Travel like the Victorians by boat and steam rail to visit Levens Hall

Follow the route taken by wealthy Victorians to come and go from the their expansive holiday properties in the Lake District. Take the Steamer boat from Bowness to Lakeside at the southern end of Lake Windermere.  Your guide will be waiting for you at Lakeside to guide you onto the historic steam train that takes you to Haverthwaite.

From Haverthwaite we bring you to this charming ancestral home where you will approach the house by the north facing stone staircase and open the grand front door with its ornate knocker. Inside you will embark on a journey back through time. Levens Hall has been occupied since about 1350 but the interior is of the Elizabethan period with its fine oak panelling and ornate plasterwork. A family house throughout history, you can trace their stories, see how the house is still lived in, and examine the fascinating collection of contents which reflect the changing owners and their personal achievements.

The original Pele Tower and Hall at Levens were built between 1250 and 1300. The de Redman family, owners since 1170, sold the property to the Bellinghams in 1562 and it was they who converted the grim medieval shell into the comfortable Elizabethan home we see today. In 1688, the estate changed hands again, to pay for Alan Bellingham's gambling debts. Colonel James Grahme acquired the property, and the old tradition that Levens was won with the turn of the Ace of Hearts probably has some foundation in fact.

There are twelve wonderful acres of gardens at Levens Hall waiting to be explored and enjoyed. They include the unique collection of ancient and extraordinary topiary characters sculpted from box and yew. They rise up from a spectacular seasonal underplanting populated with an ever-changing range of over thirty thousand flowers. Further on, beyond the romantic old orchard and separated by the great beech hedges, lie the magnificent herbaceous borders. Laid out in the 1690s, the garden amazingly still retains many of its original features. Its very special atmosphere is partly felt through a great sense of continuity. Those three centuries of garden making have made it a magical place.

After a stroll around these remarkable gardens, you can feast at the Bellingham Buttery which serves a wide selection of hot and cold drinks, home-made cakes, lunches and teas all freshly prepared daily in their house kitchen. You can sample the exclusive Morocco Ale. Brewed to a secret recipe which originated at Levens Hall in the 17th century, this is a mysterious and strong dark beer with a hint of spices, laced with history.

Walk lunch off along the footpaths that make their way through the deer park at Levens Hall revealing some beautiful and timeless scenery.