Rousham House and Gardens

About 12 miles north of Oxford is the beautiful Rousham House and Gardens. The house was built in 1635 by Sir Robert Dormer and has been in continuous ownership of the same family since then. In the 18th century the house and gardens were remodeled in a free Gothic style by William Kent, the eminent English architect. Rousham really is a gem and well worth a visit.  

The house is still a private home so tours of the house are by special appointment only.  But the gardens are open for viewing and they are absolutely magnificent. There is a great deal of variety in the gardens from the bowling green, the walled kitchen garden, the pollarded orchards, the rose garden, and the cutting garden which had beautiful dahlias in bloom. There is also dovecot which is now really a pigeon house.  There are an assortment of sculptures and small architectural gem beautifully placed throughout the grounds.  Today the gardens where beautiful in their Autumn colors and I look forward to visiting in the spring or early summer when the secret garden is in its prime.  

For more information:  

http://www.rousham.org/visit 

http://www.gardenvisit.com/garden/rousham_house_and_garden

The brochure for gardens states that Rousham is uncommercial and unspoiled (I agree) with no tea room and no shop.  Bring a picnic, wear comfortable shoes and it is yours for the day.

The River Cherwell flows through the back of the grounds.  We had lunch not even a mile away at Kizzies Bistro in Lower Hayford situated right on the Oxford canal -- another place I recommend.