Audley End House and Gardens
Audley End House and Gardens is an English Heritage country house near Saffron Walden, about 20 km south of Cambridge. It makes a full day out: a grand mansion, Victorian service rooms, working stables, a large organic kitchen garden and parkland landscaped by Capability Brown.
Photos
Brian Jukes
The house and below stairs
Inside the mansion, the Braybrooke family's natural history collection is one of the more unusual displays. The service wing recreates life below stairs in the 1880s, when the kitchens were run by the Victorian cook Mrs Avis Crocombe, with period fittings and sounds that bring the rooms back to working order. It is a good contrast to the grand reception rooms upstairs.
Gardens, parkland and stables
Outside, formal parterre gardens give way to wide parkland laid out by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. The organic kitchen garden is a highlight for anyone who grows their own, with more than 120 varieties of apple, 40 of pear and 60 of tomato. In the stable yard you can meet the resident horses, and there is a children's play area for younger visitors.
Planning your day
The site is open year-round but times vary through the seasons, and English Heritage recommends booking ahead, including for members who get in free. Parking is free, dogs are welcome on leads, and there is a café plus a picnic area if you bring your own lunch. From Cambridge it is an easy drive or train trip towards Saffron Walden.
Highlights
- Victorian service wing and kitchens of the 1880s
- Capability Brown parkland and parterre gardens
- Organic kitchen garden with 120+ apple varieties
- Stables with resident horses and a children's play area
Good to know
- Booking ahead is recommended, including for English Heritage members
- Free parking
- Dogs welcome on leads
- Opening times vary by season
Frequently asked questions
Sources: visitessex.com