Speke Hall is a rare Tudor timber-framed manor house in a most unusual setting on the banks of the River Mersey. Restored and brought back to life in the 19th century, it is a unique and beautiful mixture of Tudor simplicity and Victorian Arts and Crafts’ aesthetics.

Built by the devout Catholic Norris family – keen to impress visitors with the grandeur of their home and in particular the magnificent Great Hall – this beautiful building has witnessed more than 400 years of turbulent history. From the Tudor period when a secret priest hole was an essential feature, to years of neglect and decay in the 18th and 19th centuries (including a spell when it was used as a cow shed) and then being dragged into the Victorian era of improvement and technology, the Hall has seen it all.

In the 21st century, Speke Hall and its surrounding estate now provide a real oasis from the hurly burly of modern life. As you come through the gates, relax, take a breath and enjoy all that this wonderful place has to offer. The Hall is surrounded by beautiful restored gardens and protected by a collar of woodland.

Explore Kingston Lacy, a lavish family home built to resemble an Italian Palace.

There’s plenty to see, from grand, beautifully detailed carvings, to intimate family souvenirs and even strange curiosities such as an ‘I owe you’ note from a king.

An art lover’s dream,the rooms teeming with paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck, Titian and Brueghel. In the Egyptian Room you can discover the largest private collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the UK.

Why not enjoy a summer picnic on the south lawn or let the children run wild in the nearby play areas. Have a wander around the Japanese Garden, complete with authentic tea house or take a sheltered walk through the surrounding woodland. You can even learn how to grow your own food in the ‘Community Growing Spaces’.

From Iron Age forts, to colourful heathland, water meadows and even a Roman road, there’s loads to see on the 8,500 acres of estate.

Don’t forget to pop into the restaurant to try our tasty cakes and prize-winning scones.

Lytes Cary Manor is an intimate medieval manor house with a beautiful Arts and Crafts garden where you can imagine living.

Originally the family home of Henry Lyte, where he translated the unique Niewe Herball book on herbal remedies, Lytes Cary was then lovingly restored in the 20th century by Sir Walter Jenner.

The garden rooms contain a magical collection of topiary and herbaceous borders, while tranquil walks on the estate take you along the River Cary.

To complete your visit, take a stroll among our community allotments and discover their creative and colourful designs.

When walking into the celebrated Cathedral Close in Salisbury, visitors step back into a past world, and on entering Mompesson House, featured in the award-winning film Sense and Sensibility, the feeling of leaving the modern world behind is deepened.

The tranquil atmosphere is enhanced by the magnificent plasterwork, fine period furniture and graceful oak staircase, which are the main features of this perfectly proportioned Queen Anne house. In addition, the Turnbull collection of 18th-century drinking glasses is of national importance.

The delightful walled garden has a pergola and traditionally planted herbaceous borders.

Montacute is a masterpiece of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture and design. With its towering walls of glass, glow of ham stone and surrounding gardens, it is a place of beauty and wonder.

Sir Edward Phelips was the visionary force and money behind the creation of this masterpiece, which was completed in 1601. Built by skilled craftsman using local ham stone under the instruction of William Arnold, master mason, the house was a statement of wealth, ambition and showmanship.

Come face to face with the past in the Long Gallery, which is the longest of its kind in England. The gallery houses over 60 Tudor and Elizabethan portraits on loan from the National Portrait Gallery.

A beautiful garden surrounds Montacute House, constantly changing, filling the house with scent in summer and providing an atmospheric backdrop for a winter walk.

Whether you just want to let the children run and explore, or be inspired by the collections housed within the walls of Montacute, you will leave with lasting memories and a desire to soon return.

Within 20 minutes drive of Montacute, you will find four fascinating smaller properties each with its own unique character, history, and story to tell.

Their combined age of 2,300 years spans from the medieval period to the early 19th century. Explore Stoke Priory, a fine collection of medieval farm buildings; Treasurer’s House, with its great hall and unusual wall painting; Stembridge Tower Mill, the last remaining thatched windmill in England; and the Priest’s House, a medieval home of great character not to be missed.

When Stourhead first opened in the 1740s, a magazine described it as ‘a living work of art’. The world-famous landscape garden has at its centrepiece a magnificent lake reflecting classical temples, mystical grottoes, and rare and exotic trees, and offers a day of fresh air and discovery.

Uncover the fascinating history of Stourhead house with an Italian ‘Grand Tour’ adventure and enjoy the unique Regency library, Chippendale furniture and inspirational paintings. The Palladian house is set amid ‘picnic perfect’ lawns and extensive parkland.

Explore the 1,072 hectare (2,650 acre) Stourhead estate where chalk downs, ancient woods and farmland are managed for wildlife.

This beautiful small manor house, built over three centuries, has late Gothic and Jacobean windows, decorative plasterwork and two important keyboard instruments. There is some fine period furniture, seventeenth and eighteenth century tapestries and a modern topiary garden.

Inside these rooms you can discover this eclectic collection that he restored and displayed. We have maintained the atmospheric settings he created with low lighting and few labels. From tiny toys to Samurai armour, musical instruments to fine clocks, thousands of objects are laid out for you to see just as Mr Wade intended.

The garden is the perfect place to unwind and explore hidden vistas, quiet corners and unexpected delights including Charles Wade’s uncomplicated home, the Priest’s House.

“Let nothing perish” was his motto, and his life was dedicated to doing just that. From the everyday to the extraordinary, you can discover his passion for craftsmanship, colour and design.

Welcome to Dunham Massey. Encircled by its protective wall, Dunham Massey is a green oasis nestled between the urban sprawl of Manchester and rural tranquillity of Cheshire.

While the Georgian house is closed for conservation until March 2018, the park and garden are the ideal place to enjoy the crisp clear days of winter.

A ramble around the park will reveal a range of architectural oddities and views of the house complete with Dunham’s resident herd of fallow deer;; you may also glimpse other wildlife including owls and woodpeckers. Enjoy a guided walk of the deer park, or take the chance to wrap up warm and wander freely amongst groves of ancient trees.

Dunham is also home to one of Britain’s finest winter gardens, with plenty of scent and colour to delight the senses. Relax in the garden and explore its historic features such as the Orangery, Pump House, Victorian Bark House and the remains of an Elizabethan Mount. Snowdrops, daffodils and bluebells provide an ever changing landscape of colours and scents. In summer, see the celebrated rose garden take centre stage.

Unwind on one of the accessible circular walks before treating yourself to a tasty homemade food at the Stables Restaurant or a snack in the visitor centre café and treat yourself at the ice cream parlour. 

Find local Cheshire produce and an extensive garden section complete with plants grown at Dunham Massey at one of the largest National Trust shops in the north.

With special events all year round, there’s plenty to brighten your day at Dunham.

Welcome to Lyme. Nestling on the edge of the Peak District, Lyme was once home to the Legh family and, in its heyday a great sporting estate.

Step back in time to the Regency era – a time which saw great rejuvenation for Lyme. Enjoy lavish interiors, try out the billiards table in the Long Gallery, read a book in the library, or visit our Dressing Room to try on the finest Regency regalia.

The 1,400 acre estate with its medieval herd of red deer offers fantastic walks and stunning views.

For a more tranquil walk explore the elegant Rose Garden, Ravine Garden or the luxurious herbaceous borders next to the reflecting lake where a certain Mr Darcy met Miss Bennet in the BBC production of ‘Pride and Prejudice’.

Children can let off steam in Crow Wood Playscape with its giant slide, badger den and rope walks, whilst the nearby Timberyard Cafe offers delicious hot and cold snacks, soups and range of cakes.

You can view online some of the items that Lyme has in its collection. The site catalogues approximately three-quarters of a million National Trust objects with more being added daily.