Compton Verney is the glorious result of 11 years of restoration work (and counting!) to restore it to its original beauty as Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown designed it in 1768. The park lies in the district of Stratford-upon-Avon and is a real hub of events and activities for the community. There’s always something going on here. Previous events have included installations by art royalty Foka Wolf and a commission of rowing boats on the lake by Luke Jerram. A recent hit included Spectacle of Light, which saw the parkland lit up in a series of stunning light displays.

You can easily spend an entire day exploring the parkland and there’s loads for little ones and big ones to do – from finding their way out of the labyrinth, exploring the allotment, bird spotting from the hide, building sand castles in the sand pits, seeing the bees in their hives, pond dipping, clambering around the woodland playground and peeking inside the restored ice house. Well-behaved dogs are allowed too (but must be kept on the lead) so there’s no reason for the whole family not to get stuck in.

During the week there’s events for kids like forest clubs, tiny Tuesdays and wild Wednesdays and during the school hols, there’s even more to keep them busy. For adults the art gallery is really the piece du resistance. It has six permanent collections – Naples, Northern European Art 1450-1650, British Portraits, Chinese, British Folk Art and The Marx-Lambert Collection – and up to seven temporary exhibitions each year, including Portrait Artist of the Year and Portraits from the National Portrait Gallery.

While it is one of the most scenic places for a picnic there’s a great restaurant onsite with nearly all produce from within a 20-mile radius. There’s also the Pod in the Park where you can buy excellent sandwiches and pastries to take away and enjoy alfresco.

If you’re looking for the wedding or events venue of dreams it ticks all the boxes too (no surprise it won the Muddy Award for best wedding venue then). There’s the stunning Adam Hall and gorgeous galleries to choose from, and those swoon-worthy outdoor spaces for awesome pictures.