Review
Last Visited: August 2021
Biddulph Grange is a Victorian mansion and gardens about a half an hour’s drive away from the Barn.
Owned and run by the National Trust, a small part of the house is used as a cafe but the rest is off limits to all but residents.
The gardens are the real attraction here and are well worth a visit, especially if you have children 3 years and up.
Divided into a series of areas (e.g China, Egypt, etc.), each hidden from the other, you meander along paths, through tunnels and between densely planted trees and shrubs, always wondering what you might find around the next corner.
We visited in early August and so the Dahlia walk was in full bloom and many of the flower beds in the Italianate parterre areas were full of Phlox and Salvias. If rhododendrons are more your thing, the display in May is said to be absolutely fantastic.
Without children in tow, we spent a good two hours walking around the gardens. A family with young children could spend a full morning or afternoon taking advantage of the many activities and open spaces as well as exploring the dark tunnels and rocky pathways amongst the trees.
Parts of the garden worth looking out for are the pond with its giant Koi carp (you can buy a bag of fish food for £1 at the entrance), the Chinese pagoda and a small geological museum that houses a pre-Darwinian, Six Days of Creation wall.
Disabled Access
Please note that some areas of the garden are only accessible up quite steep and potentially slippery stone paths. Wheelchair users and anyone unsteady on their feet may have to give these areas a miss.
Entry Fees
Entry for adults (Aug 2021) is £11 each and a family ticket is £27.50
More Information
To find out more about the history of the house and garden, here’s the Wikipedia link: Wikipedia. For the National Trust page on the garden showing current opening times and entry prices, use this link: National Trust
