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Discover lots of gardens, historic houses, days out at the coast and more.
Places to stop for a break near the motorway
Going on a long drive? Swap the busy service stations for a calmer alternative. Many of the places we care for are located near motorways, A roads and other main routes, so you can refresh yourself at our cafés and restaurants, surrounded by nature and history.
Winter house closures
Some of the places in our care close over the winter months so we can carry out vital conservation work. Please check individual place webpages for up-to-date information on opening times before you visit.
- Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
- Get a taste of 1930s luxury with a stop at Anglesey Abbey. Explore the Jacobean-style house, enjoy a wander around the garden, or grab some refreshment in the Redwoods Restaurant. The Abbey can be found approximately 2 miles (5 minutes) drive from the A14 (junction 25).Stop at Anglesey Abbey
- Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire
- Baddesley Clinton's medieval-moated manor house is a convenient place to stop near Birmingham. Have tea in the Barn Restaurant and then browse the second-hand bookshop. You'll find it off the M42 (exit 5) – approximately 6 miles/7 minutes south; or off the M40 (exit 15) – about 10 miles/18 minutes north.Stop at Baddesley Clinton
- Basildon Park, Berkshire
- With more than 400 acres of parkland to explore, Basildon Park is the ideal spot to take a rest from driving. Wander through grand rooms filled with paintings, explore the gardens or run wild in the parkland with its year-round seasonal colour. Basildon Park is about 7 miles/15 minutes off the M4 (exit 12).Stop at Basildon Park
- Beningbrough, North Yorkshire
- From the wealthy teenager who built the mansion to its occupation by the RAF in the Second World War, Beningbrough is full of intriguing stories. Check out the changing exhibitions in the gallery or grab something tasty from the walled garden restaurant or coffee shop. Beningbrough Hall can be found about 2.9 miles/8 minutes off the A19.Stop at Beningbrough
- Chartwell, Kent
- Take a break at the former home of Sir Winston Churchill. Look out for the wall he built in the Kitchen Garden, explore his former study or pause in Lady Clementine’s Rose Garden. The café serves hot and cold lunches, light snacks and cakes to keep you going. Chartwell is off the M25 (exit 5 or 6), roughly 8.5 miles/15 minutes drive away.Stop at Chartwell
- Crom, County Fermanagh
- Located on the shores of Upper Lough Erne, Crom is a peaceful place to pause for a while and enjoy some refreshment in the tea-room. This 2,000-acre estate is surrounded by tranquil islands and ancient woodlands, and is home to wildlife including otters, red squirrels and pine martens. You can find Crom about 13 miles/25 minutes off the A4.Stop at Crom
- Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan
- Clear your head with a stroll through Dyffryn's outdoor spaces – from the themed Garden Rooms and Arboretum to the Walled Garden, Glasshouse and formal South Lawn. There are natural play areas for the kids and a café for drinks and snacks. Dyffryn is 9.5 miles (20 minutes) from the M4, off junction 33.Stop at Dyffryn Gardens
- Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire
- The lavish collections inside Dyrham's grand country house reflect the 17th-century fashion for all things Dutch. Head out into its extensive parkland – the sloping estate has far-reaching views and ancient trees, as well as several eating places to refuel yourself. You'll find Dyrham Park off the M4 (exit 18), a drive of about 3 miles/4 minutes.Stop at Dyrham Park
- Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, Yorkshire
- Stop and explore Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site made of two moments in history. Medieval strength blends with 18th-century eccentricity to create a landscape full of curiosities and panoramic views. Find Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal about 10 miles/20 minutes from junction 48/50 off the A1(M).Stop at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal
- Gibside, Tyne & Wear
- The extensive 18th-century landscape garden at Gibside offers a taste of the country on the edge of the city. Discover sweeping Derwent Valley views, winding paths and open spaces to explore. Enjoy delicious wood-fired pizza on weekends and school holidays, from 12pm to 3pm. Gibside is about 4.5 miles/9 minutes off the A1.Stop at Gibside
- Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire
- A quiet spot off the busy M5 for visitors to rest and recharge, the country retreat of Hanbury Hall features an orangery, ice-house, pavilions and even a working mushroom house. There's also a children's adventure playground for little ones to let loose. You'll find Hanbury Hall off the M5 (exit 5) – about a 4-mile/5-minute drive.Stop at Hanbury Hall
- Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire
- Between Nottingham and Sheffield is extravagant Hardwick Hall, where powerful Elizabethan figure Bess of Hardwick once showed off her wealth. Switch off from the outside world with a turn around the fragrant herb garden, orchards and parkland, or see historic tapestries up close in the house. Hardwick Hall is approximately 1 mile off exit 29 of the M1.Stop at Hardwick Hall
- Knightshayes, Devon
- With acres of gardens and parkland surrounding the Gothic Revival house, there's plenty to see at Knightshayes. Get some fresh air with a wander around the woodlands, or stop at the Stables Café before you hit the road again. Knightshayes can be found off the M5 (exit 27) – roughly 8 miles/12 minutes drive away.Stop at Knightshayes
- Lanhydrock, Cornwall
- If you're heading down to southern Cornwall, Lanhydrock is a great place to break up your journey. Take a stroll around the 19th-century country house and formal garden, or head into the wider estate and see if you can find the Victorian swimming pool. You can fill up with something homemade at the Park Café. Find all this just off the A30/A38.Stop at Lanhydrock
- Lyveden, Northamptonshire
- Stop off for a break at Lyveden in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside. Stroll up to the unfinished Elizabethan garden lodge, enjoy refreshments in the dog-friendly manor house café and relax with a second-hand book in the common room. Lyveden is 7.4 miles/12 minutes from the A14 (junction 12).Stop at Lyveden
- Quarry Bank, Cheshire
- Quarry Bank was once home to a complete industrial community. During your pit stop, see inside the home of the Greg family who once owned the mill, or go on a guided tour of the Apprentice House to learn about the pauper children who worked in the mill. Quarry Bank is 5 miles/13 minutes off the M56 (exit 5).Stop at Quarry Bank
- Runnymede and Ankerwycke, Surrey
- Within easy reach of the M25, Runnymede is where the Magna Carta was sealed over 800 years ago. Pop into the café after you've explored the art installations and historical monuments dotted around the meadows and woodland. Runnymede is about 2 miles/4 minutes from exit 13 off the M25.Stop at Runnymede
- Sizergh, Cumbria
- At the gateway to the Lake District, Sizergh – surrounded by lush gardens, wetlands, woodlands and an orchard – is a great place to break up your journey. The imposing house has an interesting history to discover, while the grounds include the largest limestone rock garden in our care. Sizergh is approximately 5 miles/8 minutes from exit 36 off the M6.Stop at Sizergh
- Stourhead, Wiltshire
- Stourhead's historic garden, with its classical temples, is set around a central lake. An ever-changing series of views unfold as you stroll along the winding paths, and you can grab a pick-me-up from the restaurant or refreshment kiosk. Stourhead is off the A303 – approximately 3 miles/4 minutes drive away.Stop at Stourhead
- Tredegar House, Newport
- Tredegar's 17th-century house and garden sits just off the M4 as you enter Wales. Its 90 acres of parkland, including the lake and three walled gardens, provide plenty of room to let off steam part way through a long car journey. Tredegar House can be found about 1 mile/2 minutes off the M4 (exit 28).Stop at Tredegar House
- Tyntesfield, North Somerset
- Close to Bristol, Tyntesfield with its Victorian Gothic Revival house, extensive garden and 540 acres of parkland, is a good place for a pitstop. Three playgrounds offer children space to run around, and you can grab some lunch or snacks in the Home Farm Café. Tyntesfield is just 5.5 miles/7 minutes from the M5.Stop at Tyntesfield
- Wentworth Castle Gardens, Yorkshire
- Break up your journey in South Yorkshire with a stop at Wentworth Castle Gardens. Wander through the grounds, relax in the café with views over the deer park or let children burn off energy in the playground. Wentworth Castle Gardens can be found off the M1 (exit 37) – about 3 miles/7 minutes drive away.Stop at Wentworth Castle Gardens
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