A Closer Look At The Idyllic Gardens In England

Stourhead House and Gardens, part of the National Trust, UK

Is the world going mad, or is it just me? In order to release some of our daily pressures of life, I sometimes write about the places I miss the most in idyllic England. This type of writing also gives me the excuse to go down some of the happiest memory lanes of my life.

One of the most cherished places in England is Stourhead House and Gardens, an 18th-century landscape garden and the Palladian mansion in Wiltshire. If you have never visit Stourhead House put it on your bucket list, it's beautiful. With a staggering amount of well-manicured lawns, brim with temples and other elaborate follies, Stourhead House is gardener's dream. While enjoying the day out in this great house, go ahead, gallivant the grounds at your leisure and imagine it’s your very own home-sweet-home.

Stourhead House and Gardens

 The Stourhead Estate is one of the most beautiful great houses in Great Britain

 The grounds at Stourhead House

Stourhead in Autumn

 The Stourhead Estate is considered one of the great British houses, and part of the National Trust.

 The magnificent gardens at Stourhead House

 Down by the river: Stourhead House, UK

Above: World-renowned fountain takes center stage at Hampton Court Palace

Are you up on your English history? If you are, than you are aware that Hampton Court Palace has witnessed the bloody times of King Henry VIII. Yes, this English landmark is a royal palace in the borough of Richmond upon Thames, (my school was in Richmond). The building of this great palace began in 1515 for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a favorite of King Henry VIII. In 1529, as Wolsey fell from the King's favor, Henry VIII seized the palace for himself and later implemented a massive renovation that was fit for a king! Along with St James's Palace, Hampton Court Palace is one of only two surviving palaces out of the many owned by King Henry VIII.

 Hampton Court Palace, UK

 An aerial view of Hampton Court Palace, River Thames to the right of photo

 Hampton Court Palace in the summertime

Chapel Court, on the grounds of Hampton Court Palace

  A great example of a Tudor kitchen from Hampton Court Palace, UK 

 The rose garden at Hampton Court Palace

  Fireplace chat, anyone? A magnificent Tudor fireplace at Hampton Court Palace, UK

 Hampton Court Palace is definitely worth a visit while you're in England

A splendid example of some decorative Tudor brick chimneys at Hampton Court

 The back garden at Hampton Court Palace: Can you imagine this being part of your backyard? 

King Henry VIII's Guard Chamber

King's Beasts at Hampton Court Palace

Leeds Castle is located in Kent. It is located 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Maidstone. The historical castle has been on the site since 1119. In the 13th century it came into the hands of King Edward I, for whom it became a favorite residence. Back in the 16th century, Henry VIII used it as a dwelling for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. The castle today dates mostly from the 19th century and is built on islands in a lake formed by the River Len to the east of the village of Leeds. Leeds Castle has been open to the public since 1976, and has since then lived up to the reputation of Kent, which is well-known as being The Garden of England.

Leeds Castle, Kent

Leeds Castle, located in Kent, is well-known as The Garden of England

Leeds Castle, another treasure from the National Trust

 Leeds Castle Holiday Cottages

What's on your Bucket List? Romantic strolls at Leeds Castle, England 

The warm and inviting library at Leeds Castle

Details of the library, filled with some amazing works of art at Leeds Castle 

The grounds and gardens at Leeds Castle in the summertime

Intimate weddings at Leeds Castle, Kent

The bride and her party shares a laugh during a romantic wedding at Leeds Castle

Picture perfect: Summertime wedding at Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle is so perfect, that it comes fully equipped with a golf course. Time to book your ticket today. What are you waiting for?

An impressive aerial view of Leeds Castle

The bridge over the moat leading to Leeds Castle

Another view of Leeds Castle from the air

Time to get lost in the Leeds Castle maze, yes?

Enjoying an adventurous ride at the Leeds Castle Spitfire Flying Experience

Ascott House 

Our 4th, and final places to visit is Ascott House Garden, another favorite from the National Trust. If you love gardens, then Ascott House gardens will knock your socks off. Although Ascott House was given to the National Trust in 1947 by Anthony de Rothschild, The Rothschild family still retain a very close control over their little baby, and the present resident of the house is the son of the donor, Sir Evelyn de Rothschild.

Eros (Cupid) Fountain in the Dutch Garden at Ascott House Garden

How splendid! A formal parterre from clipped box hedging at the garden

Ascott House Gardens in most of its glory

Ascott House, is located near Wing in Buckinghamshire, England

A view to the Chiltern Hills over fields

Ascott House Gardens Beyond Stonehenge

Top Places To Fly Over While Visiting England

Andover's first mention in history is in 950 when King Edred is recorded as having built a royal hunting lodge there.

Reminiscing, and indulging on the memories of some of the places I've lived in during my lifetime. This particular town - Andover - stood out, above the rest.

Andover, County of Hampshire, England

Andover is in the county of Hampshire, England. This town is twinned with Redon, France, Goch, Germany, and Andover, Massachusetts (US). Andover is 18 miles from Stonehenge, a prehistoric site which is perhaps one of the world’s most famous monument.

I recollect weekends spent in Andover with one of my friend who was pilot. We loved flying over some of the most beautiful parts of southern England. Believe me, back then, this was a dream come true for me. It is impossible to describe my feelings when I viewed the southern parts of England from the blue sky. I will say this: It was phenomenal. A momentous moment  - to be sure.

Stonehenge is 17 miles from Salisbury, England. Before arriving to this iconic place, my friend circled his jet around Stonehenge around approximately 4 times!

What is the mystery of Stonehenge? And what are the realities of this iconic monument? 

Stonehenge is certainly surrounded with an aura of mystery

Somewhere in Southern England

The Westbury or what is commonly known as the Bratton White Horse

Old Sarum is the site of the earliest settlement of Salisbury in England

Let me take you on one of those trips, because if you love England, you will love this!

My friend's grasp of flying was second-to-none. His pre-flight checks were strict, his manner made you obey his commands, and his word was definitely law above the friendly sky. I remembered how his Cessna light aircraft was parked and maintained at Old Sarum Airfield, Nr Hurdcott, Wiltshire. "Where's the runway?" I use to asked. All I saw was one big field covered in grass. How I wished I could of shared the photos that I took back then, but sadly, years later, all of my photographic equipment and albums were stolen from my home.

A view of Old Sarum Airfield, England

Flying the friendly sky in the UK

A stunning view from the air: (Centered) Salisbury, a medieval cathedral city in southern England

A picturesque town: Salisbury is a beautiful place to visit

The Needles, The Solent, Isle of Wight

Let's leave Salisbury and Stonehenge behind us and visit The Needles to the Isle of Wight where we landed "nice’n easy" for tea and biscuits. Before landing we were looking down, watching the sailing yachts in The Solent, and it was irrefutably beautiful. The Royal Yacht Squadron building was in full sight as well. Flying in a light aircraft you do feel all the turbulence, blustery winds, and the aircraft really 'rock-an-rolls' through the sky, especially when flying over the variations of land and sea, it never fails to scare the life out of me, as only a small aircraft can.

The Needles Isle of Wight, England

 Sailing around The Needles, The Solent, Isle of Wight

 Sailing out of The Solent into the English Channel, Isle of Wight

The Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, Isle of Wight

After our tea and biscuits. We were back in the air, heading to the City of Bath, Somerset.

Just like landing on Stonehenge, we have to wait awhile before taking off

Bath, Somerset

Flying over the city of Bath, we see the evidence of the Roman Empire. (The Romans had a checkered history with the Brits) The Roman roads criss-crossed the country and we followed one such road all the way to Bath. While flying over Bath, we were able to view the full slender of the Georgian architecture of The Royal Crescent, crafted from the local stone called Bath stone.

The Royal Crescent, Bath City, England

A traditionally decorated, and stylish apartment in Bath, England

The arbor town, Bath City, England

Next, we flew to the location of the Roman Baths. Imagine walking on the ancient pavements as the Romans did 2,000 years ago! These public baths that have been open for 2,000 years. The Roman Baths were constructed around 70 AD as a grand bathing and socializing complex. It is now one of the best preserved Roman remains in the world.

Video of the Roman Public Baths in England

Steamy, and delightful: Detail of a Roman Bath

The Roman Baths museum, a major tourist attraction in South West England

Arriving Home!

Home at last! I will always treasure those memories, and hope you enjoyed your tour of my beloved England

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