Smithills Hall Museum

06/10/2026

The Friends of Smithills Hall are once again hosting their popular Ghost and History Tours, offering a guided evening around the Hall that delves into its rich history and the well-known tales of the spirits said to reside there.

Join them at 7pm on Thursday 22 October or Thursday 12 November 2026 for an engaging exploration of the Hall's past, its people, and its enduring legends.

🎟️ Booking is essential, to book your place, please click the link below:

Join us as we talk about Smithills Hall's history and the spooky goings on inside it.

30/09/2026

👻 The Ghosts of Smithills Hall Return... 👻

Today is 30 September...

Which means that in exactly 30 days' time, it will be 30 October...

The night BEFORE All Hallows' Eve...

The night when the spirits of Smithills Hall are said to stir once more...

👻Dare to join the Housekeeper as she guides you through the shadowy corridors of the Hall, sharing tales of its gruesome history, mysterious happenings, and the ghostly characters who refuse to be forgotten...

Will you be brave enough to meet them?

🎃 Who is this event for? This is an event aimed at families and suitable for (brave) children aged 6 years and over. Children aged 5 and under will not be admitted. The tour is not suitable for prams or buggies. All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult throughout the event. There will be moments of darkness and some jumps and scares.

🎟️ Ticket Information - advance booking is essential. Every person attending, including adults and children, must have their own ticket and you can 🔗 Book your tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/nh4znjee

Please note:

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors, children must remain under the close supervision of their accompanying adult at all times. In the unlikely event of disruptive or unsafe behaviour, we reserve the right to ask individuals or families to leave the tour early.

No refunds will be issued for this event.

🕯️ Gather your courage, bring your torch (and perhaps a friend to hide behind!), and join us for an evening of ghostly tales and spooky surprises at Smithills Hall...

If you dare! 👻🎃

16/09/2026

🎄✨ The Smithills elves and Father Christmas are beside themselves with excitement because there are ONLY 100 DAYS until Christmas! ✨🎄

And it gets even more exciting... from tomorrow, it's double digits until the big day! 🎅🎁

With festive preparations well underway at Smithills, we're delighted to announce that tickets for our popular Christmas events are now LIVE!

🎅 Father Christmas Experience
📅 12th, 13th and 20th December
🎟️ Book your tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/3h3h68d2

👶🎄 My First Father Christmas Experience (for babies and toddlers only)
📅 Friday 18th December
🎟️ Book your tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/e4ayes9t

🌟 Father Christmas Experience for Children with Additional Needs
📅 Saturday 19th December

🌟 Father Christmas Experience for Adults with Additional Needs
📅 Tuesday 15th December

For both of Additional Needs sessions, please book by emailing [email protected] so our friendly elves can learn about any support or adjustments that may help make your visit as magical and comfortable as possible.

🎄❤️ The workshop is buzzing, the elves are polishing the sleigh bells, and Father Christmas is already checking his list twice! We can't wait to welcome you for another season of festive fun, magical memories and Christmas cheer at Smithills Hall. ✨🎅🎁

🎄✨

14/09/2026

🎄 We've got the grotto... but we've misplaced Father Christmas. 😬

🧑‍🎄The elves have done their bit.
🎄The grotto is nearly ready.
✨The decorations are up.
🥧The mince pies are waiting.

There's just one small problem...
🎅 We need a Father Christmas! 🎅

If you've got a warm smile, a jolly laugh and enough festive spirit to fill a sleigh, we'd love to hear from you.

Join us at Smithills Hall this Christmas and help create magical memories for local families.

✨ Follow the link to apply now before the elves discover we've misplaced Father Christmas: https://shorturl.at/uQih3 ✨ If you have any questions about the role, please email [email protected]. ✨

04/09/2026

In just 12 days time it will be and that can mean only one thing...🧑‍🎄🎁🧑‍🎄🎄

You've guessed it... The tickets will go on sale for our Father Christmas Events! The links will go live on Eventbrite at 9am on Wednesday 16th September and will be shared on this page later that day.

For the Father Christmas Events for Children and Adults with SEND we will contact our mailing lists before sharing any booking details publicly - if you would like to be added to our mailing lists for these events, please email [email protected] and one of our support elves will get back to you.

We can promise Father Christmas, the elves, treats from Bake & Roast and all the usual Christmas fun with Elvis the Elf - we just can't guarantee the snow!!

25/08/2026

Our What’s On Guide is officially part of history!🪏

We’re thrilled that it has been placed in a time capsule beneath one of the historic Two Lads cairns on Smithills Estate, providing future generations with a glimpse of life in Bolton and Horwich in 2026. The capsule marks the restoration of the iconic cairns by The Woodland Trust.

Want to find out what's happening at Smithills Hall and the wider service? You can check out our What's On Guide on the website - https://www.boltonlams.co.uk/downloads/file/125/bolton-libary-and-museum-what-s-on-july-dec-2026

Made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

11/08/2026

Come along to Smithills Hall this Summer for a fun crafting session!

📆 Every Friday over the six week holidays
⌚️ 11.00am-12.30pm
Tickets are £3

Limited spaces available, see below our Eventbrite link.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fantastic-fridays-at-smithills-hall-tickets-1994580620328?aff=oddtdtcreator

09/08/2026

Throw back to a brilliant day at Smithills Hall with author Sally O’Reilly and her marvellous book, Hagtale : A Macbeth Origin Story

What book are you reading today? Let’s celebrate the joy of reading.