
Stately code breaking will be child’s play in 2023 as the Elizabethan home of the nation’s first chief spymaster unveils an action-packed new season, crowned by a new themed play attraction.
Burghley House, built over 500 years ago by William Cecil, Elizabeth I’s most trusted minister, re-opens on 18 March, and is promising a fresh new look, a packed calendar of events and new visitor facilities.
Located on the edge of the beautiful Georgian town of Stamford in Lincolnshire, Burghley may boast centuries of history and a huge collection of art and furniture within its 18 state rooms, but the House and Gardens are set to offer visitors a few new surprises when it reopens this spring.
For 2023 part of the Estate’s grounds will open to the public for the first time after being transformed into a woodland adventure play attraction accessed through a separate entrance, the formerly hidden stone arch, Queen Elizabeth Gate.
Last year, Burghley announced that it was creating a play area with a multi-level play tower featuring three impressive tall spires with ‘pepper pot’ roof detailing, reflecting the distinctive architecture of Burghley – as well as walkways, bridges, and lookout towers.
Set to open on 29 April, the new attraction will be called Hide and Secrets and feature a new Burghley character, Cecil the Mole, and a series of imaginatively landscaped play zones leading to the Hidden Towers with slides and rope bridge. There will also be a separate toddler area, and the attraction has been designed with accessibility in mind.
Themed around William Cecil as the country’s first chief spymaster, youngsters will also be able to complete their own top-secret missions – discovering hidden wooden mole carvings, and a spot of cypher code breaking. While he was never a spy himself, Cecil, as chief adviser to Elizabeth I, ran a network of spies and agents to protect the Queen from perceived threat, effectively making him the country’s first spymaster in chief.
Separate tickets will be available for the new attraction, which will include access to the Garden of Surprises and Sculpture Garden.
More new look visitor facilities will also be unveiled at Burghley for the new season. An accessible, all-weather car park will increase parking capacity with 365 car parking bays and a further 370 bays in a green overflow area. Remaining free of parking fees, it will have electric vehicle charging points and an area for coaches.
Among the line-up of events across the year will be what is widely regarded as the world’s largest gathering of Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars (23-25 June), along with the popular The TVR Car Club rally (2 April). And a different sort of horsepower will again provide a global showcase for the House and parkland as Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, regarded as the world’s greatest 5-star equestrian event, returns (31 August to 3 September).
This year will also see more workshops, expert led tours and hands-on activities, from garden tours and talks to painting days, along with returning annual favourites including the Battle Proms Picnic Concert (8 July) and Classic Ibiza (29 July), plus the spring and summer Fine Food Markets.
For full details visit www.burghley.co.uk or telephone 01780 752451.