Castle Ashby House

The first thing that strikes you about Castle Ashby is how vast the grounds are. This Elizabethan mansion sits surrounded by 26 acres of proper parkland just a few miles outside Northampton, and it's genuinely impressive - all honey-coloured stone and mullioned windows overlooking lawns that seem to roll on forever.

It's a working stately home, still occupied by the Compton family, which gives it a different feel from the museum houses you might visit elsewhere. You can walk the grounds and gardens for free, which is the draw for most visitors - the formal gardens are well maintained, and there's something satisfying about simply wandering between the yew hedges and terraces without having to pay entry or shuffle through crowded rooms.

Historians will want to know about the architecture - the house dates from 1574 and shows its age beautifully, with later additions creating that typical English country house jumble. Families with young children might find the grounds alone keep them occupied for an hour or so, though there's limited facilities, so come prepared.

The real advantage is proximity to other parks in the area. Billing Aquadrome and Overstone Lakes are both within five miles and offer proper holiday accommodation, making Castle Ashby a natural stop-off for a morning walk rather than a full-day destination. It's worth the short drive from Northampton if you're staying nearby, but don't overestimate how long you'll spend - two hours maximum for most people, unless the house itself has opened for visits that particular day.