Join us this July as we visit 2 for 1 Gardens featured in films and classic television shows
Bridge of sighs
In recent years, the serpentine lake at Painshill in Surrey has provided the backdrop to Regency balls and bodice-ripping dramas, from ITV’s Vanity Fair to Netflix’s Bridgerton. This 18th Century landscape garden was designed to be a living work of art. Its winding paths guide you through a classical landscape of temples and follies inspired by the Grand Tour. Bridges and purpose-built ‘ruins’ draw the eye, reflecting dreamily in the shimmering waters of the lake. Don’t miss the amazing, hand-built Crystal Grotto, complete with sparkling stalactites.
ENTRY OFFER Garden: 2 for 1 £10 booked, £12.50 on the gate. Booking recommended. Select 2 for 1 ticket online. For opening details see painshill.co.uk. Offers not valid 19 Nov-9 Jan.
Eyres and graces
Rising dreamily above the Peak District hills, Haddon Hall is a collection of architectural and garden styles. Originally built as a Norman fort, Haddon boasts a medieval chapel, Elizabethan gallery and 17th Century terraced gardens, whose vast buttresses fall away dramatically down to the banks of the river Wye. It’s this convergence of the ages that has led it to feature in everything from the BBC’s The Hollow Crown to no fewer than three adaptations of Jane Eyre.
ENTRY OFFER House and garden: 2 for 1 £23.90. Under-16s free. For opening details see haddonhall. co.uk. Offer not valid on event days or Christmas opening.
Fit for a queen
Visit Osborne on the Isle of Wight for an insight into the life of one of Britain’s most enigmatic monarchs: Queen Victoria. In 2017, the location featured in Victoria & Abdul, a film depicting the unlikely friendship between the queen and royal favourite Abdul Karim. There are plenty of glimpses into Victoria’s personality here, and one can’t help but be amused by some of the eccentric touches, including her private beach and bathing machine, as well as the royal childrens’ Swiss Cottage, with interiors built at three-quarters scale for their own convenience.
ENTRY OFFER Palace and garden: 2 for 1 up to £26. 25% off singles. Use GARDENERS23, or GARDENERS1425 for single reduction. For opening details see english-heritage.org.uk/osborne. Offer not valid on event days or bank holidays.
Magic moments
With its beautiful medieval cloisters and idyllic Wiltshire setting, Lacock Abbey has an imdb.com page to rival even the most celebrated actors. Its most famous turn was as a location for Hogwarts in
