Imperial War Museum Duxford is a branch of the Imperial War Museum near Duxford in Cambridgeshire. Britain's largest aviation museum, Duxford houses the museum's large exhibits, including nearly 200 aircraft, military vehicles, artillery and minor naval vessels in seven main exhibition buildings. The site also provides storage space for the museum's other collections of material such as film, photographs, documents, books and artefacts. The site accommodates several British Army regimental museums, including those of the Parachute Regiment (named Airborne Assault) and the Royal Anglian Regiment.

Based on the historic Duxford Aerodrome, the site was originally operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the First World War. During the Second World War Duxford played a prominent role during the Battle of Britain and was later used by United States Army Air Forces fighter units in support of the daylight bombing of Germany. Duxford remained an active RAF airfield until 1961. After the Ministry of Defence declared the site surplus to requirements in 1969, the Imperial War Museum received permission to use part of the site for storage. The entirety of the site was transferred to the museum in February 1976.

The culmination of a lifetime of dreams: salvaged objects and exotic pieces come together in a Jacobean meets Edwardian style. Beautiful, homely, warm and welcoming. We can't put it better than a visitor in the 1920s did: A house to dream of, a garden to dream in.

The house was originally built in the 16th century, yet its interiors were extensively restored between the First and Second World Wars by Graham Baron Ash to create a fascinating 20th-century evocation of domestic Tudor architecture.

Packwood House contains a fine collection of 16th-century textiles and furniture, and the gardens have renowned herbaceous borders and a famous collection of yews.

Baddesley Clinton was the home of the Ferrers family for 500 years.

Much of the house you see today was built by Henry Ferrers, a lawyer, diarist and antiquarian, in the late 1500s.

The house was a sanctuary not only for the Ferrers family, but also for persecuted Catholics who were hidden from priest hunters in its secret hiding places during the 1590s.

Home to the Anson family since 1624, it was once described as ‘a perfect paradise’. Visit this important piece of Staffordshire's heritage for a full day of discoveries.

The stories of Shugborough are entangled with the exploits and interests of two brothers, Thomas and George Anson. Their fortunes and their social position shaped Shugborough; understanding the origins of their power helps us to interpret the ideas and materials which flooded into Britain throughout the 18th century, furnishing homes, forging fashions and changing culture.

You can explore sweeping parkland, ancient woodland and a landscape peppered with monuments. See seasonal blooms in the formal gardens, or produce in the walled garden. Head over to Park Farm to see Dorking chickens, and say hello to the animals, such as Longhorn cows and Southdown sheep that roam around in the fields.

In the Georgian mansion, unearth unusual treasures and experience life 'below stairs' in the servant's quarters, then enter a world of glamour and royalty in the apartments of Patrick Lichfield, 5th Earl and fashion photographer.

The home of two great families, the Booths and the Greys, the history of Dunham Massey is intimately tied to empire. A fortunate marriage to an East India trading heiress saved the property at the beginning of the 18th century.

Dunham Massey has a connection to Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia and staunch opponent of fascism. Roger, 10th Earl of Stamford and lifelong friend of the emperor from the time of his visit to Dunham Massey in 1938, flew the Lion of Judah flag from the roof of the house each year to mark Selassie’s birthday.

Dunham is also home to one of Britain’s finest winter gardens, with plenty of scent and colour to delight the senses throughout the year. Unwind on one of the accessible circular walks before warming up with a hearty homemade meal at the Stables Restaurant.

A country retreat in the heart of Worcestershire. The house and garden, originally a stage-set for summer parties, offer a glimpse into life at the turn of the 18th century. Don't miss the original wall-paintings by Sir James Thornhill. Full of drama and politics, they show the birth of Georgian society.

The original formal gardens, designed by George London, have been faithfully re-created and complement the relaxed later gardens, with orangery, orchards and walled garden. If you venture further afield, our walks leaflet will help you find George London’s visionary Semicircle in the parkland - the beginning of the landscape movement.

At Locomotion you can see highlights of the national collection of railway vehicles in the world’s first railway town.

The town of Shildon has had an exciting story to tell since the earliest days of the rail industry, making it the perfect place to explore the rich seam of local railway history and discover how the railways have changed all our lives.

The museum officially opened in September 2004 as a partnership between Sedgefield Borough Council and the National Railway Museum, with funding from both partners and the Heritage Lottery Fund. It is home to more than 70 rail vehicles from the national collection, including icons such as Sans Pareil, APT-E and Deltic prototype.

Shildon has had an exciting story to tell since the earliest days of the railways, and the site was chosen by the partners to reflect its unique place in history.

Wander through a series of interlinking gardens, each with its own style and character, set against the backdrop of a Grade 1 listed medieval hall.

Visitors can discover a maze, a secret walled garden, an orchard, a wildlife-rich moat pool, tranquil seating areas and views of Durham city and cathedral.

The Garden Gate Café offers seating indoors, as well as on an outdoor terrace.

Dogs on a short lead are welcome in the gardens and café.

Surrounded by parkland, with riverside and woodland walks on all sides, the view of the hall as you turn on to the long drive evokes images of an intriguing past. Beningbrough has been shaped for more than 300 years by the people who lived here.

The gardens are experiencing a renaissance; new planting schemes and garden rooms, designed by award-winning designer Andy Sturgeon, enhance the herbaceous borders, walled and American gardens. You can see the how it progresses on your visit. All year the gardens and parkland are alight with colour – from snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils to dahlias, pumpkins and apples.

Families can let off steam in the wilderness play area or see what's on offer in the school holidays. Refuel in the walled garden restaurant or brewhouse or grab something to take away as you explore. Choose from plants and an extensive home and garden range in the shop.

Coughton Court is the home of the Throckmorton family who have lived at Coughton since 1409. John de Throckmorton, Under Treasurer of England to Henry VI, acquired Coughton in the early 15th Century through his marriage to Eleanor de Spiney. Their descendants have held it for 600 years and, although the National Trust has owned the house since 1946, the family still live here. The present resident, Mr Magnus Birch-Throckmorton, and his family enjoy occupancy of the house under a 300 year lease.

The origins of Coughton Court lie in pre-conquest times and there is evidence of a house on this site from the 14th Century. The present building was begun in the 15th Century and has since survived in a family who for much of that time were impoverished, persecuted or imprisoned for their adherence to the Catholic faith.

This amazing Victorian garden was created by James Bateman for his collection of plants from around the world. A visit takes you on a global journey from Italy to the pyramids of Egypt, a Victorian vision of China and a re-creation of a Himalayan glen.

The garden features collections of rhododendrons, summer bedding displays, a stunning Dahlia Walk and the oldest surviving golden larch in Britain, brought from China in the 1850s.

The Geological Gallery shows how Bateman's interests went beyond botany. Opened in 1862 the unique hallway is a Victorian attempt to reconcile geology and theology.

Walk amongst monkeys and enjoy a unique day out for all the family.

Monkey Forest is home to 140 free-ranging Barbary macaques. Visitors walk along the 3/4 of a mile pathway. Walk, watch and be AMAZED as the endangered monkeys live as they would in the wild.

Situated in an ancient Staffordshire forest Trentham Monkey Forest is the perfect day out for all ages.

• A unique experience to see monkeys living freely*

• No cages or bars, monkeys are free to roam

• Learn and find out about the conservation of this endangered species

• 1 species of monkey – the Barbary macaque

*Visitors cannot touch the macaques

Overlooking the river Avon on the edge of Shakespeare’s Stratford, Charlecote Park has been part of this corner of rural Warwickshire for centuries. Still the Lucy family home after 900 years, you can explore the vision of the Victorian owners George Hammond Lucy and his wife, the formidable Mary Elizabeth, who extended their home and filled it with treasures from their European travels.

Linger in the rooms open to our visitors in the central portion of the house to discover more about the collection brought together by generations of the family whose tastes, lifestyle and varied fortunes are all reflected here

Today, the kitchen is brought to life in cooking and costume. Across the courtyard you can explore the laundry and brewhouse which once hummed with the activity of a busy working estate. Discover the stables which house the family’s carriage collection, each with its own story to tell.

Stroll through the gardens that Mary Elizabeth loved so dearly, from the formal parterre to the shady woodland garden with rare plants and borders full of colourful herbaceous planting.

Veiled in a secluded valley, this National Trust property promises to surprise and captivate with its vast Cistercian abbey ruins, Georgian water garden, a medieval deer park, Elizabethan Hall and Gothic church.

From humble beginnings this magnificent abbey grew to be wealthy and powerful. In Porter’s Lodge uncover the story of the devout monks who founded the abbey in search of a simpler life, hear a tale or two on a free guided tour and see the mill created by these skilful masters of machinery.

Studley Royal Water Garden is an outstanding example of the ‘English’ garden style that swept across Europe during the eighteenth century, and is in fact what makes this magnificent estate a World Heritage Site. Created by father and son John and William Aislabie, the design of this garden is a pre-cursor to the later style which became synonymous with Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown.

Eye catchers and follies were a common feature within ‘English’ gardens and the Aislabies built many of these. Elegant ponds and cascades entwined with rustic bridges, classical temples and statues enthral today’s visitor just as they would the pleasure-seeking Georgians. There could be no finer eye catcher, however, than the grand ruins of Fountains Abbey.

With peeling paintwork and overgrown courtyards, Calke Abbey tells the story of the dramatic decline of a country house estate. The house and stables are little restored, with many abandoned areas vividly portraying a period in the 20th century when numerous country houses did not survive to tell their story.

Discover powerful stories of a family who amassed a vast collection of hidden treasures. Visit the beautiful, yet faded walled gardens and explore the orangery, auricula theatre and the kitchen gardens. Escape into the ancient and fragile habitats of Calke Park and its National Nature Reserve.

Don't miss...

• The stunning state silk bed, erected for the first time in 1985 after lying undiscovered since the 18th century

• Spot the ‘Old Man of Calke’, a 1,200 year old oak tree

• Visit the red and fallow deer in their restored enclosure

• Explore the Tramway Trail by bike or by foot

• Stroll through the pleasure grounds to the flower garden with its unique auricula theatre

Home to the Anson family since 1624, it was once described as ‘a perfect paradise’. Visit this important piece of Staffordshire's heritage for a full day of discoveries.

The stories of Shugborough are entangled with the exploits and interests of two brothers, Thomas and George Anson. Their fortunes and their social position shaped Shugborough; understanding the origins of their power helps us to interpret the ideas and materials which flooded into Britain throughout the 18th century, furnishing homes, forging fashions and changing culture.

You can explore sweeping parkland, ancient woodland and a landscape peppered with monuments. See seasonal blooms in the formal gardens, or produce in the walled garden. Head over to Park Farm to see Dorking chickens, and say hello to the animals, such as Longhorn cows and Southdown sheep that roam around in the fields.

In the Georgian mansion, unearth unusual treasures and experience life 'below stairs' in the servant's quarters, then enter a world of glamour and royalty in the apartments of Patrick Lichfield, 5th Earl and fashion photographer.

Ickworth house with its classical Rotunda, East and West Wings, forms the centrepiece of the Ickworth estate and is home to its vast array of treasures. It reflects its former owners, the Hervey Family’s tenacious spirit and has been preserved by the custodianship and influence of unconventional men and women over successive generations.

With over 1800 acres of parkland and gardens to enjoy, Ickworth is the perfect place to get back to nature.

Discover formal gardens, pleasure grounds, rolling Suffolk landscape and woodlands all which invite gentle strolls, long walks, runs, bike rides and picnics.

Powis Castle, built around 1200 as a medieval fortress, sits high on a rock above its world-famous garden. Laid out under the influence of Italian and French styles, the garden is overhung with clipped yews and shelters rare and tender plants. It retains original lead statues and features an orangery on the terraces.

Remodelled and embellished over more than 400 years, Powis reflects the changing ambitions of the Herbert family, who occupied the Castle from the 1570s. Each generation enlisted artists to grow the family’s collection of paintings, sculpture, furniture and tapestries on view throughout the house.

One of the UK’s most significant collections of Indian objects is displayed in the Clive Museum at Powis Castle. As major figures in Britain’s colonial East India Company, Robert Clive and his son Edward (later 1st Earl of Powis) looted many of these objects during their seizure of power in India and Myanmar and violent subsequent rule in the 18th century. Clive wealth amassed through the East India Company remained at Powis, contributing to later modernisation of the Castle and Gardens that transformed Powis to how it exists today.

The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is the world's largest military air show, held annually over the third weekend in July at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England in support of The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, attracting 170,000 spectators over the duration of the event.

The event has had a number of air show firsts, including the first display and landing of the B-2A Spirit stealth bomber outside the United States of America during the 1997 "50 Years of the USAF" event and in 2008 the first landing of the Lockheed F-22 Raptor in Europe. 2022 saw the first visit to an air show outside of America of only one of four E-4B 'Doomsday Plane's' that POTUS uses.

The RIAT has evolved into an important showcase for the world's military, taking place the week after the annual Global Air & Space Chiefs' Conference in London and the week before the bi-annual Farnborough Airshow which occurs in 'even' years. RIAT allows the military aerospace industry to showcase its products to both the general public and customers in a more relaxed environment outside the commercial selling pressure of the Farnborough trade show.

Situated on the English-Welsh border, Croft is a quiet, ancient place steeped in British history and politics with a picturesque castle and medieval parkland re-fashioned during the 18th century.

Surrounded by 1,500 acres of woods, park and farmland. Take a way marked walk to discover an abundance of nature at this special place.

The two acre walled garden is a wildlife haven, attracting butterflies, bees, birds and insects. It is the perfect place to enjoy the changing seasons, with daffodils and blossom in spring, roses and wisteria in summer and apples in autumn.

Chatsworth is home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and has been passed down through 16 generations of the Cavendish family.

Chatsworth House is renowned for the quality of its art, landscape and hospitality, and it has evolved through the centuries to reflect the tastes, passions and interests of succeeding generations.

Today, Chatsworth contains works of art that span 4,000 years, from ancient Roman and Egyptian sculpture, and masterpieces by Rembrandt, Reynolds and Veronese, to work by outstanding modern artists, including Lucian Freud, Edmund de Waal and David Nash.

There are over 25 rooms to explore, from the magnificent Painted Hall, regal State Rooms, restored Sketch Galleries and beautiful Sculpture Gallery.

Hidcote is an Arts and Crafts garden in the north Cotswolds, a stone’s throw from Stratford-upon-Avon. Created by the talented American horticulturist, Major Lawrence Johnston its colourful and intricately designed outdoor ‘rooms’ are always full of surprises. It’s a must-see if you’re on holiday in the Cotswolds.

Explore the maze of narrow paved pathways and discover secret gardens, magnificent vistas and plants that burst with colour. Many of the plants found growing in the garden were collected from Johnston’s many plant hunting trips to far away places. It’s the perfect place if you’re in need of gardening inspiration.

Meander through the intricate gardens and into the Wilderness. This secluded stretch of tall trees is just right for a picnic. Take a glimpse beyond the boundary and see the garden blend effortlessly into the countryside beyond.

Kedleston Hall is an extravagant temple to the arts designed by the architect Robert Adam. Commissioned in the 1750s by Nathaniel Curzon whose ancestors had resided at Kedleston since the 12th century. The house is framed by historic parkland and boasts opulent interiors intended to impress.

Designed for lavish entertaining, Kedleston Hall displays an extensive collection of paintings, sculpture and original furnishings, reflecting both the tastes of its creators and their fascination with the classical world of the Roman Empire.

From spring to autumn Kedleston’s formal garden offers a colourful interpretation of its original 18th century design. The expansive grounds with both long and short walks, feature sweeping vistas of Kedleston’s parkland and provide access to a rich array of wildlife.

Attingham inspires a sense of beauty, space and awe. The imposing entrance, glimpses of the vast mansion against silhouettes of cedars and expansive parkland, epitomise classical design and Italian influence. Its completeness of survival exemplifies the rise and decline, love and neglect of great country-house estates. Discovering the Berwicks' estate with acres of parkland, miles of walks, the huge organic walled garden, large playfield and welcoming mansion is a full day out.

There’s so much to see and do at Attingham -- whether you’re a family looking for activities, both inside and out, or simply in search of a traditional visit to a historic house and parkland. Full of life and locally loved, there’s something for everyone all year round.

Blenheim Palace is a country house in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough and the only non-royal, non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace. The palace, one of England's largest houses, was built between 1705 and 1722, and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

The palace is named after the 1704 Battle of Blenheim, and thus ultimately after Blindheim (also known as Blenheim) in Bavaria. It was originally intended to be a reward to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough for his military triumphs against the French and Bavarians in the War of the Spanish Succession, culminating in the Battle of Blenheim.

Following the palace's completion, it became the home of the Churchill (later Spencer-Churchill) family for the next 300 years, and various members of the family have wrought changes to the interiors, park and gardens. At the end of the 19th century, the palace was saved from ruin by funds gained from the 9th Duke of Marlborough's marriage to American railroad heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt.

Nestling on the edge of the Peak District, Lyme was once home to the Legh family and, in its heyday a great sporting estate.

The 1,400 acre estate with its medieval herd of red deer offers fantastic walks and stunning views.

For a tranquil walk explore the elegant Rose Garden, Ravine Garden or the luxurious herbaceous borders next to the reflecting lake where a certain Mr Darcy met Miss Bennet in the BBC production of 'Pride and Prejudice'.

Head in to the house to step back in time to the Regency era - a time which saw great rejuvenation for Lyme.

When Stourhead first opened in the 1740s, a magazine described it as ‘a living work of art’. The world-famous landscape garden has at its centrepiece a magnificent lake reflecting classical temples, mystical grottoes, and rare and exotic trees, and offers a day of fresh air and discovery.

Uncover the fascinating history of Stourhead house with an Italian ‘Grand Tour’ adventure and enjoy the unique Regency library, Chippendale furniture and inspirational paintings. The Palladian house is set amid ‘picnic perfect’ lawns and extensive parkland.

Explore the 1,072 hectare (2,650 acre) Stourhead estate where chalk downs, ancient woods and farmland are managed for wildlife.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales is a Botanical Garden located in Llanarthney in the River Tywi valley, Carmarthenshire, Wales. The garden is both a visitor attraction and a centre for botanical research and conservation, and features the world's largest single-span glasshouse, measuring 110 m (360 ft) long by 60 m (200 ft) wide. Housing plants from several Mediterranean climate regions, the plants are divided into sections from Chile, Western Australia, South Africa, California, the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean itself.

The Double Walled Garden has been rebuilt from the ruins, and is being developed to house a wide variety of plants, including a modern interpretation of a kitchen garden in one quarter, and ornamental beds to display the classification and evolution of all flowering plant families in the other three quarters.

The Waun Las national nature reserve is accessed from the garden and comprises some 150 hectares (370 acres) of wildflower meadows and pastures.

Royal diplomat Thomas Wentworth was outraged when a cousin inherited his family home, Wentworth Woodhouse, in 1695. Known for his ferocious ambition, Wentworth was determined to outdo his rival, creating this spectacular place once known as ‘the finest garden in England’.

Wentworth’s wealth was deeply entwined with empire and the slave trade. He was one of the principal negotiators of the Treaty of Utrecht, which secured Britain as supplier of enslaved Africans to Spanish colonies in the New World.

Despite its turbulent past, this breath-taking landscape now provides space for relaxation, reflection and opportunities for people to enjoy nature and beauty. Today it is South Yorkshire’s only Grade I registered landscape. There are surprises along every avenue, including a castle that is not what it seems.

A spectacular Elizabethan house filled with rich furnishings and tapestries preserved by successive generations of the Devonshire family.

It was the formidable 'Bess of Hardwick' who first built the house and developed the surrounding estate in the late 1500s. Her descendants, the Dukes of Devonshire, treasured Hardwick, while lavishing much of their attention and money on nearby Chatsworth. Their success – intimately associated with empire over 400 years and across the globe – preserved Hardwick, and their interests elsewhere saved it from significant alteration.

In the 20th century, keenly aware of Hardwick’s great significance and unique appeal, the Devonshires ensured that this remarkable building was passed on to the nation with its Elizabethan splendour intact.

The 56 acre arboretum at Batsford is situated just a mile west of the historic market town of Moreton in Marsh in the heart of the Cotswolds.

A former home to the famous Mitford family, interest in the arboretum begins in late winter when the snowdrops, aconites and early flowering daffodils spring into life, followed by magnolias, hellebores, fritillaries and the beautiful Japanese ornamental cherries – stars of the show from late March until mid April. The handkerchief tree is another show-stopper in May, as are the beautiful wildflower meadows which bloom in high summer.

Don’t miss nature’s natural fireworks spectacular in autumn as the Japanese maples give the performance of their lives, with colours ranging from butter gold to bright reds and salmon pinks. Whatever time of year you visit, the plant centre and garden shop offer a wide range of beautiful plants and gardening sundries and there’s a range of unique gifts available in the Arboretum shop too.

Caernarfon Castle is recognised around the world as one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages.

This fortress-palace on the banks of the River Seiont is grouped with Edward I’s other castles at Conwy, Beaumaris and Harlech as a World Heritage Site. But for sheer scale and architectural drama Caernarfon stands alone.

Here Edward and his military architect Master James of St George erected a castle, town walls and a quay all at the same time. This gigantic building project eventually took 47 years and cost a staggering £25,000.

The castle was born out of bitter war with Welsh princes. So of course its immense curtain walls and daunting King’s Gate were designed to withstand assault. But the polygonal towers, eagle statues and multi-coloured masonry sent a more subtle message.

So Caernarfon is a castle of dreams. A legend brought to life. Even after 700 years it still stirs the imagination like no other Welsh castle.

Home to the Anson family since 1624, it was once described as ‘a perfect paradise’. Visit this important piece of Staffordshire's heritage for a full day of discoveries.

The stories of Shugborough are entangled with the exploits and interests of two brothers, Thomas and George Anson. Their fortunes and their social position shaped Shugborough; understanding the origins of their power helps us to interpret the ideas and materials which flooded into Britain throughout the 18th century, furnishing homes, forging fashions and changing culture.

You can explore sweeping parkland, ancient woodland and a landscape peppered with monuments. See seasonal blooms in the formal gardens, or produce in the walled garden. Head over to Park Farm to see Dorking chickens, and say hello to the animals, such as Longhorn cows and Southdown sheep that roam around in the fields.

In the Georgian mansion, unearth unusual treasures and experience life 'below stairs' in the servant's quarters, then enter a world of glamour and royalty in the apartments of Patrick Lichfield, 5th Earl and fashion photographer.