Dyrham Park

Dyrham Park is a baroque mansion built between 1691 and 1704 for William Blathwayt, William III's Secretary at War, whose Dutch connections filled the house with Delftware, leather-hung walls and paintings that include Samuel van Hoogstraten's famous perspective view down a corridor. The house sits at the bottom of a steep 270-acre deer park near Bath, and the walk down from the car park is part of the experience, with fallow deer on the slopes and long views across the Severn Vale. Reviewers love the gardens, particularly the trained fruit trees, and find plenty of places to picnic. Tips from visitors: a free shuttle bus runs between the car park and the house, worth using for the climb back up with small children or limited mobility, though donations are welcome; weekdays are noticeably quieter than sunny weekends; and the facilities, a parkland cafe near the entrance and a tea room by the house, are spread out, so plan your stops.