East Riddlesden Hall is a 17th-century manor house at Riddlesden, near Keighley, saved from demolition in the 1930s by the Brigg brothers, who gave it to the National Trust. Inside are original oak panelling, decorative ceilings and period furnishings, and the Great Barn carries 400-year-old craftsmen's marks. The house is reflected in a pond by the entrance, home to well-fed ducks, and the intimate garden runs from a scented herb border in spring to apples, pears and figs in autumn. Families get a mud pie kitchen, a trim trail and an indoor craft room, dogs go on leads in the garden and off lead on the lower fields, and the tea-room is above the shop. Reviewers single out the enthusiastic volunteers, the friendly ducks and the view of the hall across the water as you arrive, and note the house is small. One tip from regulars: pair the house with the barn and the garden, and leave time for the tea-room.
