Newstead Abbey

Newstead Abbey is an ideal place for a family day out, especially during good weather, as the gardens are a great spot for a picnic. The Abbey is only open at the weekends, but the grounds are open during the week and are often quieter at this time.
This 12th century building began as a monastic house and has some stunning architecture to marvel at, plus a number of artefacts inside belonged to the poet Lord Byron, such as manuscripts and portraits. Kids will love the Dressing Up Room, where they can try on child size replicas of some of Byron's favorite clothes.
The gardens have large lawns, a rose garden and a lovely Japanese garden to explore. There are streams, waterfalls and a lake, with ducks and swans to feed. Keep an eye out for the resident peacocks and peahens strutting around too!
A leaflet of the gardens are available, which contains a plan to help you navigate the different areas, and there is also a ‘Newstead Tree Trail' to follow, full of interesting information about some of the trees, including Byron's Oak.