Calm places to pause

If you’re out and about in the car and are in need of a break, why not drop in on a National Trust property.

Lots of our places to visit are near to the main routes but a million miles away from the rush and congestion of the motorways.

You'll discover peaceful places where you can enjoy a complete change of pace, see an amazing house in a beautiful setting and even indulge in a slice of cake or a cream tea.

The following will give you something to get your teeth into!

Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
Off exit 14 M11 - approximately 10 miles / 11 minutes

© NTPL / Nick Meers

Stretch your legs in the beautiful gardens, not far from the M11, which are home to one of the finest collections of historic statuary in the country. The house contains paintings, furniture and silver in the unique collection of the last occupant, plus one of the National Trust's largest collections of clocks!

Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire
Off exit 16 M40 - approximately 5 miles / 7 minutes

© NTPL / Andrew Butler

This picturesque medieval moated manor house is a great place to stop just outside Birmingham. Have tea in the Barn restaurant and then browse the second-hand bookshop – you never know what you might find.

Chartwell, Kent
Off exit 5 M25 - approximately 6 miles / 8 minutes

© NTPL / Ian Shaw

If the M25 is getting you down, escape to Chartwell instead. Bought by Sir Winston Churchill for its magnificent views over the Weald of Kent to Sussex, this was his home from 1924 until the end of his life. The rooms and gardens remain much as they were when he lived here, with personal mementoes strongly evoking his career and wide-ranging interests.

Cliveden, Buckinghamshire
Off exit 3 M40 - approximately 4 miles / 7 minutes

© NTPL / Hugh Palmer

This spectacular estate overlooking the River Thames has a series of gardens, each with its own character, featuring topiary, statuary, water gardens, a formal parterre, Octagon temple, informal vistas, woodland and riverside walks.

Cragside, Northumberland
Off A697 - approximately 0.2 miles / 4 minutes

© National Trust / Gavin Duthie

Although the house is closed this year for restoration there is much to see in the dramatic garden that surrounds it. Discover one of the largest rock gardens in Europe, a vast woodland garden, as well as lakeside walks, an adventure play area and labyrinth. If travelling north of the border, make this your last stop before Scotland.

Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire
Off exit 18 M4 - approximately 3 miles / 4 minutes

© NTPL / Rupert Truman

The lavish collections inside this beautiful country house set in extensive parkland reflect the fashion in the 17th-century for all things Dutch. Victorian domestic quarters will give you a unique insight into life below stairs. Situated between Bath and Bristol, you would never believe you were just off the M4.

Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire
Off exit 5 M5 - approximately 4 miles / 5 minutes

© NTPL / Nick Meers

A tranquil setting off the busy M5, this fascinating house has features including an orangery, ice-house, pavilions and even a working mushroom house. There is also a recreated 18th-century crown bowling green available to play on.

Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire
Off exit 29 M1 - approximately 3 miles / 3 minutes

© National Trust / Giraffe Photography

Just off the M1, this is a great place to stop if you’re travelling between London and York. Like a huge glass lantern, Hardwick dominates the surrounding area - a magnificent statement of the wealth and authority of its original Elizabethan owner.

Lanhydrock, Cornwall
Off A38 - approximately 1 mile / 2 minutes

© NTPL / Rupert Truman

Going to or from Cornwall, this is a real treat. One of the most fascinating and complete late 19th-century houses in England, Lanhydrock is full of period atmosphere. There is also an adventure playground, with wobbly bridge, scramble nets and animal sculptures, to keep the kids entertained.

Stourhead, Wiltshire
Off A303 - approximately 3 miles / 4 minutes

© NTPL / Nick Meers

An outstanding example of the English landscape style, this splendid garden with classical temples is set around a central lake. An ever-changing series of vistas will greet you as you move around the paths and through the magnificent mature woodland with its extensive collection of exotic trees. Perfect if you’re travelling back from Dorset to London and the South East.