Trentham Estate & Gardens

About

First mentioned as a royal manor in the Domesday Book in 1086, Trentham Estate & Gardens are one of the great swan songs of the 20th century. By the 19th century, Trentham was an elegant mansion with cues taken from Buckingham Palace and Westminster, a sprawling landscape park designed by Lancelot Brown, and formal gardens by Charles Barry. However, the estate was abandoned in the early 20th century, and its main hall demolished. After 15 years of restoration, the estate’s 725 acre garden are some of the best in the UK. Visitors can wander the floral labyrinth or enjoy a peaceful stroll along the mile-long lake. Afterwards, you can set sail aboard the electrically powered Miss Elizabeth or ride the miniature railway. There’s also a variety of more adventurous activities, a shopping village with 64 shops, and even a Monkey Forest with free-roaming macaques.