After yesterday’s jet-lag of a morning, we were actually up at a decent time today. After a few cups of coffee with our hosts, we called a cab and were off to the train station. For about £12 round trip from Peterborough to Stamford to see the Burghley House.

We had heard this is one of the largest Elizabethan houses in the area and worth a visit. Since we took the train, we then had to walk about 1.5 miles to the house from the center of Stamford. There is a small path next to the stone wall that lines the property but I would not suggest this on a very hot day or with those who have trouble with walking any sort of distance. It was a bit rocky in places and the path unkept in places. This was a slight trek for sure.

Every step on our journey was worth it once we were there. I actually ran the final few steps to make it before they shut the doors for the final walk-through tour. Each room had a guide that offered a number of facts about the rooms’ paintings, decor and history. It was wonderful for the semi-history buff inside of me. The tour walked through many of the biggest rooms within the house but stayed clear of the area where the family still lives inside. I already want to go back and spend a little more time taking it all in.

One of the many fountains.

A few of the wild flowers from the gardens.

Taking pictures of people taking pictures is a fun thing to do.

Two of the statues in the gardens were cows made out a mix of materials.

Burghley House is an amazing site.

One view of the Burghley house from down within the moat.

A lone tree at the top of a hill at Burghley House.

The front Golden Gates of the Burghley house.

There was a car show a few weeks prior to us visiting.

The end of the tour leaves you in a great restaurant that serves a number of delicious lunch options either inside or out in the garden. My duck salad was awesome… I could eat that every day. We then left the house and began to walk the grounds. It was an amazing estate where we walked across a stone bridge, watched swans swim, and saw many an English family picnicking under a tree.

From there we then headed out to the Garden of Surprises. It was a collection of fountains, mazes, and sculptures… fun for everyone. I am a big fan of symmetry when it comes to things and there were many great examples within the garden. Now… if you have kids… they will love the fountains. Most kids had swim attire on and were having the time of their lives.

We ended our day walking back through town and getting on the train. It was an excellent day at Burghley House and fueled my desire to keep going to more and more historical places around the country.