Gardens and Stately Houses
One of the legacies of the industrial past is the wonderful collection of large houses in the area, built by the owners of the factories and businesses that thrived in the 18th and 19th centuries - many of them now owned by the National Trust.
Lyme Park – a beautiful house set in extensive gardens and surrounded by high hills. Famous as the location for Mr Darcy’s water-soaked appearance in the BBC’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’!
Tatton Park – the gardens are probably more famous than the house. Now the home of the annual RHS Flower Show, they cover a huge area and include a Japanese garden. The Mansion and Tudor Old Hall are set in 1,000 acres of beautiful parkland – studded with lakes and framed by tree-lined avenues, they are home to herds of deer, which make a magnificent sight at any time of year. Tatton also has a working farm, play area, speciality shops and a superb programme of special events.
Dunham Massey – wonderful county estate with exceptional ‘below’ stairs’ area, gardens and deer park.
Arley Hall – a Victorian house built in the Elizabethan style with wonderful gardens and a year-round programme of events. There’s always something to see and do at Arley Hall.