Just as we thought we’d had the best view of the deer, a dozen of them suddenly appeared, leaping across the path just metres ahead, the open-mouthed expressions on nearby visitors confirmed we weren’t the only ones astonished by this magical moment.
Living in a busy city it can be easy to forget there is a wealth of beauty right on your doorstep, to be enjoyed on precious days off.
Birmingham Live reporter, Emily Chaplin paid a visit to Charlecote Park, a National Trust site, to see what was on offer and found far more than she bargained for. From a Grade-I listed Tudor house to acres of stunning parkland, the day trip out turned out to be the perfect way to spend a weekend.
Our quickly put together packed lunch of a single cheese butty each, a few chunks of pineapple, and a half-empty bag of Thai sweet chilli crisps seemed a bit pathetic compared to the impressive picnic spreads laid out across the park’s lawns.
Yet, the surreal setting instantly transformed our modest meal into the most memorable picnic my husband and I had ever enjoyed. We had driven the 40 minutes from Birmingham to Wellesbourne in Warwickshire to visit Charlecote Park, eager to catch a glimpse of its famous four-legged residents. Charlecote Park, a National Trust site, is home to a grand Tudor mansion surrounded by a deer park where around 200 fallow deer roam freely.
As we arrived, it was clear we weren’t the only ones with this plan. The car park was bustling, and the estate was full of visitors carrying picnic baskets, pushing prams stuffed with snacks, or already settled on blankets by the river. Children laughed as they played lawn games and chased after frisbees, while others stretched out on wooden tables, soaking up the peaceful atmosphere. The scene was idyllic—on one side stood the magnificent Tudor house, and on the other, the parkland stretched across the River Avon. While we skipped the tour of the Grade I-listed mansion to save a few pounds, the surrounding Grade II-listed grounds offered more than enough to explore, reports Birmingham Live reporter Emily Chaplin.
After a quick bite, we crossed a charming bridge and wandered into the meadows. It wasn’t long before we spotted our first group of fallow deer, their coats a mix of browns, snowy white, and Bambi-like spots. They were grazing under a tree in the distance, their little tails wiggling as they foraged. Though we never got too close, we stumbled upon a group of snoozing Jacob sheep along the way. A nearby sign informed us that the Lucy family, who lived at Charlecote for over 900 years, were the first to introduce this breed to Britain.
Just as we thought we’d had the best view of the deer, a dozen of them suddenly appeared, leaping across the path just metres ahead. The open-mouthed expressions on nearby visitors confirmed we weren’t the only ones astonished by this magical moment. Our walk continued past perfectly manicured gardens, a lively café, and a quaint thatched cottage called Granny’s Summerhouse, which looked like something straight out of a storybook. We found ourselves alone at times, the vast park offering plenty of peaceful moments. Just when we thought the day couldn’t get any better, a herd of majestic stags with antlers like tree branches charged out of the bushes, pausing to graze near us, completely unbothered by our presence.
By the time we returned to the car, our feet ached, and we had far exceeded our 10,000 daily steps. It was a day of fairy-tale wonder, from our picnic in the shadow of a grand house to sharing the fields with woodland creatures. If you fancy a day like Snow White, entry to Charlecote Park starts from £13 for adults or is free with a National Trust membership.
