- Heritage

Ness Botanic Gardens

Leading garden in the North West for rhododendrons and azaleas…

Norton Priory Museum & Gardens

An award winning museum, excavated medieval ruins, spectacular St Christopher statue, Walled Garden, extensive woodland and sculpture trail…

Peover Hall

An Elizabethan house dating from 1585. Fine Carolean stables. Mainwaring Chapel, 18th century landscaped park. Large garden with topiary work, also walled and herb gardens…

Rode Hall

The Wilbraham family have lived at Rode since 1669; the present house was constructed in two stages, the earlier two storey wing and stable block around 1705 and the main building was completed in 1752. Later alterations by Lewis Wyatt and Darcy Braddell were undertaken in 1812 and 1927 respectively. The house stands in a Repton landscape and the extensive gardens include a woodland garden, with a terraced rock garden and grotto, which has many species of rhododendrons, azaleas, hellebores and climbing roses following snowdrops and daffodils in the early spring. The formal rose garden was designed by W Nesfield in 1860; there is a large walled kitchen garden and a new Italian garden. The icehouse in the park has recently been restored…

Tabley House

The finest Palladian House in the North West, Tabley a Grade I listing, was designed by John Carr of York for the Leicester family. Set in landscaped parkland it contains one of the first collections of English paintings, including works of art by Turner, Reynolds, Lawrence and Lely. Furniture by Chippendale, Bullock and Gillow and fascinating family memorabilia adorn the rooms. Interesting Tea Room and 17th century Chapel adjoin…

Woodhey Chapel

Small private chapel built in 1690, now restored…

Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House

Blackwell, completed in 1900, is the largest and most important surviving example of work by architect Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott. Designed as a holiday retreat for Sir Edward Holt, the house survives in a truly remarkable state of preservation retaining many original decorative features. Visitors are encouraged to sit and soak up the atmosphere in Blackwell’s fireplace inglenooks and are free to enjoy the house as it was originally intended, without roped-off areas. The period rooms are furnished with Arts & Crafts furniture and decorative arts, which are complemented by exhibitions of historical applied arts and contemporary craft…

Brantwood

Brantwood, the former home of John Ruskin, is the most beautifully situated house in the Lake District. Explore Brantwood’s estate and gardens or experience contemporary art in the Severn Studio. Brantwood’s bookshop, the Jumping Jenny restaurant and Coach House Craft Gallery combine for a perfect day out…

Carlisle Cathedral

Fine sandstone Cathedral, founded in 1122. Medieval stained glass…

Conishead Priory & Buddhist Temple

Gothic mansion on Morecambe Bay. Reception rooms with decorative ceilings, vaulted great hall, amazing stained glass, grand staircase, 48m cloister corridor. Now international Buddhist Centre with unique Temple. Cafe, Gift shop. Guided tours explain the healing work since 1160. Simon Jenkins says: "There is no house in England like Conishead"…