Stories

There are plenty of other chances to visit the gorgeous gardens of England, Wales and Northern Ireland with The Royal Oak Foundation. Of course, Royal Oak members enjoy unlimited access to all of the National Trust’s properties, including its many gardens. We’ve even got your trip-planning started for you, with this list of top ten National Trust gardens. We also have more curated tours that depart in the coming months, if you’d prefer a guided group tour. These trips visits some truly incredible gardens.

At 5:30 AM on Friday, May 8th, playwright Peter Morgan sat down to write a new scene between Prime Minister David Cameron and the Queen for his runaway hit play, The Audience. The fresh dialogue would reflect the Conservative party’s overwhelming and unexpected victory. With speed, dexterity, and wit, Peter polished off the scene, raced to the theater, and gave it to Kristin Scott Thomas and Mark Dexter to rehearse for the evening performance in London’s West End. As I read his email recounting the challenge, I wished I could be in the theater to savor the result.

The English world got some big news this weekend, as it welcomed Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana! Royal births are always big news, but their full impact is felt decades down the line. Here are five Royal babies who unexpectedly changed English and world history.

We are saddened by the news that Clandon Park House, Surrey, suffered significant damage in a fire that broke out late Wednesday afternoon local time. While no one was injured and local fire teams managed to subdue the blaze, Helen Ghosh, the National Trust’s Director General, called the effects to the property “devastating.” She said: “The house is now essentially a shell, most of the roof, ceiling and floors have collapsed into the bottom of the building.”

There’s hardly anything more intoxicating after a long, cold winter than the first sight of blossoms at the start of Spring. The inviting colors, mixed with the glorious sunshine, immediately remedy a winter of heavy coats, snow-soaked boots and cracked hands. We Anglophiles know that the true wonder of Spring can only be found in an English garden, though. It’s a long, celebrated tradition, one that captures the rhythm of nature. Lord Cavendish captured this spirit beautifully, explaining at a Spring 2014 Royal Oak lecture that: "Gardens are and should be ephemeral. They're about the giving and taking of pleasure." With that ephemeral beauty in mind, let’s enjoy the garden for the few wonderful months it’s here. Make sure to check out these Top Ten National Trust Gardens on your next trip to the UK!

This week marks the 399th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. The Bard holds a special place in anglophiles' hearts, so don't miss out on a very special travel opportunity we're offering next year: In the Footsteps of Shakespeare. Visit special places with strong ties to Shakespeare's life with other enthusiasts:

In my last post I explored a few of West Sussex’s National Trust sites. This post continues the last few West Sussex sites before we head to the East in the next post! Check out the handy map below and follow along as we discuss the sites circled in red.