Audley End House and Gardens is the best place in England to discover how a great house worked in the past. You can explore the great hall, state rooms and intimate private apartments, all decorated with fine furniture and works of art. In the 1830’s nursery, kids will love trying on costumes and playing with replica toys. Upstairs in the Coal Gallery, see how servants kept the house stocked with coal and hot water. The Service Wing offers a unique insight into life ‘below stairs’ during the 1880s. The domain of Mrs Avis Crocombe, Victorian cook (and 21st-century You Tube star!), the wing is packed with Victorian fittings and animated with lifelike sights and sounds. Don’t miss the resident horses in their grand stables. The grounds at Audley End were designed by Capability Brown, so there’s acres of beautiful, award winning parkland to explore too. So why not take a stroll around the idyllic gardens at Audley End to see the work of the influential ‘Capability’ Brown. Brown swept away the remnants of a declining formal garden to create extensive views, a serpentine lake, and more natural planting. Discover the elegant garden buildings, such as the bridge over the River Cam, which is the work of Robert Adam. Don’t miss the beautifully restored parterre and the walled kitchen garden which is run entirely on organic principles. Perfect for a day out in the fresh air.
