Cool Places
Crook Hall and Gardens
Frankland Lane Sidegate Durham DH1 5SZ
A short walk from the city centre, Crook Hall is the very definition of an English country idyll. The house, which has 13th-century origins and 18th-century additions, is surrounded by beautiful gardens, each with their own name and personality. Tackle the circular maze in the meadow and amble through the jungle-like secret walled garden, the apple-scented orchard and the shimmering silver and white garden. The house is equally lovely, with its jumble of olde worlde rooms, including the haunted Jacobean room (popular at Halloween). To finish off, tuck into a cream tea in the Georgian dining room or in the leafy courtyard.
