Belton Estate
Belton, near Grantham, Lincolnshire
Belton is a National Trust estate just north of Grantham, where a late 17th-century house sits among formal Dutch and Italian gardens, a 19th-century orangery and wide walled parkland.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit Belton Estate?
Belton is a good choice if you like formal gardens that are laid out to be read from the house. The gardens sit right up against the late 17th-century mansion, so you get a clear sense of how a country house and its grounds were planned as one, with straight lines, symmetry and long views leading the eye out into the park.
On a walk round, the formal gardens come first. The Italian Garden lies beside the orangery, a glass and stone building added in the early 19th century, and is laid out with formal beds and paths. The Dutch Garden, with its clipped shapes and neat bedding, shows the more intimate scale of a formal flower garden. Beyond them the parkland opens out, with mature trees, grazing deer and long walks towards Bellmount Tower on the rising ground, which makes a good target for a longer stroll if the weather is kind.
Gardeners will pick up most from the formal areas. They show how repeated shapes, edging and a strong central line can hold a garden together, and how a single glasshouse can become the focal point of a layout. The park is a lesson in using trees at scale. Belton is a large estate, so it suits a full day out, and it works well for families who want to mix a garden visit with plenty of open space.
What to see
- The Italian Garden, laid out formally beside the orangery.
- The early 19th-century orangery, the focal point of the formal gardens.
- The Dutch Garden, with clipped shapes and neat formal bedding.
- The deer park, with mature trees and long walks across open grass.
- Bellmount Tower, a landmark on the rising ground of the park.
Belton Estate through the year
- spring
- Spring bedding fills the formal gardens and the parkland trees come into fresh leaf.
- summer
- The formal beds are at their fullest and the park is at its best for a long walk or a picnic.
- autumn
- The mature trees in the park turn colour and the formal layout shows its structure clearly.
- winter
- The clipped shapes and straight lines of the formal gardens stand out, and the park is good for a bracing walk. Check which parts are open in winter before you go.
The story behind the garden
Belton House was built in the 1680s for Sir John Brownlow, and the Brownlow family lived here for around three centuries. Formal gardens were laid out close to the house, set within a large park that stretches away across the estate.
The gardens were reshaped by later generations. In the early 19th century the architect Jeffry Wyatville added the orangery that now stands beside the Italian Garden, giving the formal gardens the focal point they still have today. In 1984 the house, garden and park passed to the National Trust, which now cares for the whole estate and opens it to visitors. The park and garden are on the national register of historic parks and gardens.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Visitors who enjoy formal gardens and country houses, and families who want a big estate with room to explore.
- Getting there
- Belton lies just north of Grantham in Lincolnshire, off the A607 Lincoln road.
- Before you go
- The estate is large, so wear comfortable shoes and allow plenty of time for the park as well as the formal gardens. Check the National Trust website for current opening times, tickets and access information.
Source: National Trust: Belton House
Questions about visiting Belton Estate
Is Belton House National Trust?
Yes. Belton House, its formal gardens and parkland have been cared for by the National Trust since 1984. National Trust members can usually visit as part of their membership, but check the Trust's website before you travel.
Where is Belton House?
Belton is just north of Grantham in Lincolnshire, off the A607 towards Lincoln. It sits in its own large park beside Belton village, a short drive from the town centre.
What gardens are there at Belton?
Belton has formal gardens beside the house, including the Italian Garden with its early 19th-century orangery and the Dutch Garden with clipped shapes and bedding. Beyond them is wide parkland with mature trees, deer and Bellmount Tower.
How long do you need at Belton?
Plan on most of a day if you want to see the house, the formal gardens and walk in the park. A visit to the gardens alone can be done in a couple of hours.
Garden features
Location
Belton, near Grantham, Lincolnshire
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