Shugborough is a charming estate with a lively house. We came here often in my childhood, and it has been well kept the grounds house events such as classic car shows and charming sculpture walks. The courtyard host coffee shops and ice cream, and I live the bridges. The passing bridge is still a favourite for pooh sticks even though I'm a fully grown woman. Nice place, great for a picnic too. PS, its a cracking place to collect conkers! read more

Shugborough Hall is a National Trust Property located in Stafford. The location and the Christmas market event they were holding on the weekend made it the perfect place for the annual Jewellery Quarter residents trip (yes, I am of an age that I go on Coach trips). I have vague memories of maybe visiting this place in the depths of time gone by, although with most National Trust properties - they are much of a muchness. Once you've seen one stately home you kinda get the gist. As you would expect, it's pretty impressive. The driveway must be nearly a mile long to get to the property (and is a little dicey, so be prepared to close your eyes if you're an insecure passenger) and the place is surrounded by rolling green fields. I would imagine in the summer you might see deer (or at least cattle) strolling around as you approach the house. The house itself is pretty magnificent. Some of it's buildings are constructed in what I imagine to be sandstone and the main building is bright white and looks very well kept. There is plenty of parking to be had on site and as well as the house there are gorgeous gardens, a tea room a gift shop and all of the facilities you would expect from a National Trust property. The Christmas event is wonderful. As well as numerous market stalls under cover at the front of the building with lots of craft and local produce, there was live music and food being served all through the day. Once we had gotten in to the market, we grabbed a hot food and a warm drink and began to plan our day. The market had a great selection of gifts to be had! Everything from handmade toys, jewellery, clothing and food was on offer for very reasonable prices. We picked up some great presents (and a little something for me, of course) and had a really nice time chatting to the stall holders who explained how everything was made and where ingredients etc were sourced from. The inside of Shugborough had been specially with a "Christmas by candlelight" theme. Only the downstairs was open (apparently the upstairs is open normally) and all of the rooms were decorated with gorgeous bouquets of flowers, candles and decked out with Christmas trinkets. The staff were also wearing the clothing of the era and were on hand to answer any questions about the house, the history or anything in the rooms. Entrance for an adult to get into both the hall and the market was £8 in advance. I felt this was a fair price to have a look around the house, the gardens and the markets. Obviously a lot of effort goes into making everything look just right for the occasion and it felt very festive. I would recommend a visit to Shugborough during the Christmas event or at any point in the year if you're a fan of stately homes. The gardens must look magnificent in the Summer when everything is in bloom, but even in winter we had a lovely wander around admiring them. I would recommend the hall as a nice afternoon out for the family. read more

See all

Really interesting house whose last inhabitant was Lord Lichfield. It's a grand house but seems much smaller than expected from the photography. Unusually it features a number of rooms which date from the early 90's which is when Patrick Lichfield passed away. The house is a real mix of styles and due to the dreaded double death tax it also has two "owners" which can make you visit very complicated. National Trust members get free access to most of the house but not the farm or the servants quarters as they are owned by the local council and you have to pay - you also have to pay to park regardless of it you are a Trust member or not. I know it's complicated and all due to the law etc but this ownership issue can overshadow your trip which is a shame - mainly as it makes admission expensive, confusing and you have to put up with lots of unsightly signs to explain everything. It's worth a visit though and the tea room serves nice food (although watch out for the dragon behind the counter who is very particular about which type of tea pot you get with your order!). read more

Shugborough Estate is one of the most fascinating and consistently satisfying places to visit in the West Midlands. Formerly the permanent residence of the Lichfield family, including famous photographer Lord Lichfield (who passed away in 2005), the estate is still used by the family. With gardens to die for, stretching across hundreds of acres of green, beautiful land, Shugborough is not to be missed. One of my favourite things is that there are people dressed in 18th century period costume throughout the estate, performing tasks that were necessary for the running of the estate. The candlemaker, ironmonger and woodworker are some of the most interesting. The main house is a glorious mansion with relics of each age the house has been through -- some truly gorgeous pieces of furniture, paintings, and of course, Lord Lichfield's iconic photographs. The Servant's Quarters is all preserved in late 18 - early 19th century style, with working servants shearing sheep, making cheese and using the old brick oven. The gardens are really spectacular, with the Chinese house and bridge, and the old Victorian follies. To see the whole estate, it's £12 for an adult, or £4 after 4pm. It really is worth it, as you can spend all day here, meandering around the greenery and poking through the many artefacts. There are often events held at Shugborough, such as jazz concerts. It's a perfect venue for weddings (they don't do receptions, however) or events. Shugborough is a really peaceful, wonderful bit of Staffordshire history, preserved by the National Trust. read more

We visited Shugborough during a craft festival weekend and although the estate was lovely there were hardly any stalls. It is a little bit of money to get in but it is worth it to see inside the hall and watch the characters in costume. We visited a little later to see the Flower show which was definitely worth a visit as there was lots to do and see. read more

Shugborough Hall is a stunning estate, opened to the public in co-operation with the National Trust. The first thing to note is that Shugborough Hall is not solely a NT property, which means that NT members do have to pay an additional fee to view the property in its entirety, although it is well worth the additional cost. The estate is divided into six main areas, the park farm, walled garden, the main gardens, the mansion, monuments & servants quarters, all of which are staffed by costumed charactors who help to maintain the estate in period fashion. The mansion house is not fully open to the public & the parts that can be views are cramped & badly laid out, it's certainly a difficult one to take younger children around. There is also no photography allowed within the house. The rest of the estate more than makes up for this however. The gardens, walled & general, are both amazing, the planting & maintenance are both to a high standard & a delight to explore. The grounds are huge & expansive, they're great for exploring & enjoying walks through. The farm is always a bit hit with children as there's an assortment of animals to maul & well equipped play area. There also hands on activities just past the walled garden, including candle dipping, that are also great for children. There's a nice restaurant on site that provides a good selection of hot & cold food, some of which is produce from the estate gardens. read more

I cant believe I havent already reviewed this place. Shugborough Hall is an amazing place to visit at any time of the year and it is always fun. It is located in Stafford and just outside of the centre and there are plenty of signposts so you should be able to find it very easily indeed. So to get to the estate you have to drive down a very long drive indeed. Do not do what we did one year and let my fiance drop us off at the end of the drive as that was one walk i wont forget in a hurry. So what is there to do at the Shugborough Estate? Well on any day when it is open you can go up and take a look around the Hall and the gardens which are huge and beautiful. There is a farm and then there are a few little shops and a cafe. There is a cost to Shugborough which is £12 for adults and you may have to pay for parking. What you really go to Shugborough for though is the events and I go to the Christmas markets every year and also the Halloween event which is great. Throughout the year though they do things such as craft fairs which are great to go to. I love the Shugborough estate as it is a working estate and you get to go around the mansion and even go to the servants quarters. It is so much fun to walk around and i have to say it is definitely worth a visit so if I were you I would try it. It is always a good day and it doesnt matter much about the weather as everything is always good. I have to say i have never had a problem with staff either as they are always very nice. A great location and a nice historic place to visit. Thanks for reading. xxx P.S. Parts of this review are used on another site but always by me katygriff read more

It is nice to eat jacket potatoes in the lovely garden of Lady Walk Tea Room at Shugborough Estate #jackedpotatoes #Shugborough #ladywalktearoom #foodie #stafford #UK #lunch read more

Shugborough Hall - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Milford, STS

My daughter and I went to Shugborough Hall as a day out on her 21st (calm before the party). We had a wonderful day, meeting with staff in character costume in the big house, showing us the full workings of a complete estate. This included: kitchens, laundry, stables, blacksmiths, a mill, the farm (and all its animals) etc etc. Great place for pic nics in the grounds and good quality restaurant etc around a lovely courtyard setting. There was so much to see and do, a really lovely day out. read more

Shugborough Hall - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Milford, STS

Shugborough Hall Estate is a great day out for all ages. The kids will adore the farm and the play area, and there are frequently activities for them to try out. Older visitors will be impressed by the lovely gardens and the picturesque walks that are available. The house itself is interesting, featuring as it does period features and photographs of the family, but most of it is not open to the public. Of greater interest is the servants quarters, staffed by servants complete in period costume and including the vast kitchens and laundry, as well as the stables and smithy which the kids loved. Shugborough frequently has special events including a lovely Christmas evenings with candlelight, carols and a range of entertainment, including brass bands. One not to miss. read more

Shugborough is a beautiful area. Massive grounds of fields, forrests and walks. Many events go on here such as charity races, craft shows (a brilliant one in November for christmas items), and others. I've never been in the house but the grounds are lovely. read more

went on Saturday for halloween not expensive for the two of us and the grounds and house is great, I hadnt been before so it was nice to look around. The wait to get into the house was about an hour and it would have been over an hours wait to go on the ghost train. Got to say it wasnt really scary in the house and certainly not worth the wait, it started to rain so we didnt wait for the train, the real highlight was seeing all the people that visited and how much effort they made with their costumes !! Can't say I'd recommend especially for halloween but if you haven't seen the house it is worth a look and its nice to see how much effort the public make. read more

Nice family visit for all the family so much going on, if national trust member small fee to pay, great value for money, lovely walks around the esate, the house is beautifull to walk around , see my full review and photos http://www.kevinsimon.co.uk/?p=4675 read more

visit this wonderful stately home in the heart of staffordshire.family friendly theres lots to see and do.thers the park farm,walled garden,servants quarters,the mansion,lovely old monuments.lucy the train runs rides every day for the children.check on their website for various events through the year,including craft and gift fairs,candlelit christmas evening.also available for weddings,parties etc. read more

Shugborough Hall offers a great place to visit for the whole family. There is the mansion house, working farm, servants quarters and extensive gardens to explore - but the only downside is the prohibitive cost. It costs £12 for adults to visit, which I think is a bit expensive. I think you can pay just to walk around the grounds, which is better value for money as you can still visit the shops and tea room, so you can have a good day out. You also have to pay for parking. read more