About Fairfax House

Fairfax House, situated in the heart of York, is a stunning Georgian Townhouse displaying some of the finest English 18thC furniture in England.
Fairfax House
The Saloon
The Great Staircase
Fairfax House is the finest Georgian Townhouse in England, situated in the heart of York and brimming with decorative flourishes and artistic treasures.
Restored by York Civic Trust in 1982-84 as a home for the famous Noel Terry Collection of English Furniture and Clocks, the result is, as Sir Simon Jenkins noted in his best-selling book England’s Thousand Best Houses (2003), 'the most perfect eighteenth century townhouse I have come across anywhere in England'.
The house was created in 1762 as a dowry for Anne Fairfax, the only surviving child of Viscount Fairfax and the family turned to York’s most distinguished architect, John Carr, to design the interior.
The Great Staircase is a positive tour de force with its exquisite Venetian Window, wrought iron and decorative plasterwork. Other rooms are of a similar high standard and the quality is complemented throughout by the contents, not least by Noel Terry’s furniture and clocks, a collection with very few equals. The result is a triumphant blend of connoisseurship and conservation, and something to be savoured by any enthusiast of our heritage.
Find out more about the House by taking the Explore Fairfax tour and visit the What's On section for information on specialised tours, exhibitions, talks and special events and you can also order publications on Georgian related subjects from our shop.
The building is available to hire in its entirety for private exclusive events and to find out more go to hospitality.
Fairfax House opens to the public from mid February until the end of December. Go to visiting us to find out more about opening times, group visits, prices and tours. We look forward to welcoming you and making your visit special.
Restored by York Civic Trust in 1982-84 as a home for the famous Noel Terry Collection of English Furniture and Clocks, the result is, as Sir Simon Jenkins noted in his best-selling book England’s Thousand Best Houses (2003), 'the most perfect eighteenth century townhouse I have come across anywhere in England'.
The house was created in 1762 as a dowry for Anne Fairfax, the only surviving child of Viscount Fairfax and the family turned to York’s most distinguished architect, John Carr, to design the interior.
The Great Staircase is a positive tour de force with its exquisite Venetian Window, wrought iron and decorative plasterwork. Other rooms are of a similar high standard and the quality is complemented throughout by the contents, not least by Noel Terry’s furniture and clocks, a collection with very few equals. The result is a triumphant blend of connoisseurship and conservation, and something to be savoured by any enthusiast of our heritage.
Find out more about the House by taking the Explore Fairfax tour and visit the What's On section for information on specialised tours, exhibitions, talks and special events and you can also order publications on Georgian related subjects from our shop.
The building is available to hire in its entirety for private exclusive events and to find out more go to hospitality.
Fairfax House opens to the public from mid February until the end of December. Go to visiting us to find out more about opening times, group visits, prices and tours. We look forward to welcoming you and making your visit special.
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