This former Cistercian abbey, originally founded in 1148 by Gilbert de Gaunt, has today been wonderfully restored to its more recent incarnation as a fine Elizabethan house. Amenities include a café, toilets and a gift shop.
The surrounding grounds boast a glorious 130-acre (53 ha) country park. There are delightful lakeside and native woodland walking trails, as well as formal gardens to explore.