Astonishingly Aston Friday Tour

Aston Hall runs its Astonishingly Aston Friday Tour on selected Fridays at 12:00, a guided walk through the house that changes its focus each time. It's a 45-minute tour, so you're in and out in under an hour, and it's included in the admission price to the Hall. The gardens are free to visit, so you can easily make a full afternoon of it.

For context, Aston Hall is one of Birmingham's most iconic buildings and one of the last great houses built in the Jacobean style. It was designed by John Thorpe and built by Sir Thomas Holte between 1618 and 1635, and the Grade 1 listed manor sits a few miles from the city centre. It's often described as an oasis of calm with 400 years of history behind it.

Inside, there are more than 30 rooms to see. Among them are architectural gems like the breathtaking Long Gallery and the great oak staircase, which still bears the battle scars of the English Civil War. King Charles' Chamber is another of the rooms you'll come across. It's also said to be one of the most haunted buildings in the UK, so keep that in mind if you're wandering the corridors. The upper floors are accessible by stairs only, with no lift, and the gardens are free to visit during opening hours.

The Hall is open Friday to Sunday, 11am to 4pm, with last entry at 3pm. It's closed on bank holidays and on 24, 30 and 31 October. The tour itself runs on selected Fridays at 12:00 and lasts 45 minutes, with the cost included in the admission price to the Hall.