fund project ‘Interpreting Kiplin for 400’. 

A programme of events is also planned, shining a light on the life of the Calvert family, the first owners of Kiplin Hall in the 1600s.

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The Calverts had many achievements, including governance of the colony which is now Maryland in the USA.

Living history events, performances, talks, trails and activities across the year will introduce visitors to the origins of Kiplin, and its links to America, celebrating the last 400 years of this vibrant county house. 

The open season at the Hall runs from February to November, open 6 days a week, and closed on Thursdays.

The first day of the 2025 season will be Friday, February 7.