national trust family portrait locations
cliveden
My all time favourite photo shoot spot for any aged family portrait session at any time of year. I can't list all the reasons why I love it here as there are just so many areas to cover! We can make it as slow paced, or actioned packed as you like. Very family friendly as it's easy to take a pushchair and walk with little ones. There's a stunning japanese garden with a water feature and pagoda. This makes a beautiful backdrop, with small bridges surrounded by flowers and greenery. There's a walled garden with statues and neatly planted flowers that vary every season. A vast area of climbing trees for the kids to run about and forget they're on a photo shoot! So many benches along the way with beautiful backdrops. Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter; every season is my favourite here! Enjoy 80 acres of year-round interest and colour, from the bedding scheme of the geometric Parterre, hundreds of roses in the Rose Garden, a oriental-inspired Water Garden, to Lord Astor’s sculpture collection and the impressive Cliveden Maze.
Top photo locations in bucks/berks
greys court
Similarly to Cliveden, a wonderful spot any time of year. Charming series of walled gardens on a site with 900 years of history, with seasonal highlights of wisteria, roses and spring bulbs. A bit of a longer walk from the carpark, but some really idilic photo spots once you get to the main building and walled garden. If you can book in May/June time that's the perfect time for blookming wysteria in the walled garden.
west wycombe
Palladian mansion, home to the Dashwood family for over 300 years. Serene landscaped grounds with a lake and cascade, follies, sculpture and grottos. Views over the surrounding Chilterns farmland and woods. Dashwood Masuleum and St Lawrence Church. This is a great spot for slightly older children who need to run about as there a lot of walking and a vast area to cover. A pushchair is possible, but not as easy with little ones as such a big area means lots of getting in and out of the carrier/pushchair.
Red brick manor set in over 600 acres of woodland and farmland set in the Chiltern Hills, with sweeping views over the surrounding countryside. Formal Italianate-style gardens with Victorian parterre and classical statuary. Pleasure grounds, apple orchard and walled garden. Natural play area created from giant fallen logs with walkways, a climbing rope and stepping stones. Lots of fun family photo opportunities here.
hughenden manor
All these National Trust sites have free parking and cafes. They do charge entry fee if you are not a National Trust member so please check the website to see their prices. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit
