D

iscover one of England's secret gardens, by dropping in to the Iford Manor.

It's tucked away at the bottom of a lush green valley, where fields of sheep spend their days nibbling at the juicy grass, and the lane outside is so quiet that there's moss growing in the middle.

The rather gorgeous Cotswold stone manor hugs the hillside looking out over the River Frome – and the man to thank for the garden behind it is Harold Peto, the 19th-century garden designer who fell in love with the place when he visited in 1899.

Head out the back to the Grade I-listed Italianate garden, and spend a peaceful couple of hours strolling along the 2.5 acres of tranquil terraces bordered by statues and cypress trees, with cracking views across the valley.

The best time to come is between mid-June to August, when you could catch an opera or jazz concert in the grounds. Otherwise, there's always the teashop (the carrot cake is delicious)...