Fairfax House – Gregorian Townhouse

Welcome to Fairfax House, a true gem among the historic houses in York!  

This magnificent Georgian townhouse transports you to the elegant world of 18th-century Britain, when York was the centre of polite society. This architectural masterpiece was once the winter residence of Anne Fairfax and her father Charles Gregory, 9th Viscount Fairfax. The renowned architect John Carr created with this building a classical example of Georgian architecture, which is today considered England's finest Georgian townhouse. The richly decorated interiors with their magnificent stucco ceilings and carefully restored rooms bring the life of the wealthy society of that era back to life.  

Particularly impressive is the world-famous Noel Terry collection, which has been described by Christie's as one of the finest private collections of the 20th century. This extraordinary collection of furniture, clocks, paintings and decorative arts gives the house a special atmosphere and creates the feeling of lived history.  

For your visit, you should allow about 1-2 hours to explore the various rooms at leisure and admire the details of Georgian interior design. Each room tells its own story about life, fashion and entertainment in the Georgian era. Fairfax House was temporarily a cinema and dance hall in the 20th century before being saved from decay by York Civic Trust in 1982-84 and restored to its present splendour. Today the museum also offers changing exhibitions and special events that provide additional insights into the history and culture of the Georgian period.