Wollaton Hall, near Nottingham, is a magnificent Elizabethan mansion set on a small but prominent hill overlooking the town. It was built for Sir Francis Willoughby and completed in 1588, the year of the Spanish Armada! Its flamboyant design is considered by many as a masterpiece. It has a formal garden, a secret garden, lake and deer park, which would be very enjoyable on a summer day. It contains Nottingham's Natural History Museum, has Tudor kitchens and Regency rooms.It now belongs to Nottingham Council – entry is free but there is a £2 charge for the car park.