A medieval house grown around an old defensive tower, with limestone gardens and a wooded estate on the edge of the Lakes
Open to visitorsa National Trust place — check opening times and admission before you go
Sizergh began as a pele tower — a tall stone tower built for defence against Scottish raids — and over the centuries the Strickland family, who have lived here for more than seven hundred years, wrapped a comfortable house around it. The result is a rambling grey manor rather than a fortress, with panelled rooms and carved Elizabethan chimneypieces inside. Outside is the real draw for many visitors: a large limestone rock garden, thought to be one of the finest in the country, along with an orchard, a wildflower meadow and a wooded estate with a tarn and views to the fells. The National Trust looks after Sizergh, and the wider grounds are open for walking. It sits just south of Kendal on the edge of the Lake District; the famous topiary at Levens Hall, a couple of miles down the road, makes an obvious pairing.
