Monday 10. November 2025
Lapworth, Warwickshire
A couple of weeks ago I took myself off on a day trip to Packwood House – a National Trust property tucked near the village of Lapworth in Warwickshire.
Packwood House is a beautifully restored Tudor house with proper storybook charmโฆ plus parkland and gardens, which Iโm sure are lovely in the sunshine. On this particular day, though, the weather was doing its best โbiblical delugeโ impression. Great for ducks, less great for me trying to admire hedges.
The drive up from Cirencester took just over an hour, even with the M5 impersonating a river. Honestly, every time it rains the motorway population seems personally offended by the concept of water.
Once Iโd dried off a bit, I had a really good wander around the house. It has that cosy, lived-in feeling you donโt always get in these big historic places โ like someoneโs just stepped out of a room to fetch a cup of tea. The main hall was especially gorgeous, with the fire going and that warm, woody smell that makes you think, โYeahโฆ I could definitely live here.โ
Speaking of living here: the living rooms became my favourites pretty quickly. Theyโre the kind of rooms where, if I actually owned Packwood (in some unlikely parallel universe where I win the lottery), youโd absolutely find me curled up in a chair with a good book, losing track of time and pretending emails donโt exist.
After braving the gardens โ or rather, splashing my way around them like an enthusiastic but slightly damp tourist โ I made a beeline for the cafรฉ. And yes, I treated myself to a hot chocolate. Very necessary. Very warming. Very โI deserve this for surviving sideways rainโ.
FH.
