The designed landscape at Goldsborough has developed over the last 500 years by its owners taking advantage of its natural beauty and favourable topography. The de Goldsburgh family held the manor from the mid-12th century and utilising an extensive wood to the south, created a deer park by the early 16th century. Later owners in the 18th century were inspired by the leading designers of the day, including possibly Stephen Switzer in the 1730s. Daniel Lascelles, its wealthy owner from 1762, sought the advice of two landscape designers, Richard Woods and Thomas White, soon after his acquisition. Both men though produced relatively modest proposals with only minor changes immediately around Goldsborough Hall. However the partially extant walled kitchen garden with its hothouse built in the wall is almost certainly to the design of Woods.
After Daniel Lascelles’ death in 1784, Goldsborough became part of the estate of the Earls of Harewood and was often occupied by members of the Lascelles family. In many cases, this was the heir to the Harewood earldom and Goldsborough provided an opportunity for them to shape its designed landscape. The last of these was Viscount Lascelles, later the 6th Earl, whose wife, Princess Mary, was a keen gardener. Her influence on the grounds adjacent to the hall remains to this day. In the wider landscape, all the parkland and most of the woodland that were in-situ in the 18th century remain and provide an important setting for the Grade II* listed Goldsborough Hall.