Historic Houses & Castles Page 1 of 15 123456789

Cottesbrooke is a wonderful Queen Anne house dating from 1702, set in delightful rural Northamptonshire.  Reputedly the pattern for Jane Austen’s “Mansfield Park,” the Hall is privately owned and lived in every day.

 

Cottesbrooke is renowned for a fine collection of sporting pictures The Woolavington Collection.  Possibly the finest collection in Europe it includes paintings by Stubbs, Ben Marshall and Alfred Munnings to name but a few.  A wonderful collection of china, bronzes and 18th Century English and French furniture are also among the treasures at Cottesbrooke Hall.

 

The award winning gardens contain 65 metre long double herbaceous borders and a number of garden rooms – The Dutch Garden, The Secret Garden, The Pool Garden, The Philosophers Garden.  Stroll through and enjoy pools, lily ponds, statues, rose borders and wonderful views across the parkland.  Across the park you will discover the magical Wild Garden with Acers, rhododendrons, bamboos and gunneras – exquisite!

 

Cottesbrooke Hall & Gardens, Cottesbrooke, Northants. NN6 8PF

Tel: 01604 505808 Web: www.cottesbrookehall.co.uk

 

The National Trust welcomes group visits to its houses and gardens in Devon and Cornwall. We have a range of special tours for groups, and can help with suggested visits based on group size and interests. We pride ourselves on offering tasty, local and seasonal food in our tearooms.

 

Web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/devoncornwall

 

Romantic ruins - Peaceful parkland - 2000 years of History and Mystery - Hear tales of the past from our Costumed guides (March to October) - King Arthur !

Snowdrops in Winter, Daffodils in Spring - A place for all seasons.

Abbey Gatehouse, Glastonbury, Somerset. BA6 9EL

Tel: 01458  832267   Fax: 01458  836117

Web: www.glastonburyabbey.com

 

A fairytale Georgian castle situated in the foothills of the Malverns, with a deer park, lake and arboretum.  Inside are tapestries, fine art and armour and Gothic interiors have been beautifully restored.  There is an adventure playground, nature trails and lakeside walks.  Please see website for public opening and events.

 

Nr Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 1RL

Tel: 01531 633160  Email: enquiries@eastnorcastle.com

Web: www.eastnorcastle.com

 

Hylands House is a stunning Grade II* listed building, steeped in history and set in 574 acres of landscaped parkland. Visitors can also enjoy the Pleasure Gardens and the recently restored Stables Visitor Centre.

 

A range of group visit packages are available. Contact Hylands for full group visit information.

 

Hylands House, Hylands Park,

London Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 8WQ

Tel: (01245) 605500 Email: hylands@chelmsford.gov.uk

Web: www.chelmsford.gov.uk/hylands

 

Blenheim Palace is home to the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Open daily, the Palace is surrounded by 2,000 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown parkland and Formal Gardens.

 

The Estate Office, Blenheim Palace, Woodstock Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP

Web: www.blenheimpalace.com Tel: 0800 849 6500 (24 hour recorded info).

 

Herstmonceux is renowned for its magnificent moated castle, set in beautiful parkland and superb Elizabethan gardens and parkland.  Built originally as a country home in the mid-15th century, Herstmonceux Castle embodies the history of medieval England and the romance of renaissance Europe.

Set among carefully maintained Elizabethan gardens and parklands, your experience begins with your first sight of the castle as it breaks into view.

In the grounds you will find the formal gardens including a walled garden dating from before 1570, a herb garden, the Shakespeare Garden, woodland sculptures, the Pyramid, the water lily filled moat and the Georgian style folly.

The woodland walks will take you to the remains of the three hundred year old sweet chestnut avenue, the rhododendron garden from the Lowther/Latham period, the waterfall (dependent on rainfall), and the 39 steps leading you through a woodland glade.

We recommend that parties/groups pre-book prior to visit, in order that we can arrange castle tours and any catering requirements more efficiently.

 

Tel: 01323-834457

 

Lincoln Cathedral is one of the greatest Gothic buildings in Europe and has been at the heart of Lincolnshire for almost 1000 years.  There are daily guided floor and roof tours.   Visitors are welcome to join any of the daily services.

 

For further information call: 01522 561600

or visit: www.lincolncathedral.com

 

The Old Royal Naval College is one of London’s most famous riverside landmarks. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, these magnificent buildings areonly 20 minutes from central London.

 

Start your visit at the Discover Greenwich Visitor Centre and explore over 500 years of history. The Painted Hall and Chapel are definitely not to be missed; the Hall is one of Europe’s finest banqueting rooms.

 

Admission to Discover Greenwich, the Painted Hall and Chapel is free.

 

Our Yeomen can provide guided tours to enhance your visit. Tours last between 60-90 minutes and include exclusive access to the Jacobean Undercroft and Victorian Skittle Alley. Tours cost £6pp. Packages are available including refreshments and lunch (from £19.50pp).

 

Old Royal Naval College, King William Walk, Greenwich, London SE10 9NN

Tel: 0208 2694799 E-mail: info@greenwichfoundation.org.uk

Web: www.oldroyalnavalcollege.org

 

Capesthorne Hall, in 100 acres of picturesque Cheshire parkland, shares its heritage character with the comfortable intimacy of a family home. Inside - fine art, marble sculptures, furniture, tapestries and antiques from Europe, America and the Far East. Outside - peaceful lakeside gardens and adjoining woodland. Available for corporate occasions, weddings and family celebrations.

 

Capesthorne Hall, Siddington, Macclesfield SK11 9JY

Tel: 01625 861221 Web: www.capesthorne.com

 

Shugborough, near Stafford, is the nation’s most complete working historic estate. It boasts a fine mansion house, working servants’ quarters, farm and walled garden set in 900 acres of quintessentially English parkland and formal gardens. Tours led by costumed characters from the past. High quality catering available for lunches and afternoon teas.

 

Tel: 01889 881 388

E-mail: Shugborough.promotions@staffordshire.gov.uk

Web: www.shugborough.org.uk

 

Home of the Isham family from 1560 to 1976. The 17th and 18th century façade is by John Webb and the Smiths of Warwick. The Hall contains an outstanding collection of furniture, china and paintings including portraits by Van Dyck, Kneller, Lely and other important works of art, many brought back from a Grand Tour in the 17th Century. The Library contains books dating back to the 16th Century and the Cabinet Room houses rare Italian cabinets.

 

The gardens include the famous rockery, originally populated with the first garden gnomes, and extensive herbaceous borders and wisteria. The newly restored 2 acre walled garden, to be opened in 2010, now houses one of the largest cutting gardens in England. Sir Gyles Isham initiated the restoration after the second world war and formed the Lamport Hall Preservation Trust in 1974 to complete the restoration work on the Hall which was completed in 2007.

 

Lamport Hall, Northampton NN6 9HD

Tel: 01604 686 272 Web: www.lamporthall.co.uk