Find places to visit in Britain by name, location, type of attraction, or other keyword.
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Chatsworth is one of Britain's great stately houses. It is the palatial home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, whose family, the Cavendishes, has owned the 35,000 acre estate since the 16th century, when the first house was built. The house is famous for its magnificent Baroque interiors and works of art from ancient Egypt, Rome, the great masters - and more modern artists. Outside, there are acres of parkland and lovely gardens to explore, including a maze to get lost in. Â It is famous for its cascade, a large water feature with water tumbling down a long series of steps - which dates from the 17th century. It is also famous for its Emperor Fountain. Events are held throughout the year, including concerts and outdoor theatre.
Chelwood Vachery forest garden may be considered of historical interest. It is certainly a little different, and good to wander in, through the woodland, by small lakes, with splashes of sudden colour from rhododendrons and azaleas. It is on the site of Vachery wood, the name likely derived from the Norman for ‘cow shelter’ (Vacherie? – the French ‘vache’ means cow). The garden was originally created for Sir Stuart Samuel, Liberal MP and banker, sometime around 1910, as a feature of his house and estate. It included four small lakes, each one with a weir and a sluice. A ‘gorge’ was constructed for the new owner, FJ Nettlefold, in the 1920s, using limestone boulders brought from Cheddar Gorge in Somerset. Another feature is a folly bridge. The estate became a management training centre for British American Tobacco in the 1950s, but the house is now privately owned and the woodland was acquired by the Conservators of Ashdown forest in 1994. They embarked on a restoration project in 2008, clearing out intrusive rhododendrons conserving others, creating space for and views through oak, beech and maple and dredging the lakes.
Chelwood Vachery can be accessed from a number of car parks around Ashdown Forest; the one given is Long Car Park. It can also be reached from the small village of Chelwood Gate.
A22
Chirk Castle is a picture-book medieval fortress as well as a sumptuous home, with wonderful gardens and a spectacular wrought-iron entrance gate. Roger Mortimer, Marcher Lord, began the castle in 1295 as one of King Edward I's chain of castles along the Welsh/English border. Since 1595 until 1981, it was owned by the Myddleton family - who only moved out and sold the rest of the estate in the 21st century. From 1910-1946, it was leased to Lord Howard de Walden and was scene of lavish entertaining in the 1930s.
Christchurch Greyfriars is a tranquil city garden on the site of the former 13th century Franciscan church of Greyfriars - once the second largest church in London after St Paul's. The remains of four queens were buried here - in no particular order: the heart of Queen Eleanor of Provence (d 1291), wife of King Henry III and mother of Edward I; Queen Margaret of France (d 1318), 2nd wife of King Edward I and a principal benefactress to the church; Queen Isabella (d 1358) the 'she-wolf of France', wife of Edward II and mother of Edward III; and Joan de la Tour (d 1362), Isabella’s daughter and Queen of Scotland. The church was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. A replacement church, designed by Christopher Wren, was in turn destroyed by bombing in 1940, though the west tower still stands. It's a spot for quiet contemplation now - though, naturally, it is haunted.
An urban garden of remembrance has been created on the site of Crossbones Graveyard, a burial place for paupers, prostitutes and the unwanted. It developed from a late medieval 'single women's churchyard' - a resting place for the 'Winchester Geese', prostitutes licensed by the Bishop of Winchester to work in London's pleasure quarter, outside the confines of the City of London. The graveyard was closed on health grounds in 1853. An estimated 15,000 people are buried there in unmarked graves.
Staffed by volunteers, limited opening.
The post code is for the Boot & Flogger wine bar opposite.
Borough
Small community nature reserve, formed from part of the garden once owned by author and academic Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963). It is said the woods and pond helped inspire his books that featured the imaginary land of Narnia. The nature reserve is adjacent to Lewis' home for more than 30 years, The Kilns.
Risinghurst
Oxford
Culross Palace is actually not a palace, but a rich merchant's house. It was constructed, mainly in the early 17th century, by Sir George Bruce. Bruce was something of an engineer and pioneered submarine coal mining in Culross, using an Egyptian wheel to keep the mine drained. He ran salt works which burned coal to evaporate sea water.  At the time, Bruce's mines and salt works were the most technically advanced such enterprises in Scotland, if not the whole of Britain. He also traded extensively with the Low Countries, Sweden and other ports along the Forth. The ‘palace’ includes many materials obtained overseas, including roof tiles and timber, and contains some astonishing painted woodwork, including ceilings, as well as contemporary furnishings. The National Trust for Scotland has done a wonderful preservation job and the palace is now finished in a warm yellow ochre colour. They have restored the unusual, if not unique, terraced garden, which grows fruit, vegetables and herbs used in the early 17th century. James VI visited in 1617 and it is believed he generously referred to Sir George’s house as ‘a palace’.
Culzean Castle and Country Park is an enormous estate, once the seat of the Kennedy family, which includes woodland and seashore walks, a walled garden, large pond, various structures and follies in the grounds, an astonishing children's' adventure playground and the castle itself, perched on a clifftop. Actually, it's not really a castle, but a large stately house redesigned by Robert Adam and built between 1777 and 1792. The top floor was gifted to the Supreme Head of Allied Forces in Western Europe, later 34th President of the United States of America, Dwight D Eisenhower, to be used in his lifetime. It is now a hotel.
Drum Castle was seat of the Clan Irvine and in the Irvine family for 650 years, from 1325, when it was granted to William de Irvine by Robert the Bruce, until 1975. It has a rich history, 17th and 19th century additions and alterations, and is surrounded by gardens and an arboretum.
Drumlanrig Castle is the Dumfriesshire seat of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry, one of Scotland’s finest examples of 17th-century Renaissance architecture and more like a French château than what you might of as a castle. It comes with a history. Drumlanrig was a Douglas stronghold, built on land given to the Douglas’ by Robert Bruce in the 14th century. The Douglas Clan motto is ‘Forward Braveheart!’ and the winged hearts of the family crest are everywhere - carved into stone, decorating ceilings, carpets, gutters – even garden beds.
The Castle has 120 rooms, 17 turrets and four towers and is renowned for its art collection, the Buccleuch Collection, which includes works by Gainsborough, Rembrandt and Holbein. It houses tapestries allegedly worked by Mary, Queen of Scots and, of course, Bonny Prince Charlie once stayed the night there.
Outside is a 90,000-acre estate, with gardens, miles of beautiful walks, bike trails, fishing and an adventure playground.
Image credit: Historic Houses
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