A date at Downton Abbey

1 November 2011, 11:06 | Updated: 26 November 2018, 11:31

Downton Abbey has returned to our screens and with it our thirst for romance and drama in an historical setting.

Why let Lady Mary and Matthew have all the fun when you could be having a country house courtship of your own? Here are our top three houses for romantic dates.

Lyme Park, Cheshire

If it’s good enough for Mr Darcy, then it’s good enough for us. Lyme Park featured on the 1995 BBC adaption of Pride and Prejudice and we can see why. The magnificent house sits at the edge of a lake and boasts miles of breathtaking scenery.

Knole House, Kent

This early 17th century house featured in The Other Boleyn Girl, its romantic internal courtyards standing in for Whitehall Palace in London. Knole is set at the heart of a medieval park where deer roam freely, boasts connections to kings, queens and nobility, and was the birthplace of Vita Sackville-West.

Highclere Castle, Hampshire

Or, as it is every Sunday evening, Downton Abbey.  You can visit the drawing room, main hall and library that featured in the TV series, and even peek into the room where Mr Pamuk suffered his premature demise. Aside from the obvious enjoyment of stepping into the home of Lord and Lady Grantham, Highclere has stunning grounds and an Egyptian Exhibition to explore.

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