The Stables Cafe

The outdoor sculptures were generally very good indeed, though a few of them could have been sited somewhere better. The variety of types of sculptures was pretty good as well. The only downside was that the place wasn't particularly Covid-19 safe, particularly the only set of toilets in the stable block.

Despite the rain had a great day at Houghton Hall. The sculptures I could take or leave but the grounds and gardens were amazing. From the pleached Lime walks to the Haha and the folly in the parkland great but nothing could prepare me for the walled garden. Absolutely incredible. I cannot imagine how many gardeners must be employed to produce such a stunning and immaculate spectacle. Every part is amazing, every detail spot on. The topiary alone was great!

Drizzle all day but had an excellent time. Went for the Anish Kapoor sculptures but the garden's ace would've been great to see on it's own anyway. Incredible parkland, good artwork (favourite was amazing little concrete wooden hut-cast by rachal Whiteread). And white Fallow deer, apparently unique to Houghton Hall. Also a nice stable block with a little cafe, some nice original looking stalls with an art/craft fair thing going on. Only 2 rooms of the house were open and the lift was shut so tricky/impossible if you've got wheels. Also a nice water tower folly and Richard long sculpture are through a kissing gate which stops pushchairs or wheelchairs - there was a frustratingly padlocked gate just along the fence, not sure why not open that. Maybe the deer try to come through.