Ascott House garden has beautiful views over the Chilterns, from the Whipsnade lion across to Mentmore and Wendover woods, with plenty of seats to admire the view within the garden. There are lovely bedding plants from Spring to Summer, viewed from above in a rockery area with water, plus herbaceous borders, statues, modern sculpture and a lovely lily pond. In Spring the daffodils run between the trees as you enter, and tulips and fritilliaries abound too in the wild garden.
The house is still lived in by the Rothschilds, and part of it is open with the National Trust on the ground floor, with many Chinese ceramics, Stubbs paintings in the entrance hall, lovely dining room with a Delft printed decoration on the walls, and a cosy common room and library. A lovely afternoon can be spent here including some great tea and cake or lunch time snack.
Ascott is open in the afternoons Spring and Summer from 1-5pm, check the National Trust website.
