IN THE heart of the East Midlands lies one of the best-kept secrets for a family outing.
Belton House is located just a five-minute drive from the town of Grantham in the southwest corner of Lincolnshire.
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The Grade 1 listed mansion, built in the 1680s by the Brownlow family, is set in 1,300 acres of stunning grounds – which are dog-friendly and often have deer roaming.
After the estate was given to the care of the National Trust, it has been transformed into the perfect UK day out for adults and youngsters alike…
Huge outdoor playground
Belton, which offers free admission for children under five, is home to what is officially the National Trust’s largest outdoor kid’s adventure playground.
Open daily, it features incredible wooden constructions set in an ancient wilderness, within which little ones can explore by swinging, climbing and jumping their way through obstacles.
There are rope bridges, long slides and swings among the many playtime options, which cater to a range of ages and abilities.
One of playground highlights is the opportunity to ride in a miniature train, which usually operates Friday to Sunday or every day during Lincolnshire school holidays.
Tickets cost £2 for adults and £1.50, all proceeds of which are channelled back into keeping the teeny rail service running.
Hollywood-worthy film set
The beauty of Belton has meant it has been a draw for some of the most iconic on-screen hits around.
Most famously, it was used to film scenes for the 1995 adaptation of the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice, starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.
The gardens were the setting for the run-up to Mr Darcy’s first excruciating marriage proposal to Elizabeth Bennett.
However, more recently, production descended for the upcoming spin-off series of Netflix’s Bridgerton, which will focus on character Queen Charlotte.
In Belton’s grounds, the Italian garden and orangery were used to shoot, while the Marble Hall, scullery and kitchen corridors were enlisted inside the property.
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A royal backstory
Back in 1971, a 22-year-old King Charles – then a prince – stayed at Belton House while learning to fly at nearby RAF Cranwell, where his son Prince Harry would also go on to train.
Many years later, it was reported that Princess Diana was keen to purchase the property as their country residence instead of Highgrove in Gloucestershire, which she felt was too close to Camilla Parker Bowles.
She is believed to have heard from her older sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale – who still lives at nearby Stoke Rochford Hall – that Belton was being put up for sale by the 7th Lord Brownlow.
The Prince and Princess of Wales drove several times to view the property, which is also close to the monarch’s residence in Sandringham in Norfolk, in 1982.
However, the decision was made to stay put, and Belton was ultimately donated to the National Trust in 1984.
Stunning interiors
While there’s much to enjoy in the grounds of Belton House, visitors shouldn’t miss the mansion’s numerous grand rooms.
On the walls are a huge collection of portraits from the from 16th to the 20th century, and on display is also a selection of rare Chinese porcelain.
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More interesting still, is that Belton is home to the National Trust’s second largest library – with 11,000 books, half of which were printed before 1801.
And when you’ve finished taking everything in, head to the old stables where there is a café serving tea and scones.
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