Hanbury Hall

Hanbury Hall is a red-brick William and Mary-style house built in 1701 for Thomas Vernon, a wealthy lawyer, as a country retreat, and its great draw is the set of original wall and ceiling paintings by Sir James Thornhill on the staircase, full of the political drama of the early Georgian years. Outside, the formal gardens designed by George London have been faithfully re-created, with a parterre, orangery, walled garden and orchards, and 400 acres of parkland beyond keep traces of ancient forest and historic avenues, crossed by waymarked walks. Dogs on short leads can use most of the gardens, the parkland and the Stables Cafe, and children have an adventure playground behind the stableyard. Reviewers single out the painted staircase, the well-signposted 1.2-mile parkland route and the produce in the vegetable garden, and find the house itself smaller in scope than the gardens. Tips from regulars: slow down on the road as the entrance is easy to miss, and the parkland gates are kissing gates.