5 Great Things To Do At Burghley House, Stamford

Burghley House is one of the largest and grandest houses of the first Elizabethan Age. It was built and mostly designed by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, between 1555 and 1587, the main part of the House has 35 major rooms on the ground and first floors.There are more than 80 lesser rooms and numerous halls, corridors, bathrooms and service areas.

First and foremost Burghley House will appeal to history lovers as it is a treasure trove of art, antique furniture and tapestries. There are audio guides to help you explore or you can buy a comprehensive guidebook from the reception desk. During the school holidays there are costumed guided tours for children which are fascinating.
The Garden of Surprises is fun for all ages although I am sure it is the children who get the most out of it. Full of quirky objects such as mirrors, mazes, grottoes, sundials and obelisks, the best time to go is in the summer when you don’t mind getting wet as concealed pipes and fountains can spray and squirt you unexpectedly.
If you like wandering around beautiful gardens but also enjoy viewing contemporary sculpture Burghley’s gardens are for you. The Sculpture Garden was reclaimed from Capability Browns lost lower gardens in 1994 and has acquired a permanent collection of over 20 sculptures.
If your favourite bit of a good day out is a nice cup of tea and a large slice of cake or perhaps a tasty lunch there are two places to choose from. There is the Orangery Restaurant which offers a great variety of locally sourced dishes for you to try from a self -service lunch to a sit down group meal in the Loggia overlooking the beautiful Rose Garden. There is also the Garden Café which is a family friendly place where you can enjoy soup or a sandwich or tea or coffee.
If retail therapy is your thing there is the Courtyard shop which sells a great selection of books and gifts connected with the history of the house. Or if gardening is more to your taste head off to the Garden Shop which stocks a wide range of high quality plants and British made gardening tools, pretty accessories and books. For the children there are games toys and books.

To find out more see www.burghley.co.uk