A 400-year-old secret English garden: A complete guide to the hidden gem of Northampton

📍Location: Lamport Hall (Northamptonshire) ⏰Best season: April (tulip season) / July (rose season) 💰Tickets: £12 for adults / Free for children (garden + main building) 🚗Driving: 1.5 hours from London, free parking available 💎Five must-see highlights 1️⃣ Terracotta gnome legend🧚♂️ Meet the oldest gnome in the UK in the Victorian rock garden! This elf, brought back from Germany by Sir Charles in the 1860s, was the last survivor of the "gnome army" that took the country by storm. It is said that making a wish to it will bring good luck. 2️⃣ Renaissance under the sky🖼️ Look up at the William Smith starry dome in the high hall. The 17th-century craftsman's gold leaf and egg tempera painting of the twelve constellations still shines today. When the sunlight shines through the Georgian windows, it feels like being in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. 3️⃣ Secret library behind the hidden door📜 Push open the seemingly ordinary wall panel to discover the Isham family's private collection of 16th-century books! You can still see the signature ledger of the first head of the family, John the wool merchant, on the parchment. This treasure hunt game is a must for families with children. 4️⃣ Movie-level filming location🎥 The same filming location as "The Crown"! The red velvet curtain + gilded mirror gallery on the south wing staircase will instantly transform you into Elizabeth II when you put on a vintage dress. 5️⃣ Talking furniture🗝️ Touch the scene of the Trojan War on the painted cabinet from Naples, and the butler will reveal the secret: these treasures, custom-made in 1730, were shipped by sea for three months, and each painting corresponds to the love code of a family member. 📸Three photo spots 👉 Morning mist garden (7:00–9:00) Take photos of the Tudor-style red brick wall and geometric flower beds in the mist. It is recommended to wear a Morandi-colored long dress. 👉 Peacock lawn picnic (12:00–14:00) The butler will provide a vintage wicker picnic basket. Remember to ask for the butler's special elderflower lemonade. 👉 Dusk library (1 hour before closing) The sunset shines through the 17th-century stained glass windows. Side light photography of backlit reading photos is a must! 🍵Hidden experiences ✅ Private manor dinner on the third Saturday of each month (£150 per person) Enjoy venison Wellington steak in the banquet hall with family portraits. The butler will demonstrate how to use 400-year-old sterling silver cutlery. ✅ Handmade workshop experience (reservation required) Make a lavender sachet with a 17th-century recipe, and you can take it home with an ancient wax seal. ⚠️Tips: ❗️Closed for maintenance on Wednesdays. ❗️High heels are easy to get stuck on the stone road, so bring a pair of ballet flats. ❗️The cellar exploration project is only open to those over 16 years old. ❗️There is no power bank rental in the manor, but there are solar charging benches at the entrance. 💌 Post-trip notes: When I stood at the top of the rock garden built by Sir Charles, I suddenly understood the obsession of the 17 generations of this family. The broken terracotta bodies of those gnomes contain a more authentic aristocratic spirit than "Downton Abbey." Perhaps true eternity is to build time into the gentle bricks and tiles.