Palaces, castles, manor houses & gardens

There are loads of historical houses and gardens in the area. The following is not an exhaustive list of things to do - just some of our favourites.

• Blenheim Palace, Woodstock (30 minutes’ drive). Home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and his family and the birth place of Sir Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site boasting a long and diverse history. Blenheim has sporting and cultural events on throughout the year. Lots of activities for children.
• Kelmscott Manor, Kelmscott nr. Lechlade (5 minutes’ drive) was the country home of the writer and designer William Morris from 1871 until his death in 1896. Today it is owned by the Society of Antiquaries of London and is open to the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays during the summer. They do an excellent cream tea in their tea room.
• Buscot Park, Faringdon (15 minutes’ drive). Buscot is a gem; it’s a late 18th Century house, set in enchanting landscaped grounds and managed by the National Trust. The House has a good collection of art including: Rembrandt's portrait of Pieter Six, Rossetti's portrait of Pandora, and Burne-Jones's famous series, The Legend of the Briar Rose. The gardens are spectacular - there’s a splendid walled garden, bright with the blooms of spring bulbs, flowering trees and drifts of multi-coloured day lilies, according to the time of year, mature woodland, one of Britain’s finest water gardens (an unusual marriage of Italianate formality with an English parkland landscape) and a lake with view of the Thames plain beyond. Open between 2pm-6pm Mon-Fri. Please check opening times as they are only open during the summer months and on alternate weekends.
• Westonbirt Arboretum, nr Tetbury (35 minutes’ drive). Victorian park with 15,000 specimens from all around the globe. Beautiful from Spring- Autumn.
• Chastleton House nr Moreton-in-Marsh (40 minutes’ drive) is a Jacobean country house with lovely gardens.
• Snowshill Manor and Gardens, nr, Broadway (45 minutes’ drive) is a 16th Century country house, best known for its twentieth century owner, Charles Paget Wade, an eccentric man who amassed an enormous collection of objects that interested him. He gave the property to the National Trust in 1951, and his collection is still housed there.
• Sudeley Castle and Gardens, nr Winchcombe (40 minutes’ drive). The castle was once home to Queen Katherine Parr, the last and surviving wife of King Henry VIII. The castle is steeped in history, with Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, Queen Elizabeth I and Richard III having all stayed at the house at various times. It also played an important role during the Civil War. The castle is surrounded by beautiful grounds which are well worth a visit.
• Dyrham Park, nr Bath (50 minutes’ drive) is a spectacular late 17th Century mansion, garden and deer park, managed by the National Trust.
• Batsford Arboretum and Garden Centre, nr Moreton-in-Marsh (45 minutes’ drive), the UK’s largest collection of trees and shrubs. Beautiful with strong Chinese and Japanese influences.
• Bowood House, nr Bristol (55 minutes’ drive), home of the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne, the Georgian House is surrounded by an Italian-inspired Terrace Garden, and 100 acres of parkland landscaped by Capability Brown. Lots of activities for children.