The 28 best places to visit in the North West of England

Askham Hall features Grade II listed gardens which are open to the public for visits. The Hall is an award-winning restaurant with bedrooms and a wedding venue.

The gardens are full of stunning features, including colourful terraces, a 230ft long double herbaceous border, unusual species of plants, formal lawns, kitchen gardens, woodland, meadows and ponds. Take in the views down to the River Lowther and enjoy the secluded spots of the garden. You can also buy plants to take home.

Family home to the Hasells since 1679, Dalemain is a beautiful mixture of Medieval, Tudor & Georgian architecture situated in a landscape of rolling parkland, lakes and rugged Cumbrian hills.

The Hasells have tended the award winning gardens for generations, with interesting plantings including the meconopsis blue poppies, Tudor Knot Garden, old fashioned roses and sleeping Giantess.

Holker Hall & Gardens is the much-loved home of the Cavendish family, and has been in the family since it was built in the early 1600’s. The new wing was re-built in the 1870’s following a fire, and is now open to visitors.

There are no ropes or barriers, visitors are welcome to wander the rooms at their leisure. The award-winning gardens display a wonderful collection of trees, shrubs and flowers, and offer inspiration throughout the year.

Hutton-in-the-Forest consist of Medieval Pele towers, extended in 17th-century with a gallery and baroque central facade. In the 18th-century a suite of 3 rooms was added, and in the 19th-century a tower by Salvin.

The interiors span the centuries and contain a fine collection of portraits, English furniture, tapestries and china.

Standing on a steep slope above the winding River Derwent and two miles from Bassenthwaite Lake, Isel Hall is a spectacular building.

Its south facing terraces command glorious views to the river, which is banked with rhododendrons in the spring. In the distance are the Lakeland fells and Skiddaw.

Levens Hall is an Elizabethan mansion built around a 13th-century pele tower, the much loved home of the Bagot family.

With fine panelling, plasterwork, Cordova leather wall coverings, paintings by Rubens, Lely and Cuyp the earliest English patchwork, an important collection of Jacobean furniture and Wellingtoniana combine with other beautiful objects to form a fascinating collection.

Lowther Castle has enjoyed a rich and varied history. One of the finest Gothic buildings of the north west, the castle was completed in 1812. For a century or more Lowther played host to the great and the good of the United Kingdom.

But in 1936, the turmoil of the 20th century took over. The castle was abandoned, then occupied by the army and finally in 1957 partly demolished.

A relaxed welcome, enhanced by it’s unique literary connections and beautiful collections, await visitors to Mirehouse.

Visitors can enjoy the live piano music, unusual photographs and manuscripts and children’s activities as they wander through this family home.

The Grade 1 listed former Tudor vicarage has been home to the Markham family since 1828. Much enlarged in Victorian times, the house is set in four acres of stunning gardens, laid out around Morland Beck, which flows from one end of the garden to the other, via an impressive waterfall splashing down into the top rock pool.

Crossing the beck by a choice of picturesque footbridges or slippery stepping stones, one reaches the natural beauty of the secret Victorian quarry garden complete with grotto and cliff top walk.

In an idyllic setting amongst the Western Lake District fells, Muncaster offers an unforgettable experience for groups, for individuals and families; for days out or memorable special occasions.

With its historic haunted castle, Himalayan gardens and bluebell woods commanding Eskdale and the estuary from its lofty fellside position, Muncaster offers the complete day out.