Belton House

Learn all about the history of Belton, dress up and make crafts at the Belton House Discovery Centre.
Go deer-spotting in the grounds of Belton House.
Kids can climb, run and play to their heart's content at the National Trust's largest adventure playground.
Enjoy a picnic in the beautiful parkland, or on the sophisticated Oval Lawn.

Erected in the late 17th century by Sir John Brownlow, Belton House and the surrounding areas were intended as a residence for the Brownlow family, a famous dynasty of lawyers. While it remained largely unoccupied as the family had many homes, Belton House remained in the Brownlow family until it was transferred to the National Trust in 1986. Now it is considered one of the finest examples of a British country house and attracts visitors from all over the world. The formal gardens are in the Dutch and Italian styles and are complete with decorative lakes, symmetrical walkways and buildings including a boathouse and Gothic ruin.

Jane Austen fans will remember Belton House as the location of Lady Catherine De Bourgh's home, where Lizzie is invited to dine in the BBC's 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Wander the beautiful gardens and walk in the footsteps of our heroine as you explore the magic of this historic home.

Located close to the town of Grantham in Lincolnshire, Belton House is a favourite for families who want to take in the tranquillity of the surrounding gardens, while the kids can explore and learn something new. Covering over 1300 acres there is plenty to explore, and there are lots of Belton House walks to choose from. On the main route, you can discover the nearby wildlife (including ancient trees!) and view the listed features of the grounds as well as the remains of Medieval village. Belton House is also the perfect place for kids to tick off activities on their National Trust '50 things to do before you're 11¾' 'list, including 'rolling down a really big hill' and 'make a daisy chain'. Kids can also head over to the Belton Adventure Playground, where there is a huge selection of equipment including a zip wire, wooden climbing frames, swings and slides.

Art lovers should take a look at Belton's famous collections, which include four hundred years worth of portraits, ceramics, and books, amongst many other things. Here, you can also find one of the largest libraries of any National Trust property.

From the Belton House Adventure Playground to the Discovery Centre where children can dress up, make festive crafts and even make their own scrapbook, Belton House is a brilliant place to take the family. If you're walking the trail around the grounds, keep your eyes peeled for all the different species of butterfly that call Belton home, such as the distinctive red admiral, and the well-camouflaged speckled woods. You can also find over 300 wild fallow deer in the grounds, who are directly descended from the original herd who were brought to Belton in the late 1600s. Sheep and lambs also live on the grounds, and sometimes even Lincolnshire Red cows. These grazing animals play a huge part in helping maintain the grounds. Birdwatchers are also in for a treat, as Belton House is the perfect place to go to see migrating swallows in the summer, as well as house martins and swifts.

For something a little festive, the Belton House Christmas trail is the perfect place to get kids excited about nature. Taking place every year after dark, the trail through Belton's gardens is illuminated with lights, with lots of Christmas tunes and decorations to get you in the festive mood. There's hot chocolate for kids and mulled wine for the grown-ups, and if you're lucky, you might even spot Santa and his elves!

What to know before you go

You can find baby changing facilities in the park and garden toilets, as well as accessible toilets.
Since this is a very old property, there are some uneven paths and cobbled areas, which may not be suitable for buggies or those with mobility issues.
Belton House opening times are 10am - 5pm, and the shop is open from 10.30am - 4:30pm.
Dogs are welcome but not in the formal gardens or playground. Guide dogs are welcome across all of the property.
Since there are wild deer on the grounds, dogs should be on a lead, and you should not approach the deer. There are rangers around the park which you can contact if you have any issues.

Getting there

Belton House is located near Grantham in Lincolnshire.
Parking is free, with designated spaces for Blue Badge holders.
If arriving by train, the closest station is Grantham.
There is a bus stop located outside the main gates of Belton House, and you can catch the 1 or 27 bus from Grantham station.
You can also arrive from one of the local cycle or walking routes, which are available on the National Trust website.