National Trust Cragside is like stepping into a fairytale

Cragside is described as being “Britain’s original smart home at the heart of a grand fantasy garden”.

Cragside House is surrounded by a landscaped garden with different areas to explore.

If you need somewhere to entertain your children for a day, Cragside could be the perfect place, thanks to its miles of “paths and twists and turns to discover”.

What is the National Trust site, Cragside, like?

The content creator, Geordie Hiker, visited the site and said it was “like stepping into a fairytale”.

She added: “Nestled in the heart of Rothbury, Cragside is a must-visit gem in Northumberland.

“Famous for being the first home in the world to be powered by hydroelectricity!

“Explore the stunning architecture, 1,000-acre estate, and beautiful gardens.”

Cragside House is a Victorian mansion with many rooms to look around, including a library, Turkish bath suite, and kitchen.

While going around Cragside, “there are lavish luxuries and timesaving inventions across the house to seek out and find”.

There are lots of gardens and pathways to explore. (Image: Tripadvisor)

After exploring the house, you can take a walk through one of the many gardens, including the Pinetum, where you can see some of the tallest trees around the grounds.

If you want more of an adventure, you can try the Rock Garden and walk along the maze of pathways to the Iron Bridge, where you can get a great view of the house.

For children, there are several spots to explore, including a play area with equipment for young children and teens, including tunnel slides, climbing frames, and a zipline.

They might also like the Labyrinth, which is a giant maze cut into the forest, where they can hunt for William the Wizard and find Nelly’s Den.

There are several trails to follow as well.

Entry to Cragside costs £27 for adults and £13.50 for children aged between five and 17, with a few family tickets available.

What do visitors of Cragside think of the site?

Cragside has a score of 4.8 out of 5 on Tripadvisor with 3,924 reviews.

One reviewer wrote: “Immense estate brimming with history.

“Far too much to do in one visit – we barely scratched the surface – visited the house and walked to the formal gardens.

“Didn’t have time for any of the nature walks, so will be back.

“Fascinating history of the house and owners.”

Another reviewer wrote: “So this National Trust property was unknown to us before our holiday in the area and we found it to be a great day out.

“The history of the house was fascinating and the grounds were immaculate.

“We took the long walk round the estate and halfway round the d visited the house.

“The way marked walking routes were easy to follow and the scenery was amazing.

“There is definitely scope for multiple visits to this wonderful place.”

Have you ever visited Cragside before? Let us know in the comments.