Top Things to do in East Midlands
Top Hotels in East Midlands
- 1. Lace Market Hotel
- 2. Premier Inn Skegness Seafront hotel
- 3. Buxton Crescent
- 4. Mercure Nottingham City Centre George Hotel
- 5. Casa Hotel
- 6. Premier Inn Nottingham City Centre (Chapel Bar) hotel
- 7. Mercure Nottingham Sherwood Hotel
- 8. Jurys Inn Nottingham
- 9. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Nottingham - Gateway
- 10. Premier Inn Lincoln City Centre
Things to do in East Midlands, England: The Best Gardens
Discover the best top things to do in East Midlands, United Kingdom including The Walled Garden Baumber, Hardwick Hall and Gardens, Lea Gardens, Grimsthorpe Castle, Easton Walled Gardens, Cottesbrooke Gardens, Doddington Hall & Gardens, Kelmarsh Hall & Gardens, Renishaw Hall And Gardens, Gunby Hall and Gardens.
Restaurants in East Midlands
1. The Walled Garden Baumber
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 111 reviews
Reviewed By anniegQ9928YM
A hidden gem! We went out today and decided to visit the Walled Garden and had a wonderful time. The gardens are well-maintained, with themes, excellent planting and structures to explore. There is a lovely tea-room with excellently priced food and drinks, and a brilliant boho vibe to the indoor room. We could have chosen to sit outside in one of the many socially distant willow arbors as well. We bought sculpture and plants, and were spoiled for choice for wonderful things. (I may have to go back for a picnic basket...) The staff were friendly and helpful, and there was even free parking. I can't fault it, and will most definitely go back!
2. Hardwick Hall and Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,480 reviews
Reviewed By Ceyzeriat - Chesterfield, United Kingdom
Hardwick Hall is one of the most important houses historically in the whole of the UK. It's not for me to say whether or not people will like what they find there but it should be on everyone's 'bucket list'! The location is stunning (forget the M1) and as the sun sets in the west, reflecting on the thousands of window panes you can imagine how the local peasantry must have marvelled at the opulence of it all.The National Trust have gone to great lengths to retain the atmosphere of an Elizabethan house and the restoration of the tapestries has been (and still is) a true labour of love. We're so lucky to live nearby and to be able to 'pop in' whenever we have a spare afternoon - we can appreciate both house and gardens in the ever changing seasons. Not to be missed and lots of things for the children to do.
3. Lea Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 208 reviews
Reviewed By O357EZians
We visited Lea Gardens for our wedding anniversary. As this was a strange time with lockdown we wanted to go out somewhere different. And we were more than pleasantly surprised, the gardens were glorious and the one-way system really well thought out, so you see the whole garden and miss absolutely nothing, which you could do without it. Toilets are really clean as was the cafe, even though it wasn't open except to sell the tickets for the garden. So, if you are visiting Matlock leave some time for here, but don't forget the blooming season for Rhododendron, Azaleas and Camellia bushes.
4. Grimsthorpe Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 299 reviews
Historic house with gardens and parkland. Facilities include -Adventure playground, tearoom, gift shop and cycle hire shop. Cycle miles of traffic free tracks and trails in the park or take a guided tour of the castle and find out more about this hidden delight. Henry VII visited 500 years ago - come and see for yourself what makes this place so special.
5. Easton Walled Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 324 reviews
A beautiful garden that has been revived since 2001. The large stately home was demolished in 1951 and the site abandoned. Now visitors can see the grounds that President Franklin Roosevelt described as 'a dream of Nirvana, almost too good to be true.' Work is still ongoing and the restoration and features of this 400 year garden makes a fascinating trip. We have a good tearoom and are very easy to find off the A1.
Reviewed By L27DFjudiths
A lovely garden which drops down to the river witham.It is Sweet Pea Week for 3 weeks & they are stunning & smell fab.The cafe was open selling hot & cold drinks & yummy cake as take away.A lovely place to while away a couple of hours
6. Cottesbrooke Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 70 reviews
7. Doddington Hall & Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 737 reviews
Since 2006 Doddington has been our much-loved family home. We have continued Claire’s parents work in devoting ourselves to the upkeep, repair and progression of the Doddington Estate including; the development of the Farm Shop, Bike Shop, Cafe, Restaurant, Coffee Shop, Home Store, Farrow & Ball, Country Clothing Store, Bauble Barn, Christmas Tree Sales and Weddings and Events businesses; increasing public access; organising concerts and exhibitions and the development of various accommodation across the estate. There is always something new to see and do on the estate whether that is inside the Hall, in the five acres of gardens, one of our events, or on one of the estate walks. We look forward to welcoming you to Doddington.
Reviewed By rebeccag946 - Blackpool, United Kingdom
Thought we'd squeeze in a visit to the Hall on the way to Lincoln, but this place offers so much more than we bargained for! Parking is across the road, with a short walk to the garden entrance. The house was closed, but the sculpture trail more than made up for that. The breadth of creativity was fantastic, with a style to suit everyone. The trail was very well laid out, with an intricate path leading in and out of every corner of the garden. I think we saw more of the place with the trail in place that we would have just wandering about. The sculptures were a wonderful addition, but the gardens themselves are an absolute delight. Very well planned and maintained. Surprise highlight was the team of black chickens that appear out of nowhere, chase each other and then dash off again! There's a nature trail too, plus a longer walk to the pyramid monument down the lawn avenue and the longest trail around the circumference of the estate. You could easily spend a day here. Cafe and farm shop to visit on the way out too. Very good toilet facilities.
8. Kelmarsh Hall & Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 179 reviews
Kelmarsh Hall is a Grade I listed hall with gardens. Open to the public during spring/summer and available throughout the year for weddings & functions.
Reviewed By bempey22 - Thrapston, United Kingdom
Lovely place, lovely staff, lovely food. The fairy walk was adorable. The walled garden is stunning. The swan on her nest was wonderful. Parking was convenient. Booking online was easy. Definitely recommend a visit.
9. Renishaw Hall And Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 397 reviews
The current owner of Renishaw is Alexandra Sitwell and family, daughter of the late Sir Reresby and Lady Sitwell. This extraordinary family have lived at Renishaw for over 400 years. Tour the house to see some of the spectacular collection of art and historical artefacts that has been put together by generations of Sitwells. It is quite literally a treasure trove, of inestimable value to students and art lovers alike. Treasures include portraits by Sargent Salvatore Rosa and Copley. There are examples of furniture from Chippendale and magnificent tapesteries, murals by Piper and Blue John pottery. Gardens:Winner of Garden of the year award from HHA and Christie's 2015 Renishaw is rightly celebrated for the fabulous Italianate gardens. The formal garden was laid out in 1895 by Sir George Sitwell (1860-1943) in the classical Italianate style. Lady Sitwell and the late Sir Reresby restored much of the garden and enhanced the geometric design.
Reviewed By 997briant - London, United Kingdom
The gardens at this stately hall have recently reopened for the spring, summer and autumn season, and are definitely worth a visit. Renishaw Hall itself was built in 1625, by family patriarch George Sitwell, the then High Sheriff of Derbyshire. Over the centuries, succeeding generations of the Sitwell family have added to it, creating the edifice it is today. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that a beautiful Italianate garden filled with lime trees, secret garden rooms, long vistas, and a spectacular fountain were laid out by the 4th Baronet, Sir George Reresby Sitwell. Adjoining this formal garden there is also a beautiful woodland area of many acres, featuring two tranquil man-made lakes in a lower valley, formal walks, and the famed “classical temple.” The formal grounds in front of the hall are divided into areas and feature thick and angular clipped yew hedges, intriguing sculptures, ornamental ponds and classical statues. These areas host a superb collection of plants which flower throughout the season. The huge, sharply-clipped yew hedges which define the areas are manicured to perfection, and provide a symmetry to the formal garden area. As with gardens of this calibre which are open to the public, what you see when you visit is not only determined by the skill of the gardening team, but by the seasons. I think all we expected was a plethora of flowering bulb plants in the bedding areas of the formal gardens. That was somewhat the case, but it wasn’t these formal gardens which wooed us, beautiful as they were. There were actually three other garden treats in store for us. As soon as you entered the garden, our eyes were overwhelmed by a swathe of golden daffodils. The hall’s Top Lawn had been transformed into a daffodil meadow, with a huge expanse of yellow leading across to a golden statue of a heralding angel at its far end. This was a glorious spectacle to behold. It makes Wordsworth’s ‘hot of golden daffodils’ pale into insignificance. It was breathtakingly beautiful; I have never seen a sight like this in a formal garden in the spring, and i have visited many. On the edge of the daffodil meadow were seats, so you could sit awhile and feast your eyes on it. On the other side of the formal Italianate garden, a pathway lined with huge Camellia bushes in full bloom provided the next spring spectacle for us. The Camellias were at the peak of the blooming, and the plethora of white, cream, pink, red and scarlet blooms took our breath away. This floral pathway lead to the Wilderness and Classic Temple. Beyond this curious temple, as the gardens slopped down to the man-made ornamental lake, the third of the garden treats revealed itself to us: the bluebell wood. The bluebells were not at their peak at the time of our visit, but there were plenty in bloom and the carpet of blue on the slopes of the wood was appearing. It, too, was beautiful to behold. There is lots to see in the huge expanse of this garden. There are secret nooks and crannies everywhere, fish ponds, sculptures, and an area specifically for children, along Lady Ida’s Walk which leads to a substantial children’s playground area. Little ones will love the silhouettes of memorable characters such as mary Poppins, and will delight in finding a ‘fairy door’ at the base of a tree trunk. You’ll need a good few hours to explore the garden, and to just sit awhile to appreciate its beauty. The facilities were good. Adjoining the hall is the Stable Courtyard, with a number of local business operating there, and toilet facilities. In front of the Stable Courtyard was a pleasant picnic area, complete with picnic tables; whilst the cafe was closed due to COVID restrictions at the time of our visit, a ‘coffee and cake’ cart was operating, for hot and cold drinks and snacks. As you would expect, an entrance fee applies; £8.00 per person is not unreasonable. We booked online; it's important you check the website for the days it is open (it is not open daily), and entry requirements, as timed entries were required at the time of our visit. Renishaw Hall is in the county of Derbyshire in England, only three miles from Junction 30 on the M1 motorway; it is well signposted from the junction roundabout. It is a beautiful country garden, but as I mentioned, it is seasonal, so what I have described above is not what you may see when you visit.
10. Gunby Hall and Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 488 reviews
Gunby Hall is a country house in Gunby, near Spilsby, in Lincolnshire. Otherwise known as Tennyson’s ‘Haunt of Ancient Peace’, Gunby Hall is a fine ‘William and Mary’ red brick house, dating from 1700 and extended in the 1870s, located in a quiet corner of Lincolnshire. Many of the rooms are paneled and there is a beautiful oak staircase. The house contains collections of grand family portraits, elegant furniture and exquisite china. The Massingberd family had connections with many influential people of their day; from the Wedgewood family, Tennyson and the composer Ralph Vaughn Williams to Rudyard Kipling and Charles Darwin. Bennett Langton, James Boswell and Dr Johnson were also regular visitors to the house and there is a famous signed copy of Boswell’s ‘The Life of Dr Johnson’ kept in the Library. Joshua Reynolds’ paintings of Bennett Langton and his wife are part of the collection as well a beautiful grand piano that Ralph Vaughn Williams played when visiting the Massingberds. The exquisite garden is planted with traditional English plants, fruit and flowers. It has a dovecot that pre dates the house and a charming loveseat hidden away behind fragrant roses
Reviewed By Redcot - Lincoln, United Kingdom
Gunby Hall lawns and gardens are a tranquil haven.You walk up a magnificent avenue of trees and through an arch into a beautiful courtyard.There is a cafe here serving delicious cakes, ice creams etc. There is a walled garden,Dovecote , Orchard and many specimen trees on the lawns.Best of all is a huge Cedar tree. In normal times there are numerous places to sit and just relax for the afternoon and soak in the tranquility. The house itself is currently closed but is not too large and has the feel of a family home. Gunby is one of our places to visit and I thoroughly recommend it.
