Woburn Abbey and Gardens

The stately home sits about five miles south of Milton Keynes, and walking through those wrought-iron gates feels like stepping back about three centuries. Woburn Abbey is the real deal - a working country house that's been in the same family for generations, which makes it feel lived-in rather than museum-like. You'll find yourself wandering through rooms stuffed with proper art, furniture that costs more than houses, and the kind of details that make you realise how the other half actually lived.

The gardens are the real draw for most visitors. Sixty acres of grounds that stretch on properly, with tree-lined avenues, a lake that reflects everything beautifully on a clear day, and enough space to lose yourself for a good three hours if you're not rushed. The deer roam freely through parts of it - genuinely atmospheric, that.

Families with older kids or teenagers will get more from it than toddlers; there's a lot of looking and walking, not loads of interactive stuff. History buffs will spend half a day here, especially if the state rooms are open - the tapestries and paintings alone justify the trip. Walkers will appreciate the grounds, though it's not wild countryside, more manicured parkland.

If you're camped at The Old Dairy Farm nearby, this makes an excellent day out. Couple of hours minimum for the house, another couple for the gardens if you're leisurely about it. The whole experience has that slightly faded grandeur that defines English country houses - brilliant if that appeals to you, less so if stately homes bore you rigid.