Burnby Hall Gardens and Museum

2467 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

5/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

2013

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Solo

Reasons for trip

I visited Burnby Hall Gardens and Museum on a fine summer's day in July when the National Collection of water-lilies was at its peak on the lake at the centre of this attraction. But there are many other features to draw the visitor at different times. As well as the water lilies there are a number of gardens and items of interest, including the stump of the huge tree that is described in more detail at the museum entrance.

Entry to the Stewart Museum is included in the admission price (£4.65 for adults in 2013, with reductions for seniors, children aged 5-15 and groups of more than 20). It houses the items collected by Major Stewart during his world travels from 1906-1926, with some of international significance. The cafe is located in the same building and offers a range of food and drink, from locally-sourced ice-cream to a full afternoon tea for a very reasonable price. You can choose to sit inside the cafe or outside to view the gardens. Toilets are adjacent if needed.

If accompanied by children you might like to go to the children's play area or look at the small aviary. You might also buy some special food from the shop if you wished to feed the fish that surface very regularly. There is also the possibility of purchasing some plants to take home as a souvenir of your visit or perhaps you'd choose a book about nature.

Apart from assistance dogs, no dogs are allowed but the gardens themselves are designed for easy access and all the facilities are wheelchair- and pushchair-friendly, with a few deck areas to permit access to the edge of lake. Wheelchairs are free to borrow and for those who need to take a break from walking there are plenty of seats around the gardens, some in sheltered areas, other overlooking the lake. An illustrated leaflet is provided giving a plan of the gardens.

When I visited the Victorian garden was looking splendid with all its traditional flowers, including a pergola covered with bright pink sweet peas and surrounded by lavender, forming a lovely scented corridor. The rockery area might be more of a challenge to navigate for some but the paths alongside the water are all easy to use and there is a bridge to cross the lake. This provided another vantage point for me to watch the baby moorhens on their floating nests as well as the fish in the water. At the far end of the lake there is the unusual Stumpery, featuring the upturned roots of trees and providing a haven for wildlife.

There are regular events in the gardens from March to December with performances of open air theatre on some July evenings; and on Sunday afternoons between April and September there are fortnightly band concerts. So there is plenty for all ages and testes to enjoy there.

Silver Travel Advisor

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.