Shugborough Estate

Shugborough is best enjoyed as a walk through an 18th-century idea. The land around the hall is largely flat, so its owners used trees, water and buildings to give the park its character, and the follies they left are the reason to come. You can easily spend a day moving between the mansion, the gardens, the follies in the park and the working farm.

The Chinese House and the red iron footbridge, both Grade I listed, reflect Admiral George Anson's voyages and his visit to Canton. Classical monuments by James Stuart, who had studied the ruins of Athens, include a copy of the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates and a triumphal arch based on Hadrian's Arch. The Shepherd's Monument, carved by Peter Scheemakers, carries a coded inscription that has puzzled people for years and is worth a detour. Near the house, the kitchen garden shows the productive side of a country estate.

For gardeners, the kitchen garden is the most practical part, while the park shows how a few well-placed buildings can turn flat ground into a series of views. The model farm, built in 1805, has a working watermill and rare breed animals, which makes Shugborough a good choice for families. There is a tea room on site, and the mansion is set up as a complete working historic estate.