Queen of the castle

The real chatelaine of ‘Downton Abbey’ talks to Jane Slade about growing up in London and dividing her time between town and Highclere Castle

A close observation of the season’s cycles and respect for ecology have been the guiding principles in the development of the garden at Highlands, in the High Weald of East Sussex

What do an enigmatic Caped Crusader, a sopping-wet Mr Darcy and Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell have in common? Believe it or not, British country houses, says Ben Lerwill, as he set-jets around the countryside

James Cordingley, head gardener at National Trust Dunster Castle in Somerset, tells us about its diverse planting and historical features

If you’ve ever wondered what the gardens of some of Britain’s best landscape architects look like, there’s a new book that tours these places

Wearing its heritage on its sleeve, this medieval castle has lived many lives, including a fortified castle, a Jacobean mansion and a comfortable Victorian family home